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“A doctor.”

“Yes, a pediatrician, which means I enjoy helping little people. Not those with little intelligence.” He didn’t deserve to take any brunt from my anger, but lashing out was the only control I had at the moment.

“I can see why educating yourself on the effects of birth defects or even PTSD wouldn’t interest a woman such as yourself. Sadly, there are thousands upon thousands of men and women who desperately need insight, care, and just someone to talk to. Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if that was considered the norm?”

Few people floored me on any level. I sensed he wasn’t just tossing out a few selective sentences to gain and hopefully keep my attention. He was speaking from experience.

“A woman such as myself. A mafia princess with more money than common sense?”

He chuckled. “There is much more to you than that. A woman who prefers the simpler, less complicated aspects of life. All forms of mental illness are complicated and draining.”

“Said like a man with experience.”

“Which you can’t find it in yourself to believe. Is that because you consider me a savage as you do the men in your father’s employ?”

He had a way about him that intrigued me. “I wouldn’t limit that to just my father’s organization. All criminals, whether in crime syndicates or on their own.”

If he moved any closer, I’d be able to tell what he’d had for dinner. As it was, I was close to being intoxicated from his incredibly musky yet citrusy aftershave. The subtle hints of cinnamon and lime, a dash of orange zest, and something darkly woodsy captured a few seconds of my breath.

“You don’t seem to appreciate that organizations such as your father’s or the man I work for are very much a family. No, we aren’t flesh and blood, but the fact we’d die to protect each other must account for certain good thoughts in your mind.”

“Or foolish ones. Do you think my father would die for any of his men?”

“Yes, I do, which is why I agreed to this arrangement.”

“Well, good for you. I did not agree, although I can easily tell it doesn’t matter to anyone.”

“It’s not about mattering, Carmella. It’s about honor and loyalty, respect and the continuation of two very powerful empires. Our marriage will serve as an olive branch, which will in turn send valuable and important lessons to anyone attempting to take from us again.”

I did what I could to clap my hands with the wine stem still in my hands. “A lovely speech, Alejandro. Save it for my father or Don Santorelli. What neither you nor my father seem to understand is that I lost my sense of caring a long time ago. I’ve lived for over ten years very much on my own making every decision, living as a typical college student working two jobs so I didn’t need to rely on my father for his money or power. I think I’ve done extremely well and I’m thrilled with the life I live. And no one is going to take it away from me under any circumstances. I hope I’ve made myself clear.”

I was finished with touting reasons for refusing to kowtow down to my father. After successfully sidestepping him, I attempted to walk away.

Alejandro reacted instantly, snapping his long fingers around my arm. He jerked me backward, his full body weight creating explosive heat between us. With one hand full, all I could manage was throwing my palm against his chest and twisting my torso, so my hip was planted firmly against his hulking body.

He grinned and it looked nothing like the pleasant, amused smile from before. The expression on his face was another reminder of why I loathed the life.

When he fisted my hair at the scalp, I was shocked. But his next action floored me.

Alejandro crushed his lips over mine.

My initial reaction was to fight with everything I had in me, almost managing to scratch his face. But his hold was too strong, the searing connection I felt with the man too intense. An instant haze rolled over me, preventing my rational mind from determining the best method of getting the hell away from him.

His lips were soft, his touch possessive. Stars crowded my closed eyes and every inch of my body was tingling. With ease, he tugged me around, so our bodies were molded together and as he forced my back into a slight arc, I was able to detect how aroused he was.

My mouth watered at first until common sense kicked in. How could I be so excited about a man I didn’t know who’d been given the golden keys to alter my life? He swept his tongue inside, unforgiving in his actions. Yet there was a level of passion in his action I hadn’t been prepared for. Tasting the hint of peppermint along with expensive scotch was also strangely attractive.

Finally, I pushed my hand against him, not in a forceful way, but a reminder that we barely knew each other.

Alejandro broke the kiss, taking several scattered breaths as he kept our lips far too close for comfort.

Seeing the look of lust in his eyes sent a quiver all the way to my core.

A part of me was excited, the mystery and hint of the forbidden a powerful temptation.

But the defiant woman in me, the one who’d worked so hard for everything she had, reacted. I tossed the rest of my wine in his face, pulling away immediately.

“Alejandro. I’m sorry, but I’m just not interesting in playing syndicate politics.” I hoped he’d get the message and leave me alone. I thought that’s what he’d determined to do until he swept me off my feet with an arm wrapped around my waist. The glass was flung from my hand, pitching into one of the thick bushes. He was so strong he lifted me several inches off the ground, taking long strides back to the fountain area.

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