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Elio sucks in a sharp breath through his nostrils. “That’s what I thought. I’ll meet up with my lawyer, Patrick Howard, so we can have a certificate arranged. As soon as we have that and a quick ceremony, it’ll be legal.”
God! I can’t believe I have to move in with a criminal. I always considered myself a strong advocate of the law and look at me now.
I wish I could go back to the time when I was oblivious to his true identity and just remain ignorant because carrying this deep burden of knowledge is like stabbing myself in the heart.
There’s an irritating, lopsided grin on his face as he pulls back and rises. He holds my gaze, clearing his throat before slowly walking over to me. Before I know it, he goes down on one knee and brings out a large, round-cut diamond ring, stretching it towards me.
“That being settled, Aria Abruzzi, will you marry me?”
I’m still in shock as I stare at him. I knew what I was signing up for, but I didn’t expect this. Though I can’t deny the oddly pleasant feeling that erupts in my chest at the sight.
Color flushes my cheeks as the ladies and gentlemen in the restaurant are gawking, gasping, and clapping around us.
“Say yes!” a blonde haired lady cries enthusiastically, wiping tears from her eyes.
The more I look at them, the more overwhelming the whole scenario becomes.
“Say yes, darling, and smile. My knees are hurting,” he announces through a smile.
I bite my lips, taking in how his biceps thicken before me. Out of all the decisions I’ve had to make in my entire life, this is the hardest. This is a deal with the devil…a bait, and I’m taking it. I have to.
“Yes,” I force a smile to my lips, and he wastes no time in slipping the ring onto my finger.
Before I can tell him how much I hate this deal, he yanks me closer to him with an arm around my waist and smashes his lips against mine hungrily. I’m angry at myself for how I melt into the kiss, submitting to the warm embrace of his tongue.
I close my eyes, and my stomach flips when he groans.
“Fuck,” he whispers against my lips. “I’ve been waiting too long to do this again.”
Chapter seven
Elio
DAUGHTER OF NEWLY ELECTED DEPUTY CHIEF SAYS YES TO BILLIONAIRE BUSINESS MOGUL.
My lips curl up in a satisfied smile as I swipe from blog to blog, savoring the chaos my new wife and I have started on social media.
We have been joined together publicly for barely a day, and the photos are already causing a logjam, buzzing with excited comments from obsessed followers.
The sight of it gives me an odd sense of satisfaction, even though I know it’s all just make believe, but it’s not just the trending photo that makes my chest swell with pride.
It’s what that photo represents: perception, power…and a certain level of protection on both our parts. This marriage is not some romantic fairytale. It has been meticulously calculated to the last detail.
Marrying Aria Abruzzi is not about falling in love or starting a family. It’s about shielding myself from the gnawing jaws of all enemies who are conniving to bring about my downfall.
As the daughter of the newly instated Deputy Chief, and being an ambitious lawyer in the making with a spotless reputation, she is the perfect alibi. Nobody would poke into a man married to a family like hers, not the authorities, and definitely not my competitors like Marcus Winston.
I run a hand through my hair as I set down my phone and grab a glass of whiskey. If I’m being honest with myself, though, this whole thing isn’t just about strategy.
Every time I look at that woman, I can tell she’s the only one who has the physical and emotional strength to mess with Elio Donatelli.
Despite her young age, there is something about the resilience in her piercing eyes, the way she carries herself, like she can take on the entire world on her own.
That is the kind of woman fit for a mafia don.
That is the kind of woman I want.
And not just as a pawn in this messy game, or just as my alibi, but as my woman. Yeah…‘my’ woman.