Page 43 of Bound in Debt

“And then what?”

“Depends on your answer. I can’t have any slip-ups.”

“If you think I’m going to marry you without knowing your plan, you might as well leave right now.”

His lips lift in an arrogant smirk, “I’m sorry, princess. Did you want a proposal?”

I open my mouth to tell him no, but he lowers his head and all the words dissipate into thin air. “Or do you need to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into? Make sure it’s up to your standards even though it’s a marriage of survival and nothing more.”

“You’re definitely not a salesman, are you?”

“Hell no. But I’m good at getting what I want.”

Dante is my professor. A famous violinist towering above me and making insane plans.

And I’m putty in his hands right now.

“Give me something,” I whisper almost breathlessly. “You said you wouldn’t leave me behind, but seducing me isn’t going to change my mind.”

“If you say yes, I can make you a promise. When this is all done, I’ll give you up. You’ll be free to do whatever you want to. I just have to know if I’m protecting you or not.”

It’s him or Liam.

There are no other choices. Liam is a boy who’s lied to me about the mob and hasn’t made any effort to keep me safe, but Dante has.

He didn’t need to. He could’ve kept his secrets and moved forward with whatever plan he has to get out of this mess, but he’s decided to take me on.

With your money.

“If I say yes, you don’t get access to the money.” I force steel in my voice and stand tall. “You won’t sign any paperwork to get access to the trust.”

“I don’t need it. I just need you as my wife.”

Under other circumstances, those words would carry a different weight. As much as I would love to live in a world where I could believe he truly wants me, I know that’s not reality.

“Then, yes. I’ll marry you.”

Dante’s lifts my chin with his finger and I think he’s going to kiss me. But, instead, he talks.

“I need you to have a sit down with your parents today and find out how your trust is distributed and how it’s going to work when it’s released.”

“Like whether they’re going to drop it in a bank account and who’s names will be on it?”

“Yes. Knowing if there’s a name already listed is vital.”

“My mother’s not big on giving up information,” I admit. “And she might get suspicious if I ask too many questions, but I’ll do my best.”

“Then I’ll buy us whatever time I can get from Lombardi. I just need you to find out about the trust. I’m not looking for my name to be linked to it. But I’m going to have to tell Angelo something.”

“Okay.” I nod. “I can put you on speakerphone when I talk to my parents so you can hear the whole conversation. You just have to mute yourself.”

“Have your phone on vibrate in case I need to text you to ask a question. Can you do that for me?”

With how close he is to me right now, the man might be able to convince me to do anything.

“Yeah,” I finally reply with a small exhale. “I can do it.”

“Good girl.” He kisses my forehead and my skin burns from his touch as he backs away and I realize I don’t want him to give me space just yet.