Defiant. Sweet. Alluring.
A business deal gone wrong brought me to her doorstep.
She's everything I shouldn't want; everything I was against after watching my mother's obsession destroy her.
Still, I can't stop myself from craving her.
I should know...
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I SAT QUIETLY ON THE SOFA, watching Matteo pace back and forth in the living room, his shoulders tense.
Mamà sat beside me, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed quietly.
The Made men and the Russian brothers had left over an hour ago, but Mamà and Matteo still hadnt gotten over the new development of things.
I couldnt blame them.
I was still reeling from everything that had happened.
Matteo, sit down, and lets talk about things, Enzo finally said with a tired sigh.
Matteo paused briefly to address Enzo. Theres nothing to discuss. Were not giving Ari away to them.
Uncle Frederico is right. We will lose everything.
Uncle Frederico has no right to talk. Do you think hed give up his daughters so easily if he were in our shoes?
We dont know that. Lets stop making up hypotheticals.
Matteo scowled down at Enzo. So, youre willing to give Ari over to those Bratva bastards?
Until we can come up with a solution, theres nothing we can do. This hit us smack dab in the face. We havent had time to strategize. Our hands are tied until we come up with a plan.
I pulled out my phone, typing out a text to Matteo. I agree with Enzo. I trust you, Teo. I know you will come up with a solution. You always do. Until then, marrying Aleksei is the right choice if we want to protect our family.
Matteo reached for his phone, reading the text I sent to him. His eyes softened when he met mine and I smiled at him reassuringly. Id done enough running in my lifetime. It was time to stand firm and protect the ones I loved.
Ari, but
But nothing. I trust you. For now, let me handle Aleksei. I cant stand by and watch him take everything away from us.
His jaws tightened, and he nodded after reading the text.
Youre agreeing to this, Matteo? Mamà asked, shooting to her feet, disbelief coloring every syllable.
Its the right thing to do, Ma, Enzo said. For now, he added to pacify her. As soon as Matteo and I come up with something, were going to take her away from Aleksei.
What if he hurts her before we can save her? She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. They can have all the money. Just dont give my daughter away. She burst into fresh tears, her shoulders shaking with every sound she made.
I rose to my feet, throwing my arms around Mamà, letting her sob against my chest. I rubbed small circles on her back, silently comforting her.
I understood her worry for me, but at the same time, it had to be done.
I couldnt sit back and watch everything get taken away from my family.
I just had to stick it up to Aleksei, and let him know that I wasnt going to be a doormat to him in our marriage.
