Page 7 of Malicious Marriage (Mafia Lords of Sin #9)

DEAN

“ T his is ridiculous.” Jack stands over me with his hands poised to catch the bar if my arms give out. “You barely know her.”

“And?”

“Dean, this is insane. You can’t propose to a stranger .”

“There’s no law against it.” I grunt, straining as I push the bar up for the last rep and set it back onto the hooks. My arms burn from the workout, but it’s a pleasant sensation that throbs through my limbs as I flop down on the bench, panting. “Besides, we don’t know if she’ll even say yes.”

“You shouldn’t be asking her in the first place.” Jack tosses a blue towel in my face and grabs his own from the nearby rack. “God knows what kind of person she really is. She could be a psychopath or an axe murderer, and that’s why her house was so empty. Her basement is full of bodies.”

It’s difficult to laugh while panting, but I manage. “Jack, you sound ridiculous.”

“It’s my job to look out for you.”

“I know. I know.” His complaints are rooted in concern, and out of everyone else in this mansion, he’s the only one I can rely on to give it to me straight. Leaning up, my abdominal muscles pull and complain, forcing my breaths to be shorter. “Listen, I know this is insane.”

“Bat shit,” Jack mutters between hungry mouthfuls of cold water.

“Sure, but I’m so fucking tired of everything.

The monotony of it all. Meeting after meeting after bloody meeting, focusing all my time and energy on everyone else, the running of the business, the protection of the family, the safety of my men, the safety of my investments, and through it all?

” I tiredly snap my fingers near my face like a mocking mouth.

“When are you getting married? You’re getting old.

You need to secure the family, the bloodline.

A family without an heir is one set for extinction.

Everyone values the respect of your family name and we can’t afford to shake things. ”

“If only Trisha weren’t a raging cunt, huh?” Jack snorts as he wanders closer.

“Exactly.” Just the thought of her sours my mood. “Clover seems really sweet.”

“And young.” He points at me with his water bottle. “Aren’t you worried this will come across as a little creepy?”

“I’m worried.” Staring up at him, I have to squint against the glare of the light behind his head. “I’m nearly forty and asking a woman that young to marry me will turn heads.”

“But?”

“But she needs help. And so do I. Think of it as a business arrangement like any other. I just need some breathing room, man. I’m tired.”

Jack grunts as if he’s about to say more, but he resists and sits down on the bench beside me. “I understand. I just want you to be careful. Trisha kind of fucked you up and mostly, I don’t want to see that again.”

“Thanks, man.” I clap his shoulder and grimace, laughing. “You’re fucking sweaty.”

“Ain’t so hot yourself, fucker.” Jack tosses his water into my lap and groans. “Working out sucks.”

“A terrible necessity,” I agree. “I gotta get cleaned up. She’ll be here soon.”

Clover arrives a few hours later, giving me time to shower, groom, and tidy myself up for popping the question to her.

There’s no guarantee it will work. For all I know, she’ll run for the hills screaming about how crazy I am.

Wouldn’t be the first time a woman has done that to me, but something in my gut tells me Clover is different.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking.

Jack brings her to meet me in the garden where I wait with iced drinks to chase away the sweltering May heat.

He greets me with a smile, but I’m instantly distracted by Clover as she steps through the patio doors and the slight breeze that rushes by, catching some of her hair.

It lifts away from her oval face and she cutely squints against the glare of the sun, despite the protection of her shades.

She’s wearing a warm pink sundress that flows in the wind and moves around her as if she’s surrounded by water.

As the hem of her dress lifts, I glimpse her wedge sandals and her pale ankles.

Warmth grows at the back of my neck as I follow the shape of her body upward, her legs to her wide hips almost hidden by the looseness of her dress, then up to her ample cleavage that makes even a loose dress such as this strain across her chest.

I meet her smile, and the rampant repeat of Jack’s concerns running around my mind falls completely silent.

“Clover,” I say, stepping around the table and reaching out a hand. “It’s so good to see you.”

Her warm, sun-kissed hand slides into mine and she smiles back, although a slight waver at the corners betrays her nervousness. I don’t blame her. Summoning her here with little explanation probably didn’t feel good.

“Thanks for having me,” she replies, flashing a polite smile toward Jack. “Is something wrong?”

“Did I make it seem like that?” My heart sinks faintly. “I’m sorry. I promise this is hopefully going to be a really good talk.”

“Okay, because if this is about the party or my being in your office?—”

I squeeze her hand and quickly cut her off. “No, no, nothing like that. Please, sit.” Sweeping out my arm, I offer her the wicker chair on one side of the table and move back to my own seat once her hand slips from mine. Jack makes a polite exit with a murmur to go and find Bobby.

Now it’s just the two of us.

“Lemonade?” I indicate to the two ice-filled glasses on the table between us. “I have strawberry or orange, so please take your pick.”

“Orange lemonade?” Her brow lifts slightly, and she leans forward to pick up the glass. As she does, the flowing sleeve of her dress briefly slips down her bare shoulder and the price tag pops into view. I immediately look away.

Maybe she forgot to take it off and in this heat, I don’t blame her. Not something I’ll point out, either.

Clover sits back and lifts the straw to her lips. She drinks slowly and as soon as the juice hits her tongue, her eyes widen. “Oh, wow! That’s such a weird flavor, but I think I like it.”

“It’s pretty good, isn’t it? Gives it that extra…” I snap my tongue against the roof of my mouth while picking up the strawberry drink. “Needed on days like this.”

“Oh, for sure.” She tilts her head upward into the blazing sun above, and it’s hard not to get distracted by the long line of her kissable neck.

Keep it together, Dean .

“So.” Clover turns her attention back to me. I wish she’d remove the shades so I can see her eyes. “What’s this about?”

“Are you aware of the reputation the Savoy family carries?”

Clover nods as she sips. “You guys are pretty famous compared to a family like mine. Rich. Powerful. Fingers in many pies sort of thing. Which I mean in a business savvy way and not a greedy way.” She laughs nervously. “Sorry.”

“No, I completely understand, and you’re right. But I meant the other reputation.”

I can’t see her eyes, but I get the impression that she’s struggling to look me in the eye. “No.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I say stiffly. “There’s no need to hide it. Everyone knows.”

She lowers her drink and her knuckles flex as she tightens her grip on her glass. “Do you want me to say it?”

“I want you to tell me what you know. What you’ve heard in the grapevine of this life.”

Her chin quivers slightly as she breathes in, then her gorgeous, full lips part and her tongue darts out to swipe along the swell of her lower lip.

“Rumor or reputation says that you’re a family known for killing anyone who gets in your way.

That you have no patience or understanding for even the slightest mistake. And…” She hesitates.

“And?” I press gently. It’s important for me to know what she thinks of me based on rumor. After all, I’m well aware of my family’s reputation.

“Cruelty,” she says, her tone low. “That crazy runs in your blood after what your brother did to that girl.”

There it is. It was foolish of me to hope that somehow that rumor didn’t make it to her ears, but there’s barely a soul alive who hasn’t heard it by now. “So you know.”

“I’m not saying I believe any of that,” Clover says hurriedly. “I just… you asked.”

“I did.” I drink slowly and savor the biting chill of the drink, then lean back in my chair. “I’m going to be honest with you, Clover.”

She shifts in her seat but says nothing.

“My ex-girlfriend is pregnant with my child, but we are no longer together because she cheated on me three times.”

Clover’s mouth falls open but she’s polite enough to stay quiet.

“Twice in the same bar on the same night, and the third time, I stopped her from climbing into bed with a guy. The details aren’t important…

” It’s difficult to keep the licks of anger out of my voice.

“But it was eye-opening to see how she was only with me for my money and the power my family has. As soon as I clocked what her game was, she immediately started screaming from the rooftops that she was going to end up like the girl my brother was with.”

Clover shifts in her chair once again. “Can… Can I ask what happened? With your brother?”

This is promising. Rather than either flat out believing the rumor or trying to appease me, Clover’s seeking information.

I can only give her what I know, though.

“The fire that killed my older siblings is pretty infamous at this point,” I say, forcing a small smile.

“I don’t know much. I know my sister was at a party and when my older brother and I turned up to collect her, a fire broke out in the building.

He ran in to save her and when he didn’t come out, I ran in to save them both. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.”

Clover nods slowly, her attention fixed on me.

“It was only after the body of the pregnant girl was found that those rumors started. My brother wasn’t dating anyone to my knowledge, and we never found any evidence to support the claim that he was, but the rumor mill had their hooks in him and didn’t let go.

Somehow, his act of running in to save my sister and other partygoers got twisted into him running in to make sure that girl never made it out because he didn’t want to be a father.

The truth was lost.” My voice quavers slightly and I clear my throat.

“So you can imagine how much ammo Trisha, my ex, has to make people view her sympathetically, and it’s working in my own organization too. ”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Clover asks softly. “Outside of because I asked but… I feel like there’s another point here.”

“There is.” Perceptive. “I do want a family, and I will do everything in my power to protect and raise my child, but I need Trisha to get the memo that I have no interest in her. My advisers are pushing me to forgive her and commit to her in order to join together two strong families. I hate it. I hate not being listened to or treated as some mule that’s just there to care for and provide for everyone else just because they tell me to, regardless of how I’m treated. ”

Clover remains silent, but one of her thumbs runs slowly up and down the length of her glass, chasing the drops of condensation.

“So I have a proposal.”

“I’m not sure I can help with any of that,” Clover says with a soft laugh. “I’m not exactly skilled in reputation building.”

“I don’t need that. But what I do need is a way to get people off my back and the freedom to breathe while waiting for my baby. And you need money.”

Clover’s thumb pauses.

“So my proposal is for us to get married.”

Clover’s lips fall open.

“Shocking, I know. I’m so much older than you and it’s a crazy suggestion, but Clover.

” Sliding forward on my seat, I set down my glass.

“It’s the kind of crazy I think we both need.

You need money and security to get your family back on your feet, and I can help with that.

And in return, your presence will grant me the freedom and breathing room I’m desperate for.

It will purely be a business transaction and once we’re both in a good, stable place, then we can amicably divorce.

I know it sounds insane, but you’re the first normal person I’ve met in months.

I really think we can help each other. So, Clover, what do you say? Will you marry me?”

She’s silent. Her thumb flexes back and forth constantly against the glass and then she finally speaks, but her voice is strained.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I can’t.”