Page 89 of Dangerous Intent

“Let’s hear some that don’t involve getting you killed.” He wrapped his arms around me and cradled me against his chest. “I like having you with me. Alive, breathing, driving me insane.”

“I was thinking about the money that was wired into my father’s account.”

“What money?” He tightened his hold on me. “You’re not talking about the money that someone paid to purchase you, are you?”

“Yes, that money.” I clasped our fingers together. “It’s mine, right?”

“Technically.” He leaned his head against the back of the sofa. “Your father left everything to you, so any funds in his accounts belong to you.”

“Ha!” Serves that bastard who deposited that money to purchase me right. “Talk about irony. I get their money, and the scum who paid doesn’t get me.”

“You don’t need his money.”

“I don’t want his money.”

“Then why are we talking about it? We still don’t know where it came from. It was deposited by a shell company, and we have yet to uncover who owns that company.”

“Do you think Lucas can figure it out?” I asked.

“He’s working on it, but I’m pretty sure whoever it is will take a loss.”

“Why?”

“If they don’t, they’re going to reveal themselves to me, and that guarantees that I’m going to kill them. If I were them, I’d forget the three million.”

“Three million?”How insulting!“I’m worth way more than that.”

“You are.” Marchello laughed from his belly. “As a matter of fact, you’re priceless.”

“You’re sweet.”

“Why are you so interested in this money?” he asked.

“I want to donate it.”

“To whom?”

I sat up and gazed into his eyes. I didn’t want to upset him, but this gesture was important to me. I hoped he understood what I was trying to do for him and his family.

“Your mother’s charity.”

“That’s very kind of you, but what brought this on?”

“I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know much about the charity. The night I came to the gala, I was here because of the booze and the silent auction.” Could I really have been that shallow? “I was more interested in winning a Gucci bag.”

“I remember.”

“Then, when I laid eyes on you, all I wanted was to be the center of your world.”

“The second I set my sights on you, I knew you were going to blow up my world.” He brushed his lips along mine. “I’m so glad you did.”

“I’m here for it.” I kissed him. “All of it.”

“What made you decide you want to donate this money to the charity?”

Giving the money to his mother’s charity seemed appropriate. It was the gala that brought us together, so I wanted to commemorate it in a special way while honoring Julia.

“Like I said, I don’t know a ton about it, but I do know it helps mothers in need. It was an important cause to your mom, and I want to help.”