Page 45 of Dangerous Intent

“I need to assist Lorenzo with some business. He wants me to meet with members of a cartel that I have not vetted yet. It would be irresponsible of me to take you back to Miami after what happened last time.”

“If it’s so irresponsible, why would you go?”

He threw his hand in the air. “Haven’t we been through enough these past few months? Why haven’t you learned that every time you go rogue on me, our lives blow up?”

“Why haven’t you learned that’s who we are?”

“That isn’t who we have to be.” He ran his hand along his jaw. “I’m not doing this with you. Not now. Not here.”

Maybe going back and forth with him—screaming, yelling, and fighting until everything made sense—was what I needed.

“I’m going to Miami, you’re staying here,” he declared with such confidence that I couldn’t help but challenge him.

“I’m going with you.”

The thought of him leaving me when I needed him the most made my stomach churn and my heart hurt. How could he do that to me?

“No, you’re not.” He stepped toward me, tracing his fingers along my neck and backing me into the wall.

“Watch me.”

His menacing eyes glared into mine as he wrapped his hand around my throat, paralyzing my vocal cords.

“You might want to rethink your approach.” He leaned into my ear, forcing a chill to course through me as he said, “I already warned you that I’m all out of patience. So, go ahead, princess, try me.”

ELEVEN

Marchello

Why doesLissia push me every time? Couldn’t we get through one day without madness—without fighting and trying to tear one another down?

“I’m sorry.” Lissia tugged at my hand in an attempt to get me to release her. “Chello.”

“That’s the thing.” I let go of her delicate throat. “I don’t believe you.”

“That’s a shitty thing to say when someone apologizes.”

“You’re not sorry. If you were, you wouldn’t keep doing it.”

The sharp crack of my fist hitting the wall by her head reverberated down the hallway and quieted the hum of voices in the distance.

Lissia flinched, curling her fists at her sides as if she braced herself for another blow. But no matter how insane she made me, I would never lay a hand on her like that.

I straightened one of the pictures on the wall as I tried to calm myself down. “Your behavior is my fault because I’m the one who keeps putting up with your shit.”

“I said I was sorry.” She looked at her feet. “I don’t want to be without you. Why don’t you get that? I don’t want you to go without me.”

“And I don’t want to be told what to do.”

Going to Miami wasn’t about leaving her. It was about me doing my job and keeping her safe. I had an obligation to this family. I would not allow her to derail me again.

Milo came into the hallway and stood next to me. “Is everything okay over here? Things look a little intense.”

“That’s just us.” I glanced at my watch. It was time to get the hell out of here. “You should be used to it by now.”

“Your brother is impossible,” Lissia said. “Maybe you could talk some sense into him.”

“Don’t you dare pit me against Milo.” I glared at her. “You’ve caused enough problems tonight.”