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"Should I tell him what you threatened to get me to marry you?" I ask him, almost amused.

He immediately shakes his head, the corner of his lip half-turned.

"I don't think it would help the situation we're in," he jokes.

Marcello groans, and from the corner of my eye I see him swinging the gun around recklessly.

"Can you drop the gun and we'll talk after?" I give my brother a smile, hoping to sweeten him somehow.

Lina's quiet by his side, closely observing Vlad and me.

Marcello is about to reply, but then he narrows his eyes on me—specifically my neck.

"You're fucking dead, Vlad. You…" Marcello shakes his head, so much anger rolling off him, "You fucking marked her!" he yells, pointing to the tattoo on my neck.

Before I can even blink, the gun is up and ready to shoot at Vlad again.

"Stop!" I scream at the top of my lungs, fear and worry gnawing at me. "Just stop," I huff out, my voice raw. "I asked him to give me this tattoo," I explain, yet Marcello doesn't seem in the least amendable.

"He didn't force me to do anything," I continue, slowly advancing toward Marcello. "Please, just stop and listen to us, okay? He's not a danger to me." I'm almost in front of him as I keep my eyes on him.

My hand reaches out to wrap around his, trying to stop him from waving the gun around. "He's my husband and I love him. Just give us a chance to explain everything," I add, and for the first time I note a reaction in Marcello.

"You love him?" he asks, incredulity dripping off his voice.

"Yes," I confirm, finally getting him to lower the gun.

He doesn't speak for a moment as his gaze swings from me to Vlad.

"In my office. You have five minutes," he says before swiftly turning on his heels, grabbing Lina's arm and dragging her into the house.

She's still looking back at me, her features filled with worry. But I'll have time to deal with her later.

After we convince Marcello that our relationship is real.

I hurry to Vlad's side, intent on setting some ground rules before confronting my brother.

"Don't bait him," I start. "I know you will want to. I know you might not be able to help yourself. Butplease,don't bait him."

"You wound me, hell girl," he groans, "now, where would be the fun in that?"

"You're already wounded, Vlad. Will probably be even more if you don't keep your mouth shut. We need his help, not his rage."

"Fine." He lets out a big breath. "For you, I'll make an exception. But I can only promise to tone it down. You know that sometimes I can't stop myself from blurting things out." He sighs, and one look at him has me pursing my lips to stop from chuckling.

"Yes, I have been the target of your errant tongue," I reply, barely containing my laughter as we head inside the house.

Vlad stops, turning his head slightly, his lips curled up in a devious smirk. "Yes, you have," he says before continuing walking.

I frown, and it takes me a second to get the double entendre.

"You're wicked." I elbow him slightly, a smile on my lips.

But as we enter my brother's study, I immediately relax my features, wanting to seem serious.

Marcello and Lina are behind my brother's desk. His gaze has a hawkish quality to it as he hones in on us, watching as we take two seats in front of them.

In the beginning, no one speaks. The silence is deafening as everyone is engaging in some sort of staring contest.