Page 151 of Dancing with the Devil

“What?”

“I can’t talk right now, so leave.”

“I’m not going to leave. We’re supposed to talk and communicate, remember?” I asked, and he turned around, taking my face in his hands. My heart leaped at the frightening darkness behind his eyes.

“I can’tfuckingcommunicate when all I can see is your body in a goddamn coffin,” he angrily said, keeping his voice low. “Do you know what that does to me?” He tightened his hold on my face. “It feels as if I’m being gutted from the inside out. The mere thought of losing you is sending me over the fucking edge.”

With a pounding heart, and trembling hands, I reached up and gently held onto his wrists.

“You’re taking really good care of me,” I assured him. “I’m not going to get hurt with you.”

“But Alexander—”

“Only hurt me because I wasn’t honest with you, Antonio, how could you have known that out of billions of people that it would be your own brother?”

“I should have—”

“No,” I shook my head, cutting him off. “That was because of me, don’t you dare think you’re at fault.” A beat passed. “If I had told you then and there in the kitchen that it was him, would you have done something.”

His face softened. “Of course, I would have.”

“Exactly.” With an aching heart, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His arms wrapped around me as he clutched my body to his, burying his face in my neck.

He held me, and I held him. We could be anywhere in the world, and being in his arms would still feel like home.My home.

I held the back of his head, as his arms around me tightened.

He lifted me, carrying me to the sofa and sat down with me on his lap. I slowly broke the hug, looking down at my fiddling fingers. He reached over, throwing my blanket over my shoulders.

“Is it so wrong for me to want to protect my fiancée?” he asked, taking my chin in his hand so that I could meet his tender gaze.

“If it results in you neglecting your family, then yes.”

“My father has been in this business for almost forty years. Trust me when I say, he knows how to handle the situation and protect them,” he cupped my face, kissing my forehead.

“You’re right,” I took a deep breath in, slowly exhaling.

“That’s enough about me.” My head snapped to him in confusion. “How’s my girl feeling?” he asked—changing the subject—and I placed my forearms on his shoulders, still holding onto the blanket.

“You want the truth?” I asked and he nodded. “Happy and safe,” I smiled and he glanced away for a second to hide his smile or rather, to not smile. “I’m serious,” I chuckled and he shook his head before looking at me. I locked my hands around his neck, moving closer to him. “Listen to me,” I sternly said. “I’ll be better, for you, and I know I have issues that I have to work through, but that’s on me.”

Taking a deep breath in, I blinked my tears away. “I know that I can be… a lot at times,” I reluctantly said but he didn’tseem to agree. “So, I’d much rather give you a reason to leave, than you leaving on your own,” I confessed. “It’s—I’ma little fucked up… I know.”

“When it comes to being fucked up,tesoro, you’re nowhere near,” he gently cupped my face. “Trust me. I’d know.” I couldn’t help but let out a sad laugh and he smiled. “You’re definitely thestrongestwoman I know.”

My heart fluttered. I’m…strong?

“I mean look at Amelia. She got everything she wanted, had the perfect fucking life, and now she cries when Ivan raises his voice at her,” he said in disbelief and I laughed.

“Sounds like her, yeah,” I nodded.

“Remind me to have a conversation with him about that,” he said and I shook my head.

“Leave him alone,” I dragged my vowels, playfully hitting his shoulder. “As a man, why are you interfering in someone’s relationship?” I joked.

“As a man, why the fuck is he raising his voice at my sister,” he quickly snapped back and I threw my head back, laughing.

“You yell at her all the time!” I laughed and he adjusted his hands on my back.