CHAPTER FOURTEEN

DALIA

"Would you stop pacing, Dalia?"

I stop and glare at Aries, "No. I can't. You have no idea what you're walking into. You know you can't be armed, right?"

He nods with a grin, "I'm aware."

"Are you afraid of your brothers?"

I shake my head no, "Of course not."

They would never hurt me, I know that. It's not me I'm worried about, it's Aries. I'm afraid he will be leaving in a body bag. Okay so they wouldn't actually put him in a body bag, that's not their thing. They'd all take turns torturing him until he finally dies, and then Dante would likely dispose of his body, however he sees fit. Frequently their employees do it, but that wouldn't be the case this time, because it's personal. Whenever something is personal they enjoy the killing process. I don't know a lot about how my brothers handle things, but I do know that. When they rescued me and found my mom, my brothers morphed into brutal men, along with my father. I had never seen such carnage before that day, and have never again since then.

I place my hands on my hips and glare at him, "Aries. They are probably going to kill you. If they realize we had sex it's almost a sure thing, even if they don't know the details about the first time."

He chuckles, "I can handle myself, Wife. You act like they're your parents."

This time it's my turn to laugh, "They basically are. They raised me from the age of eight onward. Both my parents were dead, so my brothers were all I had."

Aries motions for me to come to him, so I do, and he cups my face gently, "Listen to me, Wife. I appreciate that you even care a little bit if your brothers kill me. I promise you, I can take care of myself. No one will be killing anyone today."

Tilting my head back, his eyes drop to my lips, "I want you, Wife. I need you."

"Now?" I ask, because we're supposed to be getting ready for World War Three with my brothers.

He smirks at me, "You wouldn't refuse a dying man's final wish, would you?"

I gaze into his eyes, "You said no one would die."

Feigning seriousness, he says, "My motto is always better safe than sorry . I'd rather not leave you with regret, if things don't go my way."

Running my hands all over his chest, I whisper, "That's your motto, is it?"

He chuckles, "That, and my wife should be given so many orgasms she can't see straight."

I'm not a fool, I know as he keeps reminding me that this is temporary. While I'm still not thrilled that he forced me to marry him, and drugged me to make that happen, last night the way he cared for me changed something between us. I saw a different side of him, less cruel, more sweet, and hopefully he doesn't expose that side to me too much, or I might end up heartbroken. I've gotten closer to Aries than I ever planned to get to any man. There was a boy I liked when I was fourteen. Of course, he asked me to walk with him behind the school. Just a romantic walk, right. Until he immediately tried to get his hands in my pants. It cemented what I knew for sure, all men were the same and can only hurt you. The way Aries touches me and gazes at me, makes me wonder if I was wrong, but then I remember, temporary. I'm not sure how to do it, but I have to find a way to guard my heart.

He threads his fingers into my hair, leans down and presses his lips to mine with a groan. It's me that deepens the kiss, as I slide my tongue into his mouth seeking more of him. The way he makes my body respond to his.

Lifting me into his arms, he carries me to the bed and lays me on the edge, ripping open the robe I put on after my shower, "Fucking gorgeous."

He quickly removes the black boxer shorts he put on after his shower, "We don't have much time."

I nod emphatically, "Just fuck me, Aries."

Spreading my legs for him, he slides inside me, his voice comes out husky, "Every time I fuck you, it feels better than the time before. You're becoming dangerous for me. A goddamn addiction."

He pulls out almost completely, before he snaps his hips forward, thrusting back inside me, "Aries," I moan and in response he grabs my chin, hovering over me, he takes my lips in another scorching kiss. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist, wanting him closer, wanting all of him as close as humanly possible. Somehow, even though we're as close as two human beings can possibly get, it's never enough. I won't tell him, because I'm trying to guard my silly little inexperienced heart, but he's my addiction too. The more I get, the more I want, and I know I'm in trouble. When this ends, and I know it will, I'm not going to be okay.

As he comes inside me, I realize we haven't ever resolved the birth control issue. He hasn't mentioned it again so maybe he's not worried about it. Also, I think I'm turning into some kind of pervert, because there's part of me that wants to record him like this, so I can watch it back when this is over, because I already know there will never be anyone else. I will go back to my reclusive ways, never letting anyone in, because it's the only way I know how to survive. When I go back to my apartment, and sleep alone again, the nightmares will come back. Every night I will relive my personal hell. Sleeping next to Aries is the only time I've had a reprieve from the terror I experience every time I sleep.

ARIES

I know she's nervous about tonight, and it doesn't matter how many times I tell her it'll be fine. Dalia will stay anxious until it's over. After Domenic barked at her over the phone, wanting details about why she needed to see all four of them, I understood. He's an asshole. Or maybe I'm the asshole, for not understanding the difficult situation he's going to be in. The De Lucas have hated the Lombardis ever since that day. The day I wish I could undo.

We sit in the back of the car while Andre drives us to see her brothers. I'm not completely delusional, I know they are going to be seriously pissed. I just don't think they'll kill me. It could happen, of course, because they'll be armed and I won't be. Dalia really wanted to tell him over the phone because she thought it would be safer, but it needs to be done face to face, man to man. Only a pussy would take the route of a phone call. I am many things but I'm not a pussy.

I take her hand and hold it against my lips, kissing her softly, and she smiles slightly, "Please don't get yourself killed. I'd never forgive myself. Drake and Domenic are the most aggressive. Damian and Dante will be easiest to get on your side."

"Our side, Wife. Please stop worrying. I know your brothers. Better than I'd like to."

She reaches up and touches my face tenderly, "I'm trusting you, Aries. If you get yourself killed tonight, I'm going to be really pissed."

I chuckle as I lean down and kiss her quickly, "Me too, baby, me too."

Dalia grabs her purse when we pull up to their house, "Let's get this over with."

We both get out of the car and approach the front door. It's different being here with her; no armed guards, which has always been my experience.

I take her hand in mine, and she opens the door with her free hand and we walk through together. She takes a big nervous breath as one of her brothers yells, "In here, Pipsqueak."

I stifle my chuckle at the nickname. Cute and kind of endearing. We walk into the large family room, and four sets of instantly angry eyes zero in on our joined hands, "Get the fuck away from my sister," Domenic yells.

"Dom!" Giada and Dalia yell in unison. Drake already has his hand on his gun, ready to pull it out in front of all the women. I'm not entirely surprised, because he has always been a loose cannon. He's quiet, so you never know what he's thinking, but quiet doesn't mean he isn't lethal.

A brunette sits on the couch beside Dante while he pets her like a damn cat, seemingly uninterested in what's going on. Domenic's wife is grabbing his arm, "Calm down."

Dalia says, "We're in love and we got married."

Domenic barks, "All the women upstairs. Now."

However, the excitement of the three women makes it clear that this asshole doesn't have the control over the women as much as he thinks he does. Damian and Domenic's women, as well as the one I've heard Drake and Dante share, rush over to my wife, hugging her and jumping up and down like she won the damn lottery. Instantly they grab her hand, and squeal over the rock on her finger.

Giada inspects it like she's a gemologist, "A radiant cut. Solitaire. Looks to be at least five carats. I'd say the color and clarity are excellent."

I snort at her observations, I have no idea about any of those things, because I didn't ask my jeweler. He asked how much I wanted to spend, and I told him to give me the best because, however short term this marriage is, my wife, as long as she is my wife, will always have the very best of everything.

Domenic turns to Drake, "Watch this asshole, closely. I want to talk to Dalia alone. If he gets shot, I won't be heartbroken."

Dalia runs over to Drake and grabs his arm, "I will be. So don't."

I wink at my wife, letting her know everything will be fine, as she walks into the kitchen with Domenic.