Page 40 of Heartless Sinner

I didn’t care. I’d take on all of them if they dared to keep insulting Marla like this. I meant everything that I’d said.

“This dessert,” I said, digging in as though nothing unpleasant had just happened, “is delicious. You always choose an excellent menu, Tati.”

One of the Caruso wives, evidently deciding that avoiding war was more important than being viewed as an idiot, made a valiant effort by bringing up the latest—inaccurate—mafia movie.

Conversation continued in that stilted manner through dessert, at which point I stood up and offered my arm to Marla. The whole time, she had remained upright with a serene look on her face, like of course she was a queen and of course her future husband would defend her. Like all of this fighting was beneath her.

“This was a lovely dinner,” she said, addressing Tatiana. “I look forward to inviting you to my dinners when we’re married.”

She cast an assessing smile over the entire assembled group, and we swept out together.

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Chapter Eighteen

Marla

* * *

I trembled uncontrollably as we got into the elevator to head to the car. I had wondered if we would run into some kind of opposition, some snide remarks, but I hadn’t expected it to be so blatant. The entire time I had felt the classism of the others, the way they looked down their noses at me wondering how I could dare to step into the room with the rest of them.

Again, not so surprising, but then Tatiana Petrov had gotten openly rude about it.

She was a spoiled idiot, I knew that. She was one of those children raised in the mafia who had powerful parents and thought she was smarter than she actually was. For her to be so obvious about her jealousy and bullying was a stupid move and I shouldn’t let it bother me.

I knew this, I knew all of it.

But still, I trembled.

The moment we entered the elevator, Vince pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. “I should’ve put the fork through her hand after all.”

I pressed my nose to his throat, inhaling his dark, spicy scent. “No, you were right not to. She’s not worth it, she’s an insecure little girl.”

“Nobody talks about you that way.” Vince’s voice was a growl.

I could see with crystal clarity the way he’d towered over Tatiana at the table, fire burning in his gaze. He’d looked like the personification of fury and I hadn’t blamed Tatiana for getting scared. It was a reminder of what a dangerous person Vince was and could be—but all of that anger, that danger, was direct away from me, directed to protect me.

“Thank you. You really didn’t have to do that. You could’ve really damaged your reputation.”

“I did have to do it. Hey.” Vince pulled back, his hands on my shoulders. “You’re going to be my wife. An insult to you is an insult to me. I asked you to marry me because I knew you would be the partner that I needed.”

“You put yourself in a bad political position,” I pointed out. My stomach twisted.

Because as much as I hated to admit it… Tatiana Petrov had a point. I could understand why she was upset. One of the most handsome, intelligent, and powerful men in our world, a man that was clearly on the rise, had chosen to marry—and he’d picked me. It must’ve felt like when the prince picked Cinderella in the fairytale—a common woman? Instead of one of them, the women he’d rubbed elbows with all his life, women with an equal amount of power?

I knew how desperately I had wanted to get out of this world. For these women, getting out wasn’t an option, so an advantageous marriage was better. Vince would be a good husband. He was probably the best possible catch they could land.

And now I had stolen him from them.

I kind of wanted to march back in there and say hey, this wasn’t exactly my plan either, I just wanted him to help me avenge my brother! But that would be childish and I knew it wouldn’t solve anything. And it wouldn’t change my deal with Vince.

“I put myself exactly where I want to be,” Vince replied. His hands cupped my face. “And that’s between you and anyone who’d try and take you down.”

My heart thumped painfully in my chest. I felt like his hands on my face were the only thing tethering me to this earth. “Okay,” I found myself whispering.

The elevator opened and we got into the car. I didn’t know what to do with all of the emotions swirling inside of me. My father and brothers chasing men away from me had ostensibly been for my protection, but I’d never felt protected. I’d felt trapped and annoyed, smothered.

But with Vince, I felt… safe. Held. Shielded.

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