CHAPTER NINETEEN

DANTE

––––––––

I smile against her lips and then lift my head.

Taking Adelina’s hand, I walk down the steps, and we blend into the crowd.

Oh yeah, I heard Carlos. I just don’t care. No one is going to let him do anything tonight. He can make all the noise he likes, but he knows the penalty if he tried it.

Cut off from the five families.

A fate worse than death.

My mother steps into our path. I stop and kiss her on the cheek.

“You look beautiful, darling.” She kisses Adelina.

“You do know I’m still your son’s prisoner, right?”

The hell?

That’s not exactly being a good girl. If she needs me to spell out my expectations, I’m happy to do it.

“Of course dear. But you do look beautiful and make quite an impression together,” Mama replies, her hand on Adelina’s arm.

I smile at both of them.

Adelina glances between us both, frowning. “You are both fucking insane, you know that, right?”

Mama pats her arm. “He’ll come around.”

“Oh, my god.” Adelina shakes her head, and I squeeze her hip in warning.

“That’s enough.” I rumble.

Tonight she asked me to fuck her. Took the head of my cock inside her and nearly made me lose complete control.

If I had, she would’ve hated me for it.

It would be just like Adelina to claim she was coerced.

Which, fine, yes, I’ve kidnapped her. So technically there is that.

But she’s warming to the idea of being my wife. I can tell. She loves my touch. Craves it. Demands it, as she did today.

Overall, her resistance is much less than what it was when she first came to live with me.

One could call it Stockholm syndrome.

I like to call it...fate.

I’m considering moving her into my bedroom.

We will see how tonight goes.

“Congratulation on your new position,” Dominic De Luca, a fellow don, says, reaching out his large hand adorned with one of the chunky gold and diamond mafia rings.

Mine is now on my hand.

The government returned my father’s body, and I slid the Baldassare ring from his fingers while he lay in state in our home.

Soon we will bury him.

“Thank you.” I nod, accepting the respect of the man.

“And commiserations for the loss of your father,” he adds. “Frank was a great man.”

Then he turns to my mother and says the same to her.

None of them are sad.

While there is respect, there’s no love. All of them would kill one another if the situation arose. It was one of the first things Frank taught me when I was old enough to understand how things worked.

One by one, the heads of the family come by, shaking my hand, expressing their condolences, and chatting to Adelina and my mother.

My sister should be here.

“Where’s Gianna?” Lucy, one of the daughters asks, glancing around. “I was hoping to catch up with her tonight.”

Just as I’m about to answer, I hear a voice behind me.

“Yes, where is Gianna?” Leo Baldoni says.

“Leo!” Adelina cries and I reach out my arm so she cannot move an inch. Leo’s eyes follow my movement and then lift to mine. We stare at one another and in my peripheral vision, I see his men move in closer.

Nick and Jono do the same.

“You know the rules,” Micky Cabone says, sipping the dark golden liquid in his glass. There’s little effort in his tone, but as the oldest don in the five families, no one questions his authority.

Certainly not Leo.

And neither will I, despite being a newly crowned capo.

The rules are the rules. So we relax, our shoulders drop and the men around us step back an inch.

Beside me, Adelina is still tense.

Leo flicks his gaze back to her. “Are you okay?”

I wait for her reply, my jaw taunt but her silence is too long, and Leo glares back at me.

“He hasn’t hurt me.” Addy quickly says.

Too fucking late.

I take her hand, and she presses against my arm, surprising almost all of us.

“You need to come home.” Leo demands, his eyes darting back and forth between us.

Meanwhile, I’m soaking up the warmth of her body. Whether she’s trying to appease me or her brother, I don’t know. I don’t care.

“Soon,” Adelina replies.

“Bring Gianna with you.” He turns to me. “Then we can negotiate.”

That’s not how things are going to play out.

And he’s not in any position to be making demands.

I take a step, moving my body in front of Adelina’s, regretting the loss, but needing to put a physical barrier between them.

Leo is not taking her.

He is not in charge here, and it sounds like he needs to understand exactly how things are going to go.

“When you have a family ring on your finger, then you can make bold demands, Leo. Until then, I recommend you run back to daddy and tell him to come and give me his condolences as the other families have done.”

Fuck you.

Addy tightens her fingers around mine, knowing I’m poking a dangerous bear. Not more dangerous than me. Sure, Leo is no small man—around my size and a deadly gangster in his own right—but he has far less authority.

There is a hierarchy to this world and the only way you remain at the top is by defending your position. This isn’t the fucking British royal family.

I watch his chest swell as he seethes, and his ego takes a hit.

“I see a ring on your hand, Baldassare. But how do we even know your father is really dead?”

I move before anyone can stop me.

My fingers slide from Adelina and my fist is in the air flying toward his face.

Nick, Jono, and Adelina all grab me—the latter less effectively—as they scream at me to stop.

“Dante, no!” she cries, wrapping her arms around my body.

As Nick takes my fist in his shoulder and drops to the floor, I grab Addy.

“Never do that.” I take her face. “I could have hurt you.”

She pants, those big green eyes fully dilated. “They will hurt you if you do anything here. You know the rules.”

I blink at her momentarily.

She cares.

She was protecting me.

Fucking hell.

“Go,” I bark, turning back to her brother. “You are putting your sister in harm's way.

“You did that by bringing her here.” He spits.

“She belongs to me. Do not challenge me.” I growl, sliding my arm around her waist.

“I want my bride, Baldassare. Gianna was promised to me.” His eyes dip to Addy, then back to me. “Deliver her to me before next weekend and I’ll do what I can to talk Carlos into letting you keep Adelina.”

“I’m not a puppy. Fuck you both.” She spit, trying to tug away.

I hold her tight.

He’s trying to negotiate. I don’t need his permission and I’m not negotiating. It’s already starting a war, but I knew that when I carried Addy through my front door and locked her up.

What I need is a plan.

Which is why I need Braxton to answer my call. I visited his parents days ago. Jesus, does that guy not love his family?

I consider that.

No. More like he’s a very clever guy. But so am I.

He will reach me.

Hopefully, before I need to send an even louder message. After tonight, I might have to. Things are getting tense, and time is running out.

Leo and his men leave, and mine step back a few feet, giving us all room to breathe.

My first concern is Addy.

“You okay?” I ask, my hand gliding up her arm.

“Yes. No,” she answers, glancing around, then lifting her eyes to mine. “This is dangerous.”

“You’re safe,” I reply without hesitation. I need her to know that. I will not let anything happen to her. “I promise.”

“But you aren’t.” She shakes her head. “Can’t you feel the energy in the room, Dante? They’re watching you. Waiting for you to mess up. Wondering how you dare walk in here with me right in front of my father? My brother. I’m not worth it, Dante.”

The fuck she isn’t.

“Come,” I say, taking her hand and leading her outside for some fresh air.

––––––––

ADELINA

––––––––

The door is opened for us, and we step out onto the balcony, which is covered in fairy lights, large potted plants, and marble statues.

It’s romantic.

Soft music plays and despite feeling rattled by the evening, I glance up at my kidnapper—the boy I grew up with—and take in his handsome face.

Yet again, I’m struck by how much he’s changed since stepping into the role his father left behind. Power and authority simply roll from his shoulders. The world moves as he demands.

Hell, even my body follows his orders now.

He’s intoxicating, and I’d be lying if I said, like a drug addict, I didn’t want more of him.

I do.

I want him to consume me. I want him to take me here on the balcony and damn anyone who sees. I want to feel him fill me with all his power, claiming me and dominating me so I can finally experience everything he’s ever promised me.

Threatened me with.

All that I’ve resisted.

All that I pretended I never wanted.

But I do want it.

I want his body lying over mine, naked, raw, plowing me with his force. Making me his queen.

While...wanting none of it.

I don’t want this life.

He’s so blind to everything because of me. I’m a threat. Hell, taking me during such a volatile time was stupid.

What was he thinking?

I don’t have much time left to get to California. To my freedom. It’s time to make a move, but suddenly melancholy hits me. I will never see this man again.

My free hand slides up to the one holding my hand and Dante’s gaze flicks down to mine, surprised.

Had I not chosen to escape this life, I wonder if I could fall in love with him? Our bodies are like magnets, and now that we’ve been intimate, it’s like tasting chocolate for the first time. I want more. I crave more.

Our first kiss may have been years ago, but the way he kisses me now is different. Dante has claimed me. He devours me.

I am grateful now that he didn’t fuck me in the limo.

That might have changed everything. Perhaps I’ve always known that if I allowed myself to want Dante Baldassare, I’d lose myself in this gangster.

A night of passion together would destroy us both. Or worse...bond us so that I can’t live without him.

God, I’m insane. He kidnapped me. I’m his prisoner and here I am thinking I could fall in love with him.

Note to self: get therapy in California.

I have only a handful more days until my home is available.

Until all my furniture arrives.

Until I get my new identity.

And start a new life outside of the mafia world.

I have to do this.

Despite how I feel about this man, I will not be leaving with him tonight.

He leads me over to the railing and I breathe in the night air, smiling softly at the lights of New York City.

No matter the season, this place is spectacular.

Dante takes my chin in his fingers and as my eyes find his, I spot Nick and Jono in the shadows, giving us privacy.

“We need to marry. Soon.”

My eyes widen.

“What?” I’m too shocked to say anything else, but my brain quickly catches up. “If that’s your idea of a proposal, then the answer is no.”

Wow.

The arrogance of this man.

“If I’m to keep you safe, we need to marry. You know how this works.” His eyes are dark and intense as his fingers slide around my neck and into my hair.

“Dante.” I press my eyes closed, then catch myself. “I am your prisoner. I’m not...”

He pulls me against him, and I feel his hardness.

“I want to fuck you so bad. As soon as you are my wife, I’m going to sink my cock inside you every goddamn day.” He groans against my neck, then nibbles on my ear.

Think.

Work brain, work.

I press my hands against his chest. “Dante, stop.”

“You don’t want me to stop.” His lips run along my jaw and then take my mouth.

Goddamn him, he’s right. I don’t want him to stop as his tongue plunges inside and I feel my entire body blush with arousal.

My fingers curl into his jacket, and it’s my own sounds I hear in the night air.

“Marry me and be my wife, Addy.” Dante moans against my mouth.

He can’t be serious.

I pull back, panting, and my eyes roam his face. His Italian heritage gifts him with dark olive skin, a powerful jaw, and thick dark hair. Even his eyebrows are strong and dominant.

“You have wanted me all my life,” I say in the absence of anything else.

I can’t say no.

I definitely can’t say yes.

“Yes. You know I have.” His hand slides over my bottom as the other one cups the back of my head.

Yes, he’s a gangster, but Dante Baldassare is a man of pride. A man with honor. At least when it comes to me. He’s had the opportunity to do whatever he wanted with me and yet he’s held back.

I have to see this moment as an opportunity.

There are lines he has not crossed, so I have to believe there’s a part of him that truly wants me to accept his proposal and to give him permission.

Is that why he hasn’t fucked me?

He wants me to love him...

He might think he’s telling me we are to be wed, entertaining me with the question, but that he’s going to force me into matrimony with him.

Hell, maybe he will—if I don’t escape.

But I think Dante wants me to say yes. He wants to hear that I have the same feelings he has.

Do I?

If he lifted me onto the railing and slid inside me right now, I wouldn’t be sorry. If I had to spend my life with him...

I can’t think like that. I’m leaving.

The threat by this man of stealing my heart is great. I do desire Dante Baldassare, but I can never be his wife.

I can’t.

The crime world and him are not separate.

I see vulnerability in his eyes and know that rejecting him is going to cut so deep it will hurt. I’m silenced by that knowledge. But he can’t know my plans.

Knowing I want to escape his hold is enough to have him guarding me.

If he knew I was one step away from leaving this entire world, he’d lock me up for the rest of my life.

I draw in a long, shaky breath.

Fuck this, I’m a mafia princess.

I have my father’s blood running through my veins. I’ve grown up around cruel, vindictive men.

And I’ve survived.

So I do what any survivor has to do.

I lie.

“If you want to marry me and spend your life with me, then you’ll set me free and propose like a real man, Dante Baldassare.”

His eyes flicker with hope and the corner of his lips curl up. “That what you want?”

I push him playfully, and he catches my hand as I smile. My cheeks blushing.

“Yes, I want that. You kidnapped me. I’m not saying yes while I’m your prisoner.” I lie like a damn professional.

He lifts my hand to his lips and my heart skips a beat while I get lost in this fake moment.

What if it was real?

I could fall over the cliff, losing myself in this beautiful, dangerous creature.

“I’m going to fucking marry you.” Dante rasps. “You’ll be happy, kitten. I promise. For the rest of your life, I’ll give you everything you want.”

Stop.

“I don’t give a shit what other mobsters do, I’m not taking another woman, and you will not look at another man. You are it for me, Addy,” Dante continues.

Be still my heart.

“We will have little babies. Little girls who are as beautiful as you. God, you’re going to be an incredible mother.”

I close my eyes and push back all the images of being his wife and having a family with this crazy man.

Please, stop.

Why am I letting him get to me? Was I not lying? Do I want...I can’t want this. I can’t.

He kidnapped me!

My fingers tighten around his at the same time, and we’re clutching at one another. Our eyes locked.

This isn’t how I was supposed to feel.

“Tell me it’s what you want,” Dante growls out his demand as I feel myself slipping into his abyss.

“Propose to me properly,” I say.

What am I doing?

“You want me to get down on my fucking knees, because I will,” he asks roughly.

I shake my head and try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me go.

I don’t want him to let me go.

“No. Not here. Not while you have me locked up.” I shake my head.

“I don’t see any bars, Adelina.” He drops my hands and spreads out his arms. “I also didn’t have a gun to your head when your mouth was around my cock. Or when you had your fingers in your cunt begging for my attention.”

I glance away.

I hate it when he does this. Forces me to acknowledge my own acceptance of this situation.

But did I have choice?

He pulls me up against his chest and I feel him rumble as he makes his next demand. “Tell me. Tell me you want me.”

Fuck.

I don’t know how I feel. I need to run. I need to get away. I want to kiss him. I want to see him drop to his knees and beg me to be his wife.

And yet...I am leaving him.

I press my lips to his, imaging the day I hear about his death in the news. When I have another name. Another face.

Another life.

Because I will.

It’s inevitable.

When I leave, Dante will lose his mind and turn darker than he already is. He’s just stepped into the role of don and already I see the power overtaking him.

“I’ve always wanted you,” I whisper because it’s not a lie, and I want him to know this much.

His hand slides between my legs, the split high enough that it takes little effort to find my sensitive spots, and he looks pained as he groans.

“Tonight you will sleep in my bed.” He rasps, and my legs wobble on my red heels as his fingers slides through my flesh. “Not as my prisoner, but as the woman I love.”

I gasp as they plunge inside me. His kiss silences the scream that would have followed.

A voice behind us clears its throat, startling us.

“I believe you want to speak to me.” The voice is strong and masculine.

One unfamiliar to me.

Dante freezes and tugs me behind him. “Your timing is fucking terrible.”