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“You will if I say you will.” I moved another few inches forward.

She snorted. “If you really think that’s going to work with me, you’re a fool.”

“Oh, I might be, but you belong to me.” To reiterate the point, I pressed my finger first between her breasts then against my chest.

My lovely bride slowly dropped her head before closing the distance. Very carefully, she placed one hand where my finger had been and without me realizing it, she pressed the barrel of her weapon against my temple. “You were saying? Darling?”

My anger flashed, but when I was with her, it was impossible to stay annoyed. Yet she wasn’t going to best me. I snapped my hand around the barrel, managing to jerk her around so her back was against me. I had my forearm around her neck in two seconds.

“You bastard,” she moaned.

“You’re just figuring that out? You’re slow, baby. I didn’t take you to be that way.” I leaned over, pressing my lips against her ear.

It hit me hard, a flash like some bolt of lightning striking me from the sky.

I’d almost lost her.

Again.

Fate was trying to issue a cruel hand. Maybe because I was a sinner, but she was an angel.

Although I was finally getting it through my thick head she certainly wasn’t a dainty flower.

“Me, slow?” she cooed.

And she stomped on my foot with her boot, both surprise and a wash of pain breaking my hold.

Which offered her enough time to spin around, snap her weapon from my hand, issue a brutal kick to my stomach, and tumble down with me to the ground.

We were both panting. Her eyes were flashing. My smile was increasing.

Once again, she pressed the weapon against my temple. “I win this round, which means I’m going with you. We can play again for another prize.”

When I said nothing, she started to climb off, but I wrestled her onto her back, pressing my full weight against her. There was no way she was going anywhere.

We were both taking labored breaths, but she licked her lips and I was temporarily locked in the moment. “You need to listen to me. This is even more dangerous. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I will not lose you.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you really cared about me.” Her mischievous smile slowly faded when I didn’t respond the way she’d anticipated. “I know what I’m doing, Jago. We’re down a man. In case you weren’t aware, Antonio was the explosives expert.”

I took a deep breath, hissing when I exhaled. “Fuck.”

“Yeah. So you see, you need me. I’ll be careful. I won’t do anything stupid, but if this is the only way for us to find some sense of peace, then I won’t live with myself if I’m not there helping it happen. Or… Or if anything happens to you.”

“Sounds like you kind of like me,” I said after a few seconds. I did need her and not just writhing under me in bed.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I just tolerate you.”

CHAPTER 37

Jago

While my bride knew a thing or two about explosives, my hobbies had always been wrapped up in speed. Fast cars. Motorcycles. And speedboats. I’d taught myself about engines, making myself useful when my father had been certain I’d never amount to a damn thing.

I’d souped up our utility vehicles to the point that very little could outrun us. My work on my father’s favorite cigarette boat had allowed him to escape an Italian Cosa Nostra Don who had decided it had been his time to meet his maker.

In turn, the Don and his entire family had found out how hot jet engine fuel burned.

I’d exchanged my hobby for my acceptance into my father’s world. But the love of speed had never stopped.