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She shook her head hard, her fingers digging into his arms.“No, you don’t understand.You…you have rules.A reputation.People say you’re fair, even if you’re dangerous.My father—” her voice cracked, low and urgent, “—he hurts people for fun.He cheats, he lies, he destroys everything just to prove he can.He doesn’t have a soul, Sal.”
Sal heard her words and suspected she had no idea how powerful they were.At least, to him.His need to protect her doubled in that moment.
“Cata, you are mine.I will not allow your father to hurt you.”
She blinked, her breath catching.For a moment, she searched his face, half-afraid to believe what she’d heard.Then a slow, dangerously seductive smile curved her lips.“You mean that?”
Before he could answer, she shook her head sharply, as if dragging herself back to reality.The glow in her eyes hardened, her pulse visible at her throat.“It doesn’t matter.My father will find a way to hurt you.He always does.”
Tony gave a short, dismissive grunt.“He’s well protected.”
Sal didn’t look away from her.He brushed his thumb along her cheekbone, his voice soft.“You still haven’t eaten breakfast, cara mia.”He kissed her lightly—too lightly for the storm brewing in her eyes—and pulled back.“Let me discuss some things with these men, and I’ll meet you later for lunch, okay?”
The tenderness broke something in her.Her expression shifted from fragile hope to sharp irritation.
“Did you seriously just give me a little pat on the head and tell me to be a good girl?”Her voice dropped low, each word clipped with warning.
Sal blinked, caught off guard.“I just…?”
“You did.”Her tone left no room for argument.For a long moment, she simply watched him flounder for words—his mouth opening, closing, searching for something that might undo what he’d just done.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything, Cata,” he said finally, trying to sound firm, reassuring.
“So you patronized me.”
She didn’t raise her voice, but the quiet steel in it made the men nearby glance up.Folding her arms, she tapped her foot once, deliberate and sharp.Turning her gaze to Luca, she asked, “Tell me, would you ever do that to Ava?”
He looked horrified, shaking his head.“Never,” he said—and then, more quietly, “I know better.”
Sal glared at his friend, then swung back to her.“I didn’t patronize you.”
Catarina tilted her head, regarding him as though he’d just confirmed her suspicions.“Yeah.You did.”She turned and started for the door, her steps unhurried, confident.“And things were going so well,” she murmured, her tone cool and cutting.At the doorway, she paused just long enough to glance back, her expression unreadable.“You gave the little lady a pat on the head and sent her away and that could be dangerous.”
Her final look was calm, dismissive—and it left him cold.Then she was gone.
Sal stared at the empty doorway.Dangerous?His sweet, beautiful, gentle Catarina?She was his, and he’d be damned if—
A throat cleared behind him.
He turned, realizing Tony, Luca, and Paulo had witnessed the entire exchange.Tony looked vaguely concerned.Luca looked like he was enjoying the show.Paulo—the smug bastard—looked like he was about to laugh in his face.
“What the hell are you here for?”Sal demanded, stalking toward his office.He waved a sharp hand, forcing them all inside.
Tony stayed wisely silent.Luca, however, arched a brow.“She’s got spirit, Romano.I like her.”
“She’s got your balls in a vice,” Paulo added with a slow grin.“Don’t worry, it happens to the weakest of us.”
Sal’s glare could have stripped paint.“You want to keep those smug teeth, Ruffino?”
Paulo chuckled, sprawling across the sofa like a man with nothing to fear.“Relax.I like her.That woman of yours?Fire and ice all at once.She’s perfect for you.”
“Better than the dead-eyed dolls you used to entertain,” Luca teased smoothly, pouring himself a glass of scotch from the sideboard, then turned to their host.“I’m surprised she hasn’t stabbed you yet, Sal.”
Sal grunted, ignoring them.He wasn’t about to admit that Catarina’s sudden flash of temper had set his blood on fire.She never would have done that before.Then his mind flashed back to the night they’d met.When she drank alcohol, she was different.Apparently, that spirit was starting to come out without assistance.
And he loved it!
When they were settled, his voice snapped back to business.“What do you want?”
