Page 39 of The Mafia Assassin's Redemption
Not outside family.
I’ll fucking shoot anyone who dares harm them.
But Harry…
I’ll protect her, too. Kill anyone in her way, anyone who wants to harm her.
Just as I have.
But that’s not out of love. It’s guilt, the constant need to fix a failure that’s irreparable.
Redemption isn’t for me, not with this woman who fucking hates me. She might want me. I understand lust. Hormones. Chemistry. But it’s not love. I don’t deserve it. And I sure as hell don’t give it.
She clears her throat and I down my second drink, pour a third, and pick it up with hers. I walk back to her and hold out the glass.
“Like it or not, Harriet, we’re going to have to do this.”
She snatches the drink, looking fucking ridiculous in the world’s worst dress. No, not even a dress. It’s a hideous, old-fashioned nightgown my mam wouldn’t even wear. “I don’t like it. At all. And you need to call me Hazel. It’s the name I go by.”
“I know. Harry.”
Those eyes narrow to slits and her nostrils flare. “It won’t be consensual. Are you into rape?”
“It won’t be rape.”
“But I don’t want you.” And even as she speaks the words, her gaze latches on to my hard-on and the disdain melts from her expression.
Fuck me, she just licked her lips.
I’m pretty fucking sure my dick just got bigger.
The confines of my pants restrict my cock and it strains against them. And then her hungry eyes make my balls tighten and ache.
“Are you sure about that?” I raise a brow.
“You need a shave,” she snaps, ignoring my question. Although, her body language makes it a rhetorical one.
I run a hand over my stubble and grin. “You’re deflecting. My face isn’t in question. Don’t worry, love. I promise my well-endowed, manscaped cock will take very good care of you.”
“Isn’t that nice?” she says, color blossoming in her cheeks. But her nipples bead against the nightie as she drags her eyes away. “And I’m sure. I don’t want you. This isn’t happening.”
Now I sigh. “If we don’t produce a bona fide marriage sheet, then the hit’s back on and I can’t help you.”
That’s a lie. I’ll fucking take out anyone who looks like a threat to Harry. Even Salvatore.
But I know Cal would step in and stop it. Even an anonymous hit on him would be traced back to me.
Needlessly starting a war is not on Callahan’s agenda.
Or mine.
And after I already killed his brother, taking out Salvatore would be pushing it.
I could just destroy every Ricci in existence, pin the blame on some poor bastard, and then hide Harry away. Even then, all it takes is one moment.
That’s all.
One moment.
