Page 505 of One More Kiss
My stomach dropped. Only members of the Famiglia called me principessa. There was no way that I could even think about this man, let alone do anything about the sizzling attraction that hummed between us. The rules were clear: no soldier was allowed to touch me. I was to be kept pure for my marriage and that would be to whomever my father chose. Usually, women in my position were used as bargaining chips to gain alliances.
Nothing would come of the attraction between us. I would be damned if I became the cause of anyone’s downfall. Any man that touched me, whether I wanted them to or not, was a dead man walking. I couldn’t have their death on my conscience.
When my father cleared his throat, I yanked my hand back and couldn’t help but blush. Paolo smiled like he knew exactly how I felt.
What surprised me was he didn’t seem to even care my father had caught him holding my hand a second to long.
I gaped at Paolo and wondered why he wanted to be part of my father’s business. Surely there was something better for him out there. A job that would keep him out of this horrific war and keep him safe.
“Avery, Paolo here is an undercover cop. He is joining my ranks as a soldier."
I was shocked by my father’s words and tried to regain my balance. Paolo was supposed to be the good guy, he put men like my father behind bars. What the hell was he doing here, in my father’s office?
“Why would you allow him in the house?”
“He’s going to help me figure out who the mole is,” my father said.
As much as I wanted to feel relieved, uneasiness crawled through me. “Do you trust him?”
Paolo’s smile widened. “I highly doubt he trusts me, but I’ll let you in on a secret—I don’t trust him either.”
My father ran a hand over his face and sighed. “Knock it off, Paolo. He’s going to play the dutiful, loyal soldier. My dear daughter, I need you to help me to convince the men that he’s exactly that and trusted by me. If you need something and I’m not around, you go to Paolo. You trust him, Avery. No one but him. Paolo might not trust me, but he would do everything in his power to keep you safe. He has a fault for rescuing women, even at a cost for himself.”
“Who knew you thought so highly of me?” Paolo said to my father, then turned back to me. “Your father is correct. In this war, you’re an innocent bystander. I will do everything in my power to protect you. But this is all a mission for me. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Dad, Marco, and Paolo,” I said as though I was reciting a list.
I was supposed to trust these three men. However, I wouldn’t trust Paolo, even though I’d told my father I would. I didn’t know the man, and anyone who blindly gave their trust was not only stupid but had a death wish.
I would do as my father asked. I planned to play the dutiful daughter, but I would do it cautiously.
