Chapter Ten #2
“You are his daughter,” I corrected gently.
“And he has no other children. For that fact and his own vanity, he would want you, but you are also a beautiful young woman he could offer to any number of friends in the Bratva, cementing his alliance through your marriage to whomever he wished. My guess is Knyazev was trying to direct the narrative by finding you and offering you in exchange for something he wants. And marrying you himself if Peskov doesn’t do as he asks. ”
“Always a marriage,” she groaned.
“I’m certain Peskov doesn’t want to see you on Knyazev’s arm, who’s nothing but a common killer in a tailored suit, and not even a very good tailor. No self-respecting father would want his daughter to marry a sadist like that.”
“Except mine,” she said bitterly. “Rego Calabretta, I mean.”
“Gaby, you must understand that he may not have had a choice. As a member of the 'Ndrangheta, he knows it is death to disobey their orders. He took a great risk even in warning you that a marriage was imminent, and he didn’t look for you very hard after you ran away, did he?”
She didn’t answer, but I could see her thinking about that.
“In any event, no matter what their exact plans are, no matter which of all these players wins, it will set up a permanent link between two very powerful groups and create a shift in the existing balance of power that will absolutely lead to war in the underworld.”
I stopped talking to give her time to process. It was a lot for anyone, and I could see her struggling to catch up to what I’d had time to assimilate for almost a week now. A shudder wracked her body.
Reaching out a shaking hand for her wine, she downed the contents of her glass and stood up.
Her movements were erratic as she walked across the deck to the edge where she planted her feet.
Was she gazing out at the horizon or were her eyes unfocused?
With her back to me, imagination was all I had.
Regardless of her expression, her posture shouted that she was overwhelmed. Time for this Dom to take over.
“Gabriella, come here.”
No response.
She stood motionless at the edge of the deck, staring out at the water.
Most people would have assumed she was looking at the sunset.
I knew better.
Her shoulders were rigid.
Her hands hung at her sides, fingers curled tightly into her palms.
She wasn't admiring the view.
She was retreating.
In the operating room, I'd learned to recognize shock in all its forms. Some patients screamed. Some cried. Others simply shut down when the truth became too much to process.
Gabriella had gone silent.
A few short minutes ago, she'd learned that everything she believed about her life might be a lie.
Her mother.
Her father.
Red.
Even her own identity.
The foundations beneath her feet had shifted, and she was struggling to find solid ground.
What she needed wasn't more information. Certainty. Someone to take the chaos from her hands for a little while and carry it for her.
“Gabriella,” I said more firmly.
She peeped over her shoulder, hesitating until she saw me stand up, and then at last, she scurried over to me.
I sat back in my chair and pulled her between my thighs, making us almost eye level.
“There is nothing to worry about, piccolina. I have everything under control. When we return, we’ll marry and remove you as a pawn from the game board.
Neither Calabretta nor Knyazev is going to risk a war with the Vitales. ”
“And a secondhand bride isn’t as valuable as an ignorant virgin,” Gaby said bitterly.
A tear escaped and gently tracked down her cheek.
“But how could my father do that? We’re close, you know, or I thought we were.
Was it always a lie? Did he only ever pretend to love me while he waited until I was useful to him? ”
I wanted to remind her that no matter his intentions, once Ivan Knyazev and Dimitri Peskov set up the board, Calabretta would have had no choice but to play the game.
His wife and remaining two daughters would be the first ones they’d kill if he refused, and they would make him watch. But my girl didn’t need to know that.
“I’m sure he wasn’t offered a choice.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
I brushed it away with my thumb.
The stubborn, fiery woman who challenged me at every turn suddenly looked heartbreakingly young.
Not weak.
Not helpless.
Just tired.
Tired of carrying burdens she was never meant to bear alone.
I’d watched her fight.
Fight her family.
Fight her fears.
Fight me.
Every instinct she possessed told her she stood alone against the world.
The realization settled heavily in my chest.
She wasn't supposed to do this alone.
Not anymore.
The decision I'd been wrestling with all week suddenly seemed absurdly simple.
I already knew what I wanted.
I already knew what I was willing to risk.
The only question left was whether Gabriella would let me stand beside her.
I tipped her chin up until her eyes met mine.
“Allegra Gabriella Calabretta, I want you as my wife.”
Her eyes held a hint of bewilderment at my words. “No.”
“Scusami? It was a rhetorical question, and the appropriate response is ‘yes.’”
She crossed her arms defensively, her lips moving into a pout, looking for a fight. So be it. I would allow it because she was hurting and needed to let off some steam. Then I’d fuck her until she was boneless and the only word on her lips was ‘yes’.
“I can’t marry you, Tano,” she argued. “For starters, we barely know each other. And two, you never would have asked if I wasn’t in trouble and I won’t marry a man just because he’s taken pity on me. And—” She pointed one finger close to my face. “—your multiple personalities give me whiplash!”
“And there's something else.”
I hesitated.
For all my bravado, these were the words that frightened me most.
“You wouldn't be asking if I wasn't in danger.”
My expression didn't change.
“If there were no Russians. No oligarchs. No fathers trying to use me as a bargaining chip...” Her voice softened. “Would you still want me?”
I tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.
“Yes.”
Her lips parted, but I didn’t give her the chance to interrupt.
“The Russians may have forced my hand on the timing, Gabriella, but they didn’t put you in my bed.
They didn’t make me spend every waking moment wondering where you were when you disappeared.
They didn’t make me want to protect you, punish you, laugh with you, or wake up with your hair all over my damn pillow. ”
Her eyes softened.
“I wanted you before I knew who you were. Before I knew you were in danger. Before I knew marrying you would solve a single fucking problem.”
I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip. “So yes, tesorina. If none of this existed, I would still want you. The only difference is I might have been stubborn enough to take longer admitting it.”
A smile tugged at her lips.
“Anything else?”
She crossed her arms once again. “Aren’t those reasons enough?”
I drew in a slow breath. “Try looking at this from a position where you don’t get a say.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“What would you do if our roles were reversed?”
She chewed her bottom lip as she eyed me up and down. “I suppose I would weigh out my choices by making a pros and cons list.”
This time I couldn’t hold back the laughter. “Is that right? Oh please, do share this list with me.”
She grinned at me, her eyes dancing with mischief. I may be opening a can of worms here, but I would do anything to take away the look of defeat she’d had since I broke the news.
Positioning herself on my lap to face me, she wrapped her legs snugly around my waist. “Pros: you are sexy, handsome, really smart, thoughtful and attentive when you want to be, and professional when you need to be. I like your body, especially this.” She pressed her greedy cunt against my cock.
It lengthened inside my pants. I was like a horny teenager around this woman!
The silk she wore did nothing to hide her scent that soaked the thin material between us and I breathed it in hungrily.
She inspired me to throw her down and shove my cock deep inside her slick pussy.
What happened to the cold, controlled Tano that could play in the Club Carnage dungeon and never have feelings?
“And the cons?”
“Easy! You’re bossy, demanding and seem to suffer from multiple personality disorder as I never know which Tano I’m going to get. You are stubborn and a workaholic. Your turn.”
I could have said a lot of things, but instead I chose to show her. Standing up with her legs hugging my hips, I carried her inside and up to my room.
“Pros,” I announced. “You’re tiny and light, and I like tossing you on my bed,” I added, demonstrating.
She bounced in the cushions, then scrambled up to her knees, hands on her hips.
“What else?”
“Lay on your back, Gaby, and hang your head off the edge.”
Once she was in place, I stepped up to her face and peered down. “You are a natural submissive and that works for me. Now open your mouth.”
She did.
I slid my cargos and boxers down to my knees. “Take my cock in your mouth.”
She obeyed without pause.
“I love that hot little mouth of yours and the way you moan around my cock.”
She moaned obligingly, the vibrations making my cock swell.
“You like my cock in your mouth, don’t you, baby girl?”
My cock popped out of her mouth when she answered. “Yes, Sir.” Then she took it in her hand and smeared my precum all over her face. My cock glided easily over her soft skin. It was hot as hell!
I leaned over her and ripped open her flimsy top. Her breasts popped free, nipples pebbled and begged for attention.