I guess the whole arranged-marriage thing is still alive and well in the Mafia.
Dinner is served, followed by dancing. From what I can tell, Kage is the only Bratva in the room. Everyone else seems to be either Irish or Italian, though I do hear a few accents I can’t place.
When I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see who it is, I freeze.
Spider stands behind my chair, gazing down at me.
“Care to dance?”
I hesitate, but he’s relaxed and smiling, so I smile back and nod. “Sure.”
He pulls out my chair for me then leads me onto the dance floor and takes me into his arms.
Because of course the fucking music changed from pop to a ballad, didn’t it?
It’s like Fate hates me.
We sway in silence, listening to the music and not looking at each other, until he says, “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you. And you’re very handsome in that tux.”
He glances down at me. A muscle flexes in his jaw. “I remember you called me that the day we met. Handsome.”
“And I remember how red your face turned.”
“It was the first time I’ve ever blushed.”
He spins me around. I see Declan and Sloane at the sweetheart table, watching us, but then Spider spins me again, and they’re gone.
“I owe you an apology for the way I acted a few weeks ago. I was an idiot.”
He sounds sincere. I’m relieved but don’t want to make a big deal about it, so I keep my voice light. “It’s over. Let’s forget it.”
“I can’t. I’ve tried.” His arm tightens around my waist. His voice drops, turning husky. “I can’t forget anything that happened between us.”
My relief vanishes. Butterflies explode into panic in my stomach.
We dance for the rest of the song in silence. As soon as it ends, I break away, murmur a thank you, and head to the ladies room to hide.
I lock myself into a stall, lean against the door, and close my eyes while I try to come up with a solution to the Spider situation. Short of a kick to the balls, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to be deterred.
Just get through tonight. Then talk to Declan and Sloane, and let them take care of it. Spider will listen to them.
Except he might not, considering he followed you to another country against Declan’s wishes.
Heaving a sigh, I use the toilet then go to the sink to wash my hands.
When I turn off the water and reach for a paper towel, I happen to glance into the mirror above the sinks.
I freeze.
A man is directly behind me.
He’s huge.
Frighteningly tall and broad, he stands with his legs spread open and his massive hands hanging by his sides. He’s all in black, including a heavy wool overcoat with the collar turned up against his tattooed neck.
His hair and beard are thick and dark. A small silver hoop earring glints in one earlobe. Beneath lowered brows, his eyes are a startling shade of pale green.
He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
“You’re here.” It comes out choked, on a sob.
Mal says softly, “Did you think I’d let you attend a Mob wedding without my protection?”
God, his voice. That lovely voice, deep, rich, and hypnotic. All the hair on my arms prickles. So do all my nerve endings. A dangerous current of electricity crackles through my body. I feel like I stepped on a live wire.
I whisper, “Yes.”
“You know better.”
“Do I? You didn’t even want to be in the same country as me.”
His voice drops an octave. “You know exactly what I want.”
“I know that you’re an obstinate fool who should have a little more confidence in me.”
In the mirror, our gazes are locked. I’d turn around, but I can’t move my legs. I can’t move anything.
“Confidence in you?” he repeats. “I have every confidence in you.”
“Pakhan had more.”
His eyes spark. “What does that mean?”
“Remember what he said to me at our dinner? ‘Empires aren’t run by the meek.’ I get what that means now. He wasn’t talking about you. He was talking about me. He assumed I’d be by your side when you took over.”
My voice breaks. “But you decided to give me away instead.”
The spark in Mal’s eyes flares into fire. He steps closer, bringing with him that scent I know so well. Pine trees and moonlight, fog caressing the branches of towering evergreens in an ancient woods.
My woods, the one where I learned how to be happy.