Page 48 of Brutal Vows

Everything I thought I knew about him was wrong.

I’m about to make another apology when he snaps, “Do us both a favor and get someone else to be Lili’s chaperone from now on. You’re too bitter a pill for me to swallow.”

He turns and walks away, shaking his head.

“Wait. Quinn, wait!”

I hop out of the SUV and hurry after him. He ignores me, striding quickly through the courtyard toward the front door. He throws it open, barging inside. I catch up to him in the foyer and grab his arm.

“For fuck’s sake, you stubborn Irishman, hold on! I want to tell you something!”

He whirls around, takes me by the shoulders, and pulls me against his chest. Staring down into my eyes with burning intensity, he growls, “Listen to me, viper. I’m marrying Lili, whether you like it or not. I’ll be good to her, whether you believe it or not. And I’ll thank you to keep your fucking opinions to yourself from now on.”

He pauses, nostrils flared and jaw clenched. He gazes at me with such searing intensity, it’s as if he’s trying to commit my face to memory.

“In fact, this is the last time I want to see you, ever again.”

Dear God, this man is impossible!“You’re overreacting.”

“Incorrect. If I were overreacting, I’d have Gianni throw you out of this house and onto your arse in the street for being so fucking disrespectful to me.”

My cheeks flame with heat. “My brother would never do that.”

“No? You want to bet on it?”

I’m about to say yes, but rethink it. There’s a good possibilityGianni would do anything Quinn asked. No matter how afraid of me he might be, he’s far more afraid of the Mob.

“That’s what I thought.”

I blurt, “I’m sorry. That’s what I wanted to tell you. I shouldn’t have—”

“Save your apologies. I don’t believe you, anyway.”

My hands are pressed flat against his chest. Underneath my palms, his heart pounds wildly. Instead of giving me the hard shake I know he’d like to give, he holds me captive against his body, glaring at me with the burning heat of a thousand suns.

And here I am once again, melting under his pure masculine beauty and wishing with all my heart this macho, swaggering idiot would kiss me.

But he just gave me an out from this madness. An out I can’t pass up, unless I want to make myself miserable and betray my niece in the meantime.

Lusting after another woman’s husband is unforgivable.

Especially if the woman is a blood relative.

Gazing up into his eyes, I say, “If you really don’t want to see me again, I’ll respect that. But at least let me attend the wedding. Lili will need me there. After that, I’ll be gone.”

Inhaling slowly, he stares at me in silence.

“Please, Quinn. She’s the only thing in the world that means anything to me. I know you don’t care about what I want, but I believe you do care about what she wants. And if she finds out you banned me from the wedding, she’ll be devastated. She’d never forgive you.”

“The only way she’d find out is if you told her.”

I snap, “She knows very well the only reason I wouldn’t be with her on her wedding day is if I were in a coma!”

“That can be arranged.”

I know it isn’t a threat, because the corners of his mouth turned up.

He’s teasing me.