Page 30 of Dangerous Games of Trust
Wrinkles form on my forehead, disgusted at what I’m hearing. He’s beautiful and he’s supposed to be smart, but right now, I can’t see it. “Can you hear yourself? How many sacrifices do you both need to make before you realize how fucking evil that man is.”
Striding purposefully, Alessandro advances toward me, effortlessly picking me up, and carefully setting me down on the pool table. I groan in agony, my muscles still tender from yesterday’s workout. He frowns, then skates his hands to my belly, lifting up my shirt so he can see my bare skin. “Motherfucker. What the hell has he been doing to you?”
I try to pull down my shirt, but he won’t let me. “This. This is the controlling stuff I’m talking about. You have no boundaries.”
Ignoring my protests the both of them study me, making me feel self-conscious and more irritated by the second. “Baby doll, what the fuck.” Ricky’s eyes meet mine, his doctorly concern back as he inspects my bruises.
“It’s not what it looks like. I’m back in training,” I answer softly. I know what they’re seeing, bruises that look worse than they feel. But I’m fine.
Even under his disheveled beard I can make out the vein in Alessandro’s neck, and it looks like it’s about to pop. “Training for what?” he growls out.
“So I can take care of myself.” I shove him off me, standing and making my way over to the bar he has set up. Finding a crystal tumbler, I pour a couple of fingers of whiskey into my glass. I regret not having that drink at the bar; a sip of alcohol would really help soften this mess. I take a swig, letting the burn of the caramel-infused flavor warm my insides, before I turn back to them.
They’re both staring at me, waiting for me to elaborate. Or are they just surprised I’m real? I can’t tell. “You know, to be able to fight assholes like Carlo D’Amico off. Take control back of my life so I don’t have to live in fear anymore,” I try and explain. Why on earth are they looking at me like that? They have to know I’m not the little princess they think.
Ricky joins me, taking the tumbler from my hand and sipping from it. He steps in closer, taking my other hand with his and lacing our fingers together. He can’t stay away from me. “Good for you, baby.”
Alessandro steps in front, the two of them overwhelming my senses with their proximity. “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him myself.”
I roll my eyes at the macho bullshit. “Enough already, Alex. I have no idea what your gripe is with Geovani, but he’s not hurting me. He’s trying to protect me from the fucked-up situation our papas landed me in.”
Alessandro’s eyes darken and meet mine with sadness. “Princess, I didn’t know what Enzo was up to.” He grasps my chin firmly, making me lock eyes with his piercing dark gaze. “Marrying you was supposed to protect you.”
“As well as make you a very wealthy man when you got a hold of Havardi Holdings, right?” I raise a brow. He can’t persuade his way out of this with talk of protecting me. I know better now. I blink back at him, waiting for him to make the next move. Where do we go from here?
“Yes,” he growls. “That wasn’t just for me. That was to help us all. To take some of his power away.”
“Have you thought maybe Enzo doesn’t want his son being more powerful than him?”
“I have been trained since before I could fucking walk to take over from him. It’s time and he knows it.”
“But I’m right, aren’t I? It might be time, but he’s not willing to give it all up for you, even if you are his son. That’s why hemade that damn deal with Carlo. He didn’t even tell you about it. That’s why he’s watching you all. He knows his time is coming to an end, and he’s gripping onto it. Desperately.” I suck in a breath, not able to stand the intensity.
“I thought I was doing the right thing,” he says softly, and I hear the hurt in his words. He’s angry with himself more than anything. He has to admit there was more to all of this.
I raise a brow, not fully believing him and wanting him to admit to it. “And getting all the power you wanted at the same time,” I push with a little more attitude than I probably should have toward a man who’s on the edge.
Ricky chuckles, stepping in beside me, his hands running under my shirt as he lowers his mouth to my neck. “I’ve missed you, baby doll. No one calls Alex out on his shit quite like you.”
I lean into his kiss, a half smile on my lips, not able to help the electric pull he has over me. I’ve been missing him as well, no matter how angry I have been. His lips meet mine, and I kiss him deeply, not giving two shits that Alessandro is watching us. He’s standing closer than he should be with way too much anger radiating off him.
When we pull back from each other, Alessandro stares me down in a way that makes my heart flutter. His gaze is heated. Desperate. Not filled with quite as much anger anymore. I swallow down the fear that it fills me with because I have no idea what he’s really thinking right now.
“I have worked my entire life to rule this town. If I could have you by my side as I do it, my life would be complete. I won’t apologize for going after what I want. You have no idea the sacrifices we have all made to get me to the top.” He says his piece then lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me every bit as deeply as Ricky just did, forcing his tongue inside my mouth possessively and making butterflies take off in my stomach.
I shove him away. I’m not ready to forgive and forget so easily with him. He’s hurt me so deeply. Wanting to rule whatever kingdom he thinks this is, isn’t an excuse. “No, you’re right, I have no idea. I’ve never been given the chance to work toward something I wanted before. I can’t imagine the sacrifices you had to make,” I say with bitterness lacing my tone. “Because I didn’t get to choose anything. This life was forced upon me, and I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to survive it.”
“By our sides.”
“Enzo won’t allow that while he’s still in charge and you know it. If you really want me by your sides as you say you do, we need to take back what he’s stolen from us. Take the power he promised you. Stop giving him control over your lives.”
Alessandro takes my hands in his. “Marry me in secret and we can take it all together.”
I step back from him. “No. Alessandro, I won’t be your arm candy. I’m not handing over what my papa created. I’m running my family’s businesses from now on with Marco, just the way it should be.”
“I’ve already earned his men’s respect,” he snips back.
I tilt my head up at him defiantly. “Then use that to our advantage when you announce to them that I’m the new boss. You say you want to protect me, but do you only want that if it’s on your terms?” I tilt my head, watching him, waiting for his reaction.
