Chapter Nine #2
I glance at the menu, but the words blur into nothing. Damiano must sense my hesitation because, without missing a beat, he suggests the tiramisu.
“It’s to die for, I promise.”
I snicker, teasing, “I’d rather live, but if you say it’s that good, I’ll give it a try.”
That gets me a playfully stern look, and I can’t help but giggle at how it clashes with his usual predatory charm.
But then his face hardens. His jaw clenches and the moment shifts. The lightness I’ve been feeling slips away, replaced by a tension I can’t quite place.
Shit, am I making a fool of myself?
I cringe, suddenly self-conscious. “Sorry,” I mutter, regretting my slip.
He covers my hand with his, warm and steady. “Don’t ever apologize for being you. In fact, I’m enjoying myself more than I have in years, and that’s all thanks to you.”
Surprised, I look up, meeting his gaze. There is nothing but earnestness in his eyes. He squeezes my hand and, for a moment, the rest of the world fades away, leaving only the two of us, locked in a moment of unexpected intimacy.
Then he drops the bomb. “I have an offer for you.”
I stare blankly at him.
“Be my wife.”
I almost laugh because my hearing has failed me. Or maybe the wine has gone straight to my ears. Or he’s joking. That has to be it. I jerk my hand back.
His eyes are dead serious. Not even a twitch of a smile.
“Your what?” I hear myself shriek, voice pitching up far louder than I intended.
A few heads turn from neighboring tables, and heat rushes to my face. I lean in, lowering my voice to a furious hiss. “If this is some kind of sick joke, it’s not funny.”
“It’s not a joke,” he replies calmly—too calmly. “It’s a business arrangement. Think of it as…a merger.”
“A merger,” I repeat, staring at him like he’s grown a second head. Apparently, my brain has packed its bags and flown straight through the window.
“Yes,” he says, utterly unfazed. “A merging of our two families.”
I gape at him, stunned. “But…why?” I manage, the word catching in my throat.
His gaze sharpens, intensity rolling off him in waves. “You become my wife, and everything I have—wealth, power, protection—is yours.”
I let out a breathless, incredulous laugh, expecting him to crack a smile and say, “Just kidding.” But he doesn’t. He merely watches me with his steady, unflinching gaze.
Shit.
He is serious. Dead serious. I swallow hard, suddenly stone-cold sober
“And what would you gain in this…arrangement?”
“The other families are getting restless. They’re demanding that the head of the famiglia settle down and produce heirs. Besides, it’s getting tiresome having every family parade their daughter in front of me, hoping one will catch my interest.”
I let out an unbelieving snort. “So, what you’re offering is for me to be…what? Your guard dog against meddling mothers and a broodmare to carry your heirs all in one?”
Dammit, the wine definitely muddled my brain and my thoughts are flying all over the place. I want to slap a hand over my mouth but I am also feeling fury rise and can’t stop it from spilling out anymore.
Is he for real, making me of all people such an offer?
He must sense that I am losing it and holds up his hands in an appeasing gesture.
“Look, I know that sounds—”
“Damiiaaaanooo,” a high-pitched voice purrs from close behind me. My head whips around so fast the room tilts for a second.
A stunning blonde in a designer dress is gliding toward our table like she owns the place. She brushes past me with practiced grace and extends her perfectly manicured hand toward Damiano, clearly expecting it to be kissed.
I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes into another dimension.
Damiano’s face hardens, his jaw tightening as he pointedly ignores her hand. “Hello…Melinda.”
“It’s Melissa, and you know it, honey,” she corrects, flashing him a saccharine smile. “You were screaming it not too long ago. All night long, remember?”
Her eyes finally flick to me, and she adds a wink for good measure.
Classy.
She turns back to him, her voice still high and sticky-sweet. “It’s been soooo long since we had any fun. Want to join me tonight? You still have my number, right?”
I suddenly feel like I might be sick. The wine churns in my stomach.
Damiano scowls, his tone dark. “Melissa, now is not the time—”
“Mind if I join you guys?” she coos, gesturing toward the table like it’s her rightful throne.
“In fact, I do—” Damiano begins.
But I cut him off, voice ice-cold, and turn to the woman. “Not at all, honey. Go ahead. Actually, we’re done here. You can have my chair.”
He turns toward me, clearly about to object, but I’m already rising to my feet.
“There is nothing appealing about your offer, Mr. Santaluccia,” I say, my tone formal and dagger-sharp.
“So I must politely decline. I’m sure you will find a more suitable partner for your…
merger.” I throw a pointed glance at the blonde, who is now positively glowing beside our table.
Then I turn on my heel and bolt out of the restaurant before anyone can blink.
I hail a cab and, just as luck would have it, one screeches to a halt right in front of me, mere inches from my legs.
I slide into the backseat, already reaching for the door to close it behind me.
But before I can pull it shut, the door is yanked out of my grasp and a very furious Damiano is staring down at me.
“You can’t leave, Lily. I will drive you home.”
My anger is boiling over. “In fact, I can and I will leave, Mr. Santaluccia. Since I declined your generous offer, you cannot order me around like one of your underlings. Now if you could let go of the door, I have places to be and none of them is here.”
He grits his teeth as he visibly struggles for control. I feel a surge of fear when his hand moves to the breast pocket of his suit jacket. But he merely retrieves a leather wallet from which he takes out a few bills he carelessly throws to the cab driver, his eyes still locked on mine.
“Take her safely home and do not leave until she is inside and has locked the door, do you understand? If something happens to her, I will know where to find you and your family, and you wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Before I can even react, he moves with such speed that I’m caught off guard.
He seizes the back of my neck, yanking me toward him with an unrelenting force.
His lips crash onto mine in a bruising, punishing kiss that leaves me breathless.
My surprised gasp gives him full access to swipe his tongue in, conquering my mouth like his life depends on it.
My toes curl and a very undignified moan slips out before I can stop it.
When he pulls back, his breath is as ragged as mine, both of us struggling to regain control.
He brushes his lips over my forehead and orders in a raspy voice, “Be a good girl. I will be in touch.”
The cab pulls away and a very pale driver looks through the rear mirror at a very breathless me.
“You okay, miss?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.
I nod, still dazed, my mind racing to process everything that just happened. The shock of it lingers, settling heavily in my chest, making it hard to breathe properly.
“You want to go to the police or somewhere?” he tentatively asks.
“What?” I look up at him in confusion then realization hits. I shake my head. He looks at me with kindness.
“No, don’t worry. He seems a bit…intense, but he wouldn’t harm me. Thank you for taking care of a stranger.” I try to look reassuring while I smile at him. “And he won’t hurt your family, I promise.”
At least, I hope he won’t.