Page 84 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“But you’re mad.”
“Not at you, little bird. Never at you. I’m mad that you were ever made to feel this way.”
He closes his eyes, turning his head to the side. “I hate that you’ve seen me like this. Twice.”
I kiss his forehead and hold him tenderly, trying to control the hatred in my heart. But I cannot hide the way my voice shakes.
“Tell me who did this to you,cuore mio. Please. I must have a name.”
He looks up at me, frightened. “No. You’ll do something you’ll regret, and I don’t want that for you.”
“I can promise you I will not regret it for a second. Tell me. Is it Fallon?”
A tear tracks down Ford’s beautiful face, and he shakes his head.
“Tell me the truth, Ford.”
Pain fills his expression, and he gets up gingerly. I try to help him stand, but he steps away from me.
He draws his robe tighter around himself and winces, then slowly, deliberately brings his eyes to mine.
“Do not accuse me of lying.Ever again.”
His soft voice in my ears is louder than a gunshot.
Sighing inwardly, I rise to my feet, reaching for him. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I know you would never lie to me. But I can’t stand the thought that the person who hurt you is still breathing.”
He allows the contact and steps into my embrace, resting his forehead on my chest.
“Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to be an accessory to a homicide, Luca? I’m a billionaire. I have more money than God. If I wanted somebody dead, they’d already be dead.”
I cough out a dry laugh. “My little bird sounds like a mobster.”
“A very rich mobster,” he says, lightly punching my chest.
I hum, shaking my head. “No.I’ma very rich mobster.You’reafilthyrich mobster.”
He snort-laughs, and my chest fills with gratitude for his delicate bravery. Still, there’s a serious matter to discuss.
“Ford, baby, I…you’re mine. That means I’m willing to—”
“Burn down the world for me?” he asks, his eyes lighting up.
I chuckle. “Yes. And on a smaller scale, the consequences of hurting you belong to the person who hurt you. This Rogues’ Masquerade you’re attending with me? You know why nobody’s going to hurt you?”
“Because you’re the top don.”
“Okay, it’s sexy when you say things like that, and I hope to use that in bed one of these days.”
He rolls his eyes but sends a cute little nod my way.
I continue my thought, “But no. You are safe because I amruthlesswhen it comes to protecting me and mine. And everyone who’s anyone knows it.”
He shivers, leaning into me. “I really shouldn’t be turned on by that.”
I growl, low and foreboding, in his ear, “But you are, little bird. To make myself perfectly clear, a bullet would be nothing. This is someone I want to take apart with my bare hands. I would crack his headcome un uovo—like an egg. So your billions can buy a hitman, but they can’t buy that kind of fierce devotion. It can only be given freely.”
