CHAPTER TWENTY

DANTE

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Braxton shrugs. “Let’s call it payback for visiting my family with a bunch of oozies from the nineteen fucking seventies.”

Fair enough.

I glance around and can’t believe his presence hasn’t alerted Nick and Jono. Then again, I can barely see the US Marine standing in the shadows.

Adelina is behind me while I grip her wrist.

I’m not happy that he snuck up on us right at that moment. No man would. I was finally getting through to her. I could see the emotion in her eyes. She wants this. She fucking wants this. The frozen walls of her heart were finally melting away.

But we have time, and this is important.

I glare over at Nick, who finally does a double take, curses, then marches over, Jono in tow.

“The fuck!” He growls.

“Step out so they can see you, or they’re gonna shoot you,” I say calmly, tempted to let it happen.

I don’t.

I hold my hand up to slow them.

Braxton takes two steps out, lifting his brow at me, while side-eyeing the boys.

Jesus, the confidence of this asshole!

I’m reminded that he’s fooled me before, so this is no time to let my guard down. He acted like he was one of us, but tonight he doesn’t look like a gangster. Sure, he’s dressed like the rest of us in an expensive penguin suit, but now that he’s standing in front of me, I can see he’s a true-blue American boy.

One of the good guys.

A US Marine.

His entire demeanor is different to the one Gianna introduced us to. The middleman who could make us money and move shipments.

I grit my teeth.

“Dante,” Adelina whispers, tugging at me.

“You’re fine. He won’t hurt you,” I say, as my men surround us.

Braxton nods in confirmation.

“You aren’t alone,” I say, glancing around when he nods once more.

How the fuck did he get into this event?

“Barrett,” I say, not bothering to ask the question.

Braxton doesn’t bother answering.

Instead, cool as a cucumber, he slides his hands into his pockets and smiles.

Fuck me.

I hate that I like this guy so much.

But I have a little surprise for him that’s going to wipe the smile off his face, so I let the word games unfold.

“I need to go to the restroom,” Adelina suddenly whispers into my back.

Jesus Christ.

“Kitten. Kinda of in the middle of something here.” I flick my eyes to Nick and then down at her hand, which is now on my arm.

“It’s... kinda urgent.” She pushes.

Fuck's sake.

“I’ll take her,” Jono offers.

Braxton glances around my team and quickly at Adelina, the back at me. “I’m walking out of here in two-and-a-half minutes.”

Fuck.

There’s no way the men protecting him will let him just hang out and chat. I am not surprised he has a time limit.

Nick undoes his jacket in response to what could have sounded like a threat.

“Don’t do that.” Braxton slides his eyes over to Nick and shakes his head.

It’s an order.

Yet again, I’m amused. I shouldn’t be, but I am.

Nick glances at me, uncertain, then back at Braxton.

“Dante.” Adelina squeezes my arm as I shake my head at Nick.

“Fuck. Okay. Take her,” I say to Jono. “Bring her back here immediately.”

“Got it.”

She moves out from behind me and blinks at Braxton—I figure because she couldn’t see him from behind my broad back—then surprises me by reaching up and kissing me on the lips.

I wrap an arm around her and tug her hard against me, not willing to let anything or anyone take this moment from me.

She drops back on her feet, smiles up at me almost sadly, then kisses me once more.

An icy shiver runs through me.

“Don’t let anyone near her.” I growl at Jono as he leads her back into the party. I glance at Nick. “Go with them.”

“No way.” He glares at Braxton.

Fuck. I know he’s right.

It’s unlikely the Marine is going to shoot me or do anything stupid. If the authorities had anything on me, I’d be in cuffs already.

But I’m a don now and my life is valuable. There is no heir to take over the family.

Gianna is alive, but women still do not lead mafias.

With the odd exception.

In New York...she’d be eaten alive.

An urgency to have Adelina back in my arms spurs me on.

Jesus, I told her I loved her.

Tonight you will sleep in my bed. Not as my prisoner, but as the woman I love.

It fell out. But I do. I fucking love her. I have always loved her. There was a reason I went straight to her the moment I could safely get away after my father died.

As don, I knew I could finally claim her.

I could have hidden in any number of places, but I went to her...and she let me in.

“So,” I say, crossing my arms and leaning back against the railing. “Braxton Ashford. I’m going to need my sister back.”

He removes his hands from his pocket and walks to lean against the railing beside me.

“Minor problem with that,” he says, turning to me. “She’s my wife.”

Oh, Jesus fucking Christ.