Page 14 of Dangerous Intent

“I can’t make any promises. Don’t push me.”

“I’m not pushing you. I’m protecting you.”

“I can’t do this right now.” She got off the couch and turned her back on me.

“You need to make a choice.” I tried to stay calm as I considered everything she had been through this week. “This is no time for your erratic behavior.”

I stood behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist and sliding my other hand to her throat. “Either marry me or walk away and take your chances.”

FOUR

Lissia

What the helldid Marchello want from me?The weight of his ultimatum pressed down on me, stifling my ability to breathe more than the grip he had on my throat ever could.

Six hours ago I buried my father. Now, I found out Marchello’s father was the reason he was dead and that my father had sold me again to a brutal man who wanted to do vile things to me.

I spun around to face Marchello. “I don’t deal well with ultimatums. You should know that by now.”

The coldness of the room intensified my numbness.

“I know better than anyone.” He slipped his shirt off, and placed it over his jacket that was already on the chair.

His muscular chest tempted me. Now wasn’t the right time for sex, but feeling him inside me was the only thing I needed. Losing myself in his forceful, authoritative strength would get me through this horrible nightmare.

He ran his hand through his hair, his bicep practically popping out of his arm. “What my father told you wasn’t easy to hear, but it was true. He trusted you with important information.”

“I’m not going to turn against him.”

“I know you would never do that.” He took my hand. “I just wanted you to know he realizes how important you are to me.”

“Marchello.” I let go of his hand. “I don’t care.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to have this conversation right now.” I walked through the archway that led to the bedroom. “It’s too much.”

The news that my father basically signed my death warrant when he gave the order for me to be sold to a man I didn’t know against my will was too much. The fact that this was the second time was ridiculous.

Guilt had filled me from the moment Marchello told me my dad was murdered. Why did I fight with him? Why did I betray him? What could I have done differently so that he would still be alive? I couldn’t help but feel like everything that had happened up until the moment I learned that Nico pulled the trigger was my fault.

And now all of that guilt exploded into pain and sorrow. I grieved, but not because he was dead. No, I was in mourning over the loss of a man who had never been who I thought he was.

“What can I do for you?” Marchello came up behind. “I’ll make everything right.”

“Nothing will ever be right for us.”

How could it be? We were doomed from the start.

“Your father was right,” I said. “Men like you don’t need attachments. You can’t do your job if I’m in the way.”

“You’re all over the place.” He reached for my arm. “I understand why, but pushing me away isn’t going to help you.”

“It might.” I yanked out of his hold. “I think I need some space.”

Space was the last thing I needed. I wanted to be with Marchello more than anything, but it didn’t feel right. Not when I had all of this guilt and anger over what had happened with my father. How could I ever feel safe in the arms of a man whose family dismantled mine?

“I don’t want you to be tender or nice to me.” I moved toward him. “That’s not who we are.”