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“And you wereclearlyintending on doing so. It’s what, a few hours later, and you’ve already gotten rid of it and are trying to flee the state.” He tutted disapprovingly. “I’d say I was disappointed, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’ve finally decided what I’m going to do with you, little nurse.”
Just then, the passenger door of the waiting car opened, and light flooded the dim interior. Elio stood in the open doorway and watched us. I looked past him into the interior of the car, and my heart squeezed hard.
Lucy lay sleeping – or drugged, I had no idea – in the backseat. Her white cat pajamas looked so out of place in this dark, terrifying scene.
“You’re coming with me, Miss Burke, for better or worse, until death do us part.”
I jerked my head toward Ren, unable to comprehend his words.
“I need a wife and a mother to my children.”
He stepped toward me, and I was too frozen in shock to move. His leather-gloved hands gripped my shoulders and tugged me toward him.
“And?” I breathed.
A shadow of a smile passed over his lips. “And – you’re going to be both.”
11
RENATO
Charlotte stood mute with shock. She got into the car like a good little girl. I’d expect nothing less since I had her sister sleeping peacefully on the backseat. Charlotte had already proven she’d do anything to keep that girl alive, and soon, anything would mean becoming my wife.
I was really warming to the idea now. Once it had taken root inside me, I couldn’t imagine a better solution to my heir problem.
“Where are you taking us?” Charlotte asked, huddled in the backseat as far away from me as she could get. She gripped her St. Anthony’s medallion like it was a sacred object capable of keeping me away; like I was a vampire from a teen movie.
“Home. Where else?”
She stared at me. “You don’t really want to do this. There has to be another option.”
“Even if there was, I chose this one. I’m the man who gets what he wants, or takes it – remember,bambina?”
She chewed her lip with sharp teeth, her mind furiously roving over possible objections and discarding them. She finally seized on one, a light of futile hope burning in her eyes. “But you’re mafia royalty. You should be marrying some woman who will bring you connections or more power – something like that, right?”
“I don’t need a wife to bring me connections or power. I make my own money and forge my own alliances,” I replied smoothly.
Charlotte’s hands were bunched into fists on her lap, her impulsive temper simmering under her calm façade. “I don’t understand…” she started, her tone a stitch away from a demand.
“You don’t have to understand. You don’t have to agree. It changes nothing,” I told her, waiting for that lid to blow.
“You want me to marry you?” she asked in a disbelieving tone.
“And carry my heirs. Yes.”
She snorted. “Like I’d ever have kids with you.”
“I’m afraid marriage and kids is a package deal. You can’t have one without the other.”
She glared at me. “Right, and I’m choosing between what? Living long enough to pop out your tiny dictators or dying right now?”
I inclined my head, letting her draw her own conclusions. Her frustration turned to fury, and and I knew she was about to attack me, just like she'd attacked Elio the night we met.
The moment her self-control snapped and she lunged for me, I was ready for her. The veil of compliance and politeness fell, and just as she opened her mouth to unleash her impotent rage, I reached out and tugged her into my lap.
She gave a grunt of surprise as she landed on my knee, her plump ass fitting perfectly against my thighs. One arm banded around her waist, keeping her put, and I pressed my other hand against her smart, obstinate mouth, sealing her accusations inside.
She attempted to struggle for a moment, but there was barely an inch of give in my hold. Her fingers scrabbled at my hand, attempting to dislodge it from her mouth, but her short, trimmed nails were useless against my gloves.
