Page 8 of Curse of the Bride Assassin

She deepens the kiss, pressing her lips to mine as she weaves her slender fingers through my hair and tugs lightly. Her passion spurs me on, and I explore her sweet mouth with my tongue, taking my time as I revel in her perfection.

When she coughs from a lack of air, I pull back. I forgot that she’s only half vampire…she still needs to breathe.

“Marry me,” I blurt.

This is the worst possible time to propose. We were just shot at, and she probably wants nothing to do with me—but I can’t deny the cosmic pull I have toward this woman. I need to makeher mine, right now. If she says no, I’d go complete psycho and lock her in my basement. She makes me feel that crazy.

To my surprise she doesn’t even hesitate. She peers up at me, with a huge smile on her face. “Yes.”

My fangs drop, and the urge to mark her right now, so everyone knows who she belongs to, thrums in my veins.

She’s mine. My wife.Forever.

“Um, Vincenzo, you’re crushing me,” she says around a giggle. It’s different from her earlier rich, husky laughter, but no less alluring.

I don’t want to get off her. Some inner psychotic part of me wants to lay on top of her for the rest of my life and meld our bodies together for eternity. But we are in a public place, and this restaurant has been compromised. I can’t have my future wife stay here and risk her safety. My job is to protect her at all costs.

Prying myself off her is almost painful. What in the stars is wrong with me?

“I’m sorry,” I reply, easing myself off her despite how wrong it feels.

“Mr. Conti, you both need to go to a safe location until we can neutralize this threat. We have a car waiting in the back,” another one of my guards says.

I help Dana off the floor and walk her through the kitchen to the back of the restaurant. She seems calm and collected, despite what happened minutes ago.

Just another sign she’s the perfect woman for me.

The car meets us at the back entrance, and I open the car door for her, ushering her into the back seat before climbing in after her. I buckle her belt, making sure it’s tight and secured. As we take off to one of the mafia’s many safehouses, I can’t help but stare at her perfect face. Her plump lips are relaxed, and her eyes have dimmed a bit, appearing more hazel than red now.

The more I stare, the clearer things become for me. All the puzzle pieces fit together, revealing a truth that hits me like a brick to the face.

The reason I’m obsessed with this woman I met less than an hour ago and want to tie myself to her for life is because she’s my fated mate.

I met my fated mate.

Does she know? Does she even believe in such things? It doesn’t matter. I’ll be damned if I let her go. I’d rather get staked or shot with silver bullets than exist without her.

Which makes it top priority to find out who took a cheap shot at me inmyrestaurant. Who the fuck would be stupid enough to put my future wife in danger? I’m a selfish bastard for tying her to me—to this life filled with danger and uncertainty.

But I can promise her no matter what, that she’ll always come first. And that she’ll always be safe with me.

I just have to take care of this little hiccup first.

4

DELILAH

“Why are you staring at me?” I ask Vincenzo. His eyes are practically glued to me. I can see the wheels turning in his head.

Oh my gods, did he figure me out? Does he know who I am?

I knew I didn’t act scared enough of the gunshot. A regular woman would have screamed or something.Fuck. My whole cover is blown now.

If I blow my chance to find my mother, I will never forgive myself.

“Because you’re beautiful,” he replies casually, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

Butterflies erupt inside my stomach as a furious pink blush heats my skin. My fangs tingle, and I can feel them poking my bottom lip. His compliment would make me swoon if I were standing.

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