Page 40 of Wanton

Emilio has been borrowing money from Alessandro Maceo against the marriage contract for years, trying to keep himself afloat until Callandria and Andrea wed. He's in deep. Far deeper than the bastard can afford. It's a problem.

I groan and regretfully roll off of Callandria, pulling her up against my side.

"You stopped," she says, pouting.

"Only for a little while,bella." I smile, smoothing the wrinkle from her forehead. "We need to talk."

She sighs quietly. "Did you kill him?"

"No." I pause. "But I shot him in the leg."

"He deserved it," she whispers fiercely. "He was going to kill you."

"I know." I press my lips to her forehead. "He told me right before I shot him."

"Why didn't you kill him?"

It's a good question. I wanted to do it. Had he been anyone else, I wouldn't have hesitated to do it, but… "Because I don't want you to spend the rest of your life waking up next to the man who murdered your father," I admit. "It would haunt you and poison us. I won't allow his death to stand between us,piccolina."

I want to be a man worthy of her, one she can look at with pride. I'd never be that had I taken his life. Some part of her still loves him, even though he doesn't deserve it. If keeping him alive keeps her in my arms, then I'll make it my personal mission to keep the motherfucker breathing.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Callandria. That's what it means to love aprincipessa, bella. That's what it means to be a man worthy of the love of one."

"You're worthy."

I smile against her temple, glad she thinks so.

"You said the rest of my life."

"Hmm?"

"You said you don't want me to spend the rest of my life waking up next to the man who murdered my father," she says.

I tilt her face up until her amber eyes meet mine. "I'll give you your freedom,bella, but I can't let you go. Don't ask it of me. You're the reason I breathe."

"Then marry me, Luca." She crawls onto my lap, straddling my thighs. "Let's make this alliance binding so no one can try to come between us again."

Dio. How can I say no to that? Why would I when it's exactly what I want?

"As you command," I breathe, cupping the back of her head and dragging her mouth down to mine for a scorching kiss. I pour myself into it, giving her everything I have, my heart, my soul, my life. Every piece of me belongs to her anyway.

"What happens now?" she asks when I roll her to her back. "With my family, I mean."

"It's up to you."

"I think we should throw our support behind Marcello."

I lean up on my elbow to stare down at her in surprise. "Really?

She bites her lip, nodding. "He doesn't want the job. It seems to me like that makes him the best man to do it. I trust him, Luca. We can trust an alliance we build with him. I won't ever trust my father again."

"Then Marcello it is."

"Just like that, huh?"

"Ah,bella," I say, chuckling as I kiss a trail across her belly. "It's never just like that. But when you run the city, you make the rules. And in case you've forgotten, we run the city."