“I’m sorry, Dad, but this time I’m following my heart and not your rules.” She looked up at me, and my heart swelled inside my chest. I felt like a goddamn peacock about to show everyone who had the prettiest fucking tailfeathers.
“I love him, Dad. I love him, and I want to be with him.”
God Almighty, those words almost knocked me the fuck out. I didn’t know whether I was relieved and fucking happy beyond comprehension, or just plain suicidal, but I reached out, pulled her against me, and kissed her like my life depended on it. I didn’t even care that I probably had about six guns pointed at my head at the moment. All I cared about was this woman loved me and had chosen me. Now, what man would not be instantly pussy-whipped by that?
I felt Karina nudging against my chest, silently conveying that if I wanted to live a long life, I should keep my dick under control, since I was surrounded by three trigger-happy mafia men.
Reluctantly, I pulled back and turned toward Lorenzo, tightening my hold around Karina’s waist. “I know this is all real complicated, but I’m not letting your daughter go. There is nothing I won’t do to be with her.”
To be honest, Lorenzo’s hard expression scared the bejesus out of me. Luckily, I still had my balls intact and never took my eyes off him once. Like two male lions, Lorenzo and I had what I would call the stare-off from hell.
Then he glanced at Antonio, who nodded—then he glanced at Dante, who nodded—then at Anderson, who also nodded.
What the fuck were they doing?
“Well, then,” Lorenzo focused his gaze on me, “since you say there’s nothing you won’t do for my daughter, I think we can come to some sort of an arrangement.”
Chapter 24
KARINA
Two months later
I was so nervous. I couldn’t remember ever being this nervous. What if he did this, then regretted it a year from now, or five years from now—or twenty years from now? What if he woke up one morning and realized the price he paid to be with me was too much? My stomach was twisted into a thousand tiny knots, my lungs constricted to a point it was hard to breathe.
For the last few weeks, he kept reassuring me there was nothing to worry about, that this was what he wanted. Apparently, he had a huge change of heart after hearing Anderson’s story about his little niece’s murder and the justice my father had given him. I had to admit, hearing that story also gave me a new perspective over my family’s doings. Sure, they had their questionable operations, but I realized in the end they helped the people who needed it the most.
I glanced at the clock against my dad’s study wall. It had been over an hour, and my nerves were hanging by a damn thread. Even though I begged him to reconsider, told him he didn’t have to do this for me, that I would be with him no matter what, he still wanted to go through with it. Yes, a part of me was flooded with relief when he told me he wanted to do this. It would make my life so much easier. But it was his life I was worried about.
“Princess.”
I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes, letting his voice rush over me. We’d been together for two months, and our connection kept intensifying with every passing day. He stepped up behind me, his chest against my back. I’d never get used to the amazing electricity that always crackled around us whenever we were this close.
I didn’t turn around. “Is it done?”
“It’s done.” He leaned down and placed his cheek against the side of my neck. The warmth of his breath sent shivers throughout my body, all the way to my toes. I didn’t think I would ever get used to feeling this way about him. My body would never tire of all the amazing sensations he so expertly stirred within me whenever he was near.
“I meant it when I said there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
“That’s how you feel now. What if you change your mind later?” Doubt was my worst enemy.
He swept my hair over my shoulder. “I won’t. I’ll never regret my decision as long as I have you in my life,” he pressed his lips lightly against my ear, “and in my heart,” his lips found the crook of my neck, “and in my bed.”
He gripped my hips and pulled me back against him, letting me feel how much he desired me. My own desire flared between my legs, and my body was electrified. I was sure it would never fade, this flame burning between us. It was too strong, burned too brightly for it to ever sizzle down to anything less than magnificent.
I leaned my head to the side, granting him more access to my skin. “I’ll always be with you, Lorik.”
“And I’ll never regret choosing you, princess.” His tongue lapped over the bare skin of my shoulder. During the last few weeks, the number of sleeveless dresses in my wardrobe had quadrupled, since Lorik insisted it was his favorite kind of dress on me.
His arms circled my waist, and I looked down to his hands. “Did it hurt?”
“I told you, you can’t hurt steel, baby.”
I snickered. “That’s what I love most about you, Lorik—your modesty.”
“And here I thought it was my bubbly personality and giant-sized cock.”
“Oh, yeah, it’s definitely because of your giant-sized cock,” I teased, loving the way his kisses warmed my skin.