Page 99 of Worth the Risk

“Thank you, Nonna.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with determination. “I won’t let the past define us, Isabella. We have endured so much, but now we have a chance to build a future together. I want you to come to New Jersey, to our family home. It’s time for you to meet your real family.”

Bella’s heart swelled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She turned in Dan’s arms and gazed up into his troubled face. He had heard, obviously.

“I... Uh...”

“It’s sudden, I know,” her grandmother pressed. “But you should be around the family who can protect you. Those Giordano filth are behind bars, but for how long? And as long as Lorenzo and Paulo breathe, you are at risk. My nephew, Alto, Don Pietro, will keep you safe, cara.”

“They think I’m dead, Nonna. As long as they do, I’m safer in Texas. Besides, I have a life here.”

“Do you have a man to protect you?”

She laid her free hand on Dan’s cheek as she replied, “Yes. Although you might not approve. He’s an ex-Marine, a former cop, and currently a private investigator.”

“Well,” Nonna replied, a hint of aversion in her tone. “There’s no accounting for taste. Wait. Does he work for that Rossi Agency who sent us the documents?”

“Yes, that’s why I’m still alive. They’re very good at what they do.”

“About visiting me, Isabella...”

Dan shook his head, clearly not on board with the plan. “I don’t like it. The situation is too unsettled,” he said in a low, hushed voice. “Ask if she’d like to take a trip to Texas.”

“I heard that,” her nonna said. “It has now jumped to the top of my bucket list. Alto has promised to help me check it off.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Bella heard a man say in the background. “But in the fall, when it isn’t 100 degrees in the shade.”

“We’ll talk again, bella ragazza.”

“Soon,” she agreed. “And next time maybe we can video chat.”

“I’m seventy-four!” It came out seventy foe-ah, making Bella smile. “I’ll get one of my other fourteen grandchildren to show me. There’s always at least one of them under this roof.”

“I’ll look forward to it, Nonna.”

When the call disconnected, she handed Dan his phone. “She has fourteen other grandkids, which means I have fourteen first cousins. I’ve gotta say, handsome, this is like a crazy dream. Do I get you to pinch me?”

His hands moved down her back to cup her bottom, and he squeezed. “That I can do, no problem, beautiful,” he said with a soft, teasing smile. It faded quickly. “I still don’t like this. I’d much prefer to wrap you in cotton and hide you away somewhere I can keep you safe.”

“After running for a year, that sounds nice. But remember what I said about living in the moment? I want both of us, rather, all four of us, to do that.” She rose on her toes shortening the distance she had to pull his head down to hers. “Besides, my man is a Rossi badass. With him and his fellow badasses covering my six, I’m confident they’ll protect me.”

“We haven’t lost a Rossi wife yet, and I’m going to make damn sure you aren’t the first. As for anyone covering your six, beautiful, that responsibility falls to your dom.” His fingers curled into her round butt, and her feet left the floor. “Now, kiss me.”

As his mouth swooped down to claim hers, she jerked her head back. “Wait. You said Rossi wife. You meant submissive, didn’t you?”

“No, I think I was quite clear. As soon as you agree, and after I fuck you senseless, we’ll see about taking care of that.”

She frowned. “Is that a proposal?”

“It is. I’ll do it up right, soft music, candles, down on one knee, and a giant rock of a ring, later. Right now, I just need an answer and to be inside you. Because I’m hard enough to pound nails I want you so bad.”

Her frown slowly turned into a grin. “I like the sound of a giant rock. That’s an offer I can’t refuse, so I accept.”

She moved to kiss him, but this time he jerked back, scowling.

“I’m teasing, handsome. I don’t care about a rock. All I care about is you and the beautiful life we’ll be making together.”

“That’s better,” he muttered, a split second before his mouth sealed over hers.

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