Page 121 of Only Fools Rush

I ran a hand through my hair. “You’re asking me to propose forbusiness.”

“Yes.”

“You want to use her.”

“This is a measure to increase the legitimacy of our syndicate.”

I took a step back. Wrestling with this decision inside my own thoughts was one thing, but to have Obi come in here and command we do this felt like another thing entirely.

“What about her choice? What about mine?”

He raised an eyebrow, giving me a look that said he knew I’d marry her in a heartbeat. And he was completely right.

“Her choice is to control New York. This is how she does it.” He waved his hand. “Caspian, you both love each other. It is obvious. What is the problem?”

The problem was I didn’t want to force her into anything. I wanted her to choose me because ofme.

I knew it was stupid. I knew it was my own fucking insecurities.

But she hadneverchosen me. It had always been Max. And now with the other guys? How the fuck was I supposed to put her in a position where I knew deep down she’d only say yes for the sake of the advantage it would give us?

“She will say yes, not because she feels forced, but because she loves you,” Obi continued. His voice went quiet as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “This is a means to an end. If we want to secure these men, you must marry her. Is that not what you want?”

I ran my hands down my face.

Yes, it was what I wanted. I wanted to marry her. I’d already started dreaming of her as my wife. I’d wanted to marry her since we were kids.

And she did love me. She’d said so herself. I knew she loved me more than anything.

My hands clenched at my sides. The two of us were endgame. Ride or die, baby. Soulmates. I loved her. I wanted her to wear my ring on her finger.

I’d said as much to Ryuji.

His devastated face, twisted with hurt, flashed in front of my eyes.

My chest tightened. There was a nasty, selfish part of me that wanted her to wear my ring just so I could prove to Ryuji that she was mine. I wanted to claim her for all the world to see. So Max could fucking see.

Leona Vero belonged to Caspian Di Salvo.

I glanced at Obi. His face said he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I want that.”

“Good.” His hand gripped my shoulder. “You need to propose, but you need to think carefully about the timing. I understand why you were hesitant to bring it up with her.”

“I don’t want her to feel forced.”

“I understand that. You are trying to think of what is best for her. Because you love her.”

I nodded, swallowing.

“If you tell her now, it will just set off a bomb of unease and tension between us all. She might even reject it.”

I sucked in a breath. That was exactly what I was afraid of. I couldn’t stand it if she said no. “When is the right time?”

“Shortly before Giulio’s meeting.” I opened my mouth, but he shook his head. “I know. It feels like you are springing it on her. But I am confident that she will realize the opportunity in front of her and make the right decision. Too soon and everything could fall apart.”

I could do this. Iwouldtell her. I would just tell her when we knew it would work best. It wasn’t hiding it from her. It was helping her see how much it could benefit us.