The demon reminded me of Elise’s father.
No.
My voice is a strangled cry. “Why? Why is he here?”
Orlando gives me a withering look. “Why is he here? Because he owes us his life because of what you and Elise did. He’s probably come to grovel at Romeo’s fucking feet and throw his daughter under a bus, isn’t he? We’ll see. I have to go deal with him.” But something troubles him. He doesn’t trust Regazza, I’m sure of it.
I wouldn’t either.
Orlando reaches the door and then shakes his head. “Jesus, I don’t trust you in here.”
I’m on my feet, pacing a few feet behind him. “I’m not going to do anything, I—”
He tosses a palm up to stop me. “No, Angelina. I don’t trust that you’re safe here.” He scowls at the uniformed men outside the door, armed to the teeth. “Not when Regazza’s here.” Without warning, he spins on his heel and reaches for me.
He tangles his fingers in my hair and yanks me over to him. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m so sorry for all of this.”
It’s the last thing I expect him to say. I rest my head in the hollow of his neck and force myself not to cry, not again.
“Me, too,” I whisper.
His mouth is on mine, hot and insistent. My head falls back and my knees buckle, but he holds me upright against him. I love this man so much it makes me ache inside. His tongue plunders my mouth, and I taste the wet saltiness of tears, his or mine I don’t know.
“I’ll do whatever I have to, Angelina. I’m going to bargain with Romeo. We have hard and fast rules, but I’ve given everything for my family. It’s time I asked them to give back.”
Hope blooms in my heart. Does he…does he think he can make this work?
“What do you mean?” I whisper.
“I don’t know yet,” he whispers back. “But I know I’m not going to let this go.” He holds me so fiercely it hurts, but it’s just what I need.
“We’ll have rules, Angelina. We’ll have to start from the very beginning.”
“We will.” I close my eyes and hold him tighter. “I can do that.”
I want to show him the real me, not the half-hearted version of me pretending to be someone else. And I want to know the real him—the one unencumbered with the demands of making me his. The one who chose me to be his wife.
Will they even allow it? Or will he, like so many others, be exiled from everyone he’s known and loved?
I know I’m not the only one he’s obligated to. I know this.
“Go upstairs with me. And you do exactly what I say. This is not the time to step even one tiny little toe out of line.”
I nod. My heart feels as if it’s going to burst, my pulse races so fast. Elise’s father made me quake before I had reason to fear him.
“Quickly, Angelina. Tell me about Elise.”
I don’t expect the question. “What?”
“Was she really raised mafia?”
“She was. She hated it because her father’s ruthless and as an only child she had the full force of his attention. She’s a little spoiled, likes to shop. But she’s loyal and kind and hardworking.”
He nods. “Good to know.”
I can’t imagine what bargaining chip he has up his sleeve.
I gather up my courage and draw in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. I can do this. We can do this. It isn’t just me; it isn’t just Orlando. I’m having his baby. We’re a family now, and no matter what happens, I’m going to do whatever it takes to take care of my family.
CHAPTER 18
“Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better.” ~ Twelfth Night, Shakespeare
Orlando
There comes a time in a man’s life when he has to make the right decision—for himself, for his family, for the course of the rest of his life. And I know in my heart I’ve made the right decision.
I’ve given my whole life to The Family. I’d lay down my life for my brothers. But I’m not going to turn my back on the woman I love for the sake of rules and codes that were written before I was even born. Before Romeo was, even. Rules were meant to be broken, and sometimes laws need to change.
We’ve never married for love, it’s only happened accidentally. But this time…this time I choose love. This time I choose Angelina. If I’d been in her position, would I have even had the courage to do what she did?
But first, we deal with Regazza. Together.
Romeo’s arranged it so Regazza sits in the reception room at the entrance to The Castle, the room where he hosts all our guests, which means Angelina and I have to walk the entirety of The Castle to get to them. Through the library, past the kitchen and pantry, through the sun room, then past the courtyard and Great Hall I hold Angelina’s hand.