Page 132 of Dangerous Intent

“He shouldn’t have come for you.” Marchello rubbed my shoulders. “He underestimated you, and he paid with his life. In time, you will understand that. It was him or you, and I’m glad it wasn’t you.”

I turned to face him, taking comfort in his warm gaze. His eyes were softer, not full of his usual torment. If anyone could understand what I felt, it would be him.

“Danny was so interested in… He wanted to hurt me so much that he didn’t realize I had the knife in my hand.” I shivered at the memory of him getting my underwear down my legs. “He dropped his gun during our struggle and didn’t bother to pick it up. I used that to my advantage. He was so focused on…”

“Shh.” Marchello held me against his chest.

His touch was gentle, as if he thought I might break. But I wasn’t broken. Not yet. I clung to him, not because I needed saving, but because I needed to feel human again. Together, we could be something stronger, something unshakable. At least, that was what I wanted to believe.

“However you were able to fight him off doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m just glad you did and he didn’t get the chance to hurt you any more than he already had.”

“I was terrified.” I’d pushed back that fear so I could do what I had to do, but in those moments after I killed him, while I waited for Marchello, the weight of my actions crashed into me. I was going to have to deal with my actions forever.

“I’m sorry.” He lifted me onto the counter. “Danny may be out of our lives, but I don’t think the threat is over.”

“Diego is far worse than Danny, isn’t he?” The thought of Diego running around filled me with concern. Could we handle another enemy? Would we survive the next one?

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, you can do whatever you have to.” I held up my hand. “I’m not interested in helping with this one. I won’t get in your way, and I won’t mess anything up. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Really?”

“You were right.”

His lips curved into a sexy side smile. “I think I’m speechless.”

“I’m serious,” I said, even if stifling his argumentative side filled me with a certain sense of pride.

“What was I right about?” He swiped my hair to the side and gently kissed the corner of my mouth. “Tell me.”

“I don’t want to be a mafia moll.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He unbuttoned his bloodstained shirt. “You’re more of a boss anyway.”

“I’m going to leave that to you too.” I slipped the shirt from his shoulders. “I’ll stick with renovating the club. That seems like a sure way to avoid any issues with your business.”

“That’s probably a good idea, but we may have to put that project on hold for a bit.” He traced the bruise underneath my eye, and his jaw tightened. “We have to put ice on this.”

“Things could have been a lot worse,” I said. “I’m here with you and not with Diego.”

There were other things that could have happened to me tonight, but I didn’t want to think about that anymore.

“Diego is the reason we have to put a pin in you renovating the club.” Marchello took my hand in his. “I have to dig deep and find out who he is and where he comes from. Your father may have set this situation with Diego in motion, but there’s more to this story. This isn’t about three million dollars.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I was hoping we could work together.”

“I thought you would be happy that I didn’t want to be part of your business, and now you want me to help?”

“Under my direct supervision. No going rogue, no ridiculous impulses. We’re going to have a controlled environment. One where there is no room for error.”

“When we get home?” I couldn’t wait to sleep in our bed. I wanted to see Ricardo and my mother. And maybe Nico could find a way to come home in time for Christmas. I’d have to get Ricardo to add Nico’s return to his mother’s prayer chain.

“Not exactly.”

“Well, if we’re not going back to the house, are we going to the penthouse? I think I might like staying in the city for the holidays. Milo can stay with us. Maybe Ricardo. We could be there when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. I know it’s crowded, but it’s fun. We’ll have a party. My mom can stay with us too.”