CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DANTE

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I walk a few yards behind her as Mikey and Dom cruise along beside me.

“Boss. Do you want us to drive up ahead?” Dom asks.

I keep walking.

They keep cruising.

This went as well as could be expected.

I use the napkin to wipe more of the cupcake off my face. It really was delicious. But I could have done without the sticky mess.

“Park a few houses up from her house.” I tell them and they glance at one another. “Now.”

The car pulls away despite their reluctance, and I walk faster.

“Talk to me,” I say as I catch up to Addy.

“I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to go home. And I’m not telling you that I love you,” she snaps, stomping as she walks.

I keep my pace, walking alongside her.

“Just go.” She stops and punches me on the chest. “Go away. Let me live my life. Go away.”

Okay, this is probably not great. A few people glance our way, and I glare at them. Mostly they keep walking.

The cops better not get called.

“If you want the police to find a certain missing person, then keep up this tantrum, kitten.” I grab her arm to stop the assault.

“Who cares? You’re taking me back there, anyway. Or whatever you choose to do with me. Ugh.”

“Am I?” I lift a brow.

“Or killing me. Whatever.” She shrugs.

I frown.

“Christ. Let’s get you inside.” I shake my head and steer her along the road to her little home.

Adelina glares at me when she unlocks the door, and it bangs open. I catch it and follow her inside, stopping to check the boys are across the street.

Mickey nods at me.

Then I shut the door.

“I like what you have done with the place,” I say, sitting on the sofa with my legs spread open.

“You’re a fucking asshole,” Adelina replies, tossing her phone on the coffee table.

Then she crosses her arms and stares down at me.

I stare back.

We’re at a crossroads. One of us has to make a move because I have a feeling she’s got secrets and so do I.

“Sit.” I reach out my hand.

There is only one spot for her, and that’s next to me. It takes her a moment, but she flings her arms out in resignation and walks around the coffee table and flops down.

“It’s time to put our cards on the table, Addy.”

“Whatever. You know you hold all the cards, Dante.”

I turn my body and cup her face. “This time, that’s not true.”

I see the confusion in her eyes and drop my hand. Then pull the documents out of my jeans back pocket. Adelina takes them and realization fills her eyes.

Her fake identification.

After she’s cursed, she glances up at me.

“Why are you giving these to me? You could have just destroyed them. What’s going on?”

“Let’s call this checkmate. I’m going to tell you a secret that could get me killed. And obviously”—I glance around her new abode—“I’m in a position to destroy your life.”

I hate pointing that out, but we both know it’s true.

She swallows and nods, hate filling her eyes.

I draw in a long breath as I consider voicing this for the first time with someone I want to trust but am not sure I can.

I might love this fucking woman, but she is a mafia princess.

With one call, she could have everyone I loved killed.

“I’m shutting down the Baldassare operations,” I tell her, the words barely leaving my mouth.

Fear slides through my veins and burns.

My life is in her hands now, and Adelina is informed enough to know this.

“How?” She swallows loudly. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because when I push the button, I’ll be the one disappearing...and Addy, you will never find me once I do.”

Her faces pales.

I watch as she pieces it all together. How I will never be able to stay living in the United States and will need a new identity, just like her, to stay alive.

Not just me, but those I love.

“What about Gianna?” she whispers.

“She’s safe.”

“Dante, is this a joke, because if you’re lying to me...if this is a ploy to get me to admit my feelings, then I’m going to...I’m going to be really mad.”

My lips twitch and she frowns. She’s so fucking close to saying it.

I lay my hand on her thigh and feel her properly for the first time in days. Her eyes press closed, and it’s then I see just how much she’s missed me.

Without second guessing myself, I pull her onto my lap so she’s straddling me.

“I’d do anything to hear you say you love me. That you’d marry me. That you can’t live without me, Adelina Baldoni. Fucking anything.”

Her hands drop to my shoulders and those stunning green eyes lock with mine.

“Is this why you are doing it?” she whispers, searching my face for answers.

“No. My father’s death surprised me. I thought it would happen when I was older, but I’ve been struggling with some of the industry we trade in. Leaving you was not an option, or I may have done it years ago,” I confess.

“I didn’t know.”

“I’m serious about this, Addy. No humans have moved through the business since I took control.”

She smiles.

Hope blooms in my chest every second she stays on my lap. My cock gets a little excited having her so close.

But I stay focused.

I need her to know everything.

“The rest I can’t put into action until I set up a few things.” I cup her face, rubbing my thumb over her cheek.

She softens under my touch, and all I want to do is kiss her.

“Ask me again,” Adelina says suddenly. “Ask me again, Dante.”

My heart slams into my chest, thumping like I’m being chased by a fucking lion.

Is she joking?

I sit up, almost dropping her off my lap and stare into her emerald eyes like she’s speaking French or something.

She giggles.

“If you are messing with me right now Addy, I will...”

“Hurry up before I change my mind.” She nudges my pec.

The fucking hell?

I’m not sure if I’m hearing her right, but I stand up, scooping her with me, and then place her on the sofa.

She giggles again and I’m so fucking—almost—happy I think I’m going to die. I push the coffee table so hard out of the way it flies across the room.

“Hey, that’s my new table!”

“Don’t care. Stay right there.” I say and get to my knees.

Fuck, I don’t have a ring.

Oh yes, I do...I pull off my family crescent ring and take her hand.

“Adelina Maria Angela Baldoni. Will you do me the honor of finally being my fucking wife?” I rumble.

“Say it again without cursing.”

This fucking woman.

“Marry me. Goddamn you.”

She giggles. Then throws her arms around my neck with full force, knocking us both onto the floor and kissing me.

She kisses me for so long I never want it to end.

I grab her face with both hands once I’m on top of her.

“Say the words, woman.” I demand roughly.

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Dante Frank Matthew Baldassare.” She grins, and I kiss her all over again.

Finally.

I met this girl when she was born.

I remember her mother carrying her out of the car when I was almost five. Leo, her proud brother almost the same age as me, walked beside them, staring up at the baby as if it was his job to look after her.

Well, now, it’s mine.

I knew that the moment Mrs. Baldoni crouched and let me see Adalina for the first time.

“Don’t touch,” she told me as Addy scrunched up her face and little bubbles escaped her tiny mouth.

I’d never seen anything more beautiful.

I glanced up at her mom and all the adults around me and smiled.

“She can be my best friend when she’s big enough,” I told them proudly.

Everyone laughed.

Well, jokes on them.

I always knew she belonged to me.

Addy tugs at my top, so I reach over my head and pull it off. Her hands slide over my chest and down my abs to my belt.

“Let me do that.” I undo it and half stand, ripping off my jeans. Then I pull her up to a sitting position and remove her sundress. Underneath, she wears a pair of cotton panties and bra.

Prettiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

She hands me back the ring. “No offense, but I’ll wait for the real one. One not associated with the world we both want to escape.”

I take it and slide it back on. I’m not offended. I know what this signifies.

She’s right.

That’s not the ring she will wear as my wife.

“It will probably have to be a plastic one. I’ll be poor.” I smirk.

“Poor isn’t so bad.” She climbs to her knees, and we sit facing one another. “Although it’s been like five days, so what do I know?”

I tug her against me.

“You will have everything you ever need.”

I have no intention of being poor. Connor will help me move the money once the assets are sold. Plus, I’m a valuable asset myself to a high paying agency with three letters.

“Make love to me, Dante.” She leans in and kisses me. “I dreamed of you this morning, and I really need your cock.”

She did?

Jesus Christ.

It was already hard, but my cock jerks at her words.

I stand and lift her to her feet, removing her underwear. Then I cup her breast and flick one of her nipples.

“What happened in this dream?”

“You threatened to tie me up.” She blushes.

I smile darkly. “You like that?”

She shrugs. “Maybe.”

She likes it.

“Then maybe I better tie you up so you can’t run away again,” I say, lifting her around my waist and walking into her bedroom.

I spot her dressing gown. Ripping out the tie, I place her on the bed.

“Arms out.”

Without hesitation, she gives me her wrists and I’m so fucking hard I’m not sure I can wait to lick her pussy before finally sinking into her.

But I will.

I loop the material around her wrists as her eyes lift to mine and my cock turns to granite.

“Back up on the bed,” I say, and she shuffles up. Then I tie her to the bedframe.

“Oh god,” she says shakily, her nipples hardening.

I slide down my briefs as she wriggles to get comfortable.

“Widen your legs and let me see your wet pussy, baby.”

I run my hand down my hard length and my mouth waters as she follows my instructions.

“I’m going to eat your needy cunt, then I’m going to fill it and make love to you.” I climb on the bed and position myself between her thighs. “No other man is ever seeing you or tasting you again.”

I run my tongue across her clit.

“Fuck,” she cries, tugging at the restraints.

Then I do it again.

And again.

I grip her thighs, pull them apart wider, and suck hard on the nub.

“Dante!” she cries again louder.

“Mine,” I growl, lapping and sucking like she’s a god- damn peach.

She is.

Her creamy juices pour from her, and I drink it all.

Plunging my fingers inside I feel her shuddering, nearing release. I curl them and hit the spot, reaching for my cock as she falls over the edge.