Page 29 of Wretched Choices

“Maybe. But why would I care? I could just send you back to your father instead.” He smirks.

I lean toward him a little, trapped in his look. “No, you won’t. You get more from me being your wife. So, I suggest we work together. I will be a willing bride, be your wife until you get what you want from my father.” I pause. Am I getting ahead of myself by blurting everything out? I ignore that voice and go on. “However, I want a few things in return. Including the whole truth of what is happening.”

He takes a sip of his drink; the tip of his tongue darts out a little and wets his lips. My head spins with the thought of all the things his tongue could do, and I swallow hard when his voice cuts in.

“What else?” Those blue eyes are now shining with challenge, and it takes me a few seconds before I can collect myself to speak.

“First, I want this to have a deadline. Like one, two, three years? How many do you think you need? Second, I need your protection from my father, even when this is over. Third, I keep working. I invested too much into my career to leave it. And fourth, this marriage will be on paper only.”

As the seconds stretch by, my mind races with possible outcomes. The tension between us is unbearable. Salvatore’s gaze is fixed on me, sending a shiver down my spine. In an attempt to avoid his gaze, my eyes fall to his chest where his tattoo is peaking from beneath his open shirt. I curse myself. Now I want to tear his shirt open to see what’s hiding underneath.

“A deadline I can work with. Let’s say, three years. People need to think we tried. As for protection, you will be protected always and not just from your father. I’ll give you my ultimate protection. Work, as long as you keep your nose out of my business, we don’t have a problem. There are always dirty politicians you can go after. And that leads us to your last request.” He downs his drink, slamming the glass on the table, making me startle.

He stands, and in seconds, I’m caged between his arms. Salvatore leans into my personal space. His body radiates with heat. “I can’t agree on your last request.” He takes my chin between his fingers. “I wanted to fuck you the night I found you snooping in this office. Since the moment I stripped you on this desk.” He leans forward, his lips almost touching mine, the darkness of his eyes penetrating deep into my soul as his breath mingles with mine. “Don’t deny the attraction between us. I can feel it, and from the way you’re trembling beneath me, I know you feel it too.”

I quiver under him, but I grit my teeth and ignore my body’s reaction. Even though all I want is to tremble under this man’s touch so I can surrender to him. But he is the wrong kind of man.

This is making everything too complicated. I made my promise; it is the least I can do for the woman who lost her life to protect me.

I lose connection with the present and memories haunt me as I battle the attraction I feel toward Salvatore.

“Where are we going?” I ask my mother as she packs our bags. Only essentials, she said.

“Somewhere where you will have a better future and a choice.” She folds the few things she pulled from the closet.

“I don’t understand.” I follow her around the room as she makes sure everything is in its place.

She turns to me and takes my hand in hers. “Bella, I want you to marry a man you will love and have kids with him. I want you to know what love is. And it is beautiful. And you’ll never get that with a man like Federico.” She takes my head in her hands, cradling my cheeks. Her eyes fill with tears. “I saw the way he looks at you. He just sees you as a bargaining chip to get what he wants. And you, my love, deserve so much more.” She wipes her tears and straightens. “I loved your father so much I would have done anything for him, but with you, I drew the line. I will take you to a place where you will be safe. We will start a new life. But you need to promise me if anything happens to me, you will find your way to Maria and when you do, she will know what to do. Promise me you will give yourself only to the man you love and marry.”

“I promise.”

“Admit it, Bella.” I snap back from the memory, my eyes focusing on his lips. “You want me to touch you and let my fingers explore your skin until you are falling apart underneath me.”

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes. My wobbly legs are lucky I’m sitting on his desk. My body and my mind are not in agreement about this situation. My body wants all the things he said, and my mind keeps reminding me about all the reasons this can’t happen. About the promise I gave to my mother before she died.

But I can’t tell him the whole truth, so I go with a part of it.

“I can’t sleep with you because I made a promise I will only ever give myself to a man that I love. The man I plan to build my future with. You are not that man. You and I have an expiry date.” He narrows his eyes at me. I put my finger on his lips, not letting him speak. “We made a deal. I will keep my promise and you will respect it.”

His eyes penetrate mine with lust and promises.

Lust. Something my mother always said to choose love over lust.

He takes my hand from his mouth, entwining our fingers. “In less than two weeks, I will be your husband. Our marriage should be consummated.”

“It doesn’t matter. We have a deadline. We have different views on what this is, and what actual marriage is, Salvatore.” I pinch my brows together, exhaling. “I want family, a husband who will love me and not cheat on me, one who will give me children and a home. You are not that person. You are a thirty-four-year-old bachelor, the don of La Cosa Nostra, the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company, who is never seen with the same woman twice. Who said to the public that procreating isn’t something worth your time and you think of a marriage as nothing more than a useful piece of paper for financial benefits. We will never work.” By the time I’ve spewed all that out, I’m breathless.

He lets go of my chin and retreats a few inches, an amused smirk on his face. “Is that what you found out about me?”

“Yes. Those were your words, Salvatore. You said them.”

He looks behind me in the distance, like he’s remembering something.

“Yes, I said all that. In my defense, I was going through a rough time. I said all that not thinking about consequences.”

I stay silent and bite on my lower lip. His eyes are filled with new determination when they find mine again. “How about a compromise? I’ll fill you in with details and tell you why I need an alliance with your father, and I will not ask you the reason for your identity change. In exchange, we try to make the best of our time as a married couple.” He steps away from me and pours himself a drink. “And, Bella, I will be your husband, therefore, you will sleep in my bed with me.” He turns, his sharp gaze filled with hunger and assurance, lust and promise. “I will not touchyou unless you ask me to. But make no mistake.” The roughness in his voice sends tremors through me. “You will ask me to touch you, and when you do, you will beg me, and then you will beg me for more.” He takes a step toward me and my back tenses. “You will squirm underneath me and scream my name. After that, there will be no way out. I will use you whenever, however I want. You will be mine. Mine to use, and mine to fuck.”

twelve

---