Page 109 of The Man with a Treasure

How could I voice that her heart was not even to be considered?

“Scarlett—”

“No,” she growled.

“But,” I again tried to explain, “it is how it is done.”

Tightening fists, she proclaimed, “Then I’m not going to Italy.”

“Scarlett.” She had to understand we didn’t have a choice in the matter. “Be reasonable.”

“Stop calling me that! I am Scar!”

She was regressing again. I didn’t want to lose all the traction we had made. I needed her to understand what that horrible name meant. “But ‘Scar’ is a name they called you.”

Arms at her sides locked with aggravation. “It is all I’ve known for twenty years!”

Her being in a rage was going to get me nowhere quick. I needed her to calm down. I raised my hands. “Okay. Okay… That name may be something familiar to you, but it reminds me of what I saw the day we found you. Is it possible we compromise?”

Puffing, she was borderline seething. “I don’t even know what that means!”

I was wishing Sal would give some words of wisdom, but he stayed quiet.

I was on my own with her. “If you stay calm, I will explain.” When she didn’t yell at me, I continued with, “Okay. Thank you. A compromise is like a trade. A way to ‘meet in the middle’.” As a literal example, I took a physical step toward her. Then I waited for her brilliant mind to comprehend my meaning.

Pride soared as she took an angry little step toward me.

So full of adoration, I clutched her face. “The very first time I saw these magnificent eyes, they reminded me of the galaxy where the stars hang in the sky. Endless and mesmerizing. I still see you this way, a limitless being who is learning her freedom.”

Suddenly, I remembered a conversation that had made no sense to me at the time…

Mrs. Rossi studied me a little longer, then her golden eyes widened. “Oh, you have a very deep connection to the Giordanos.”

“I do not wish to.”

A gentle smile appeared. “Ah, then maybe you will need to learn to ‘wish’ upon stars.” Her eyes sparkled. “You will belong to one, one day.”

Scarlett’s lips parted, then she softly said, “Angel—”

Those lips. I had to touch them as I realized Mrs. Rossi had seen how much I would adore this young woman. My thumb grazed her mouth as I told her, “I don’t belong to Heaven, but will fight to belong to a Star.” Then I waited, silently begging for her to take another step toward me, only this time, between our minds.

I knew she understood my meaning when I felt her body sigh. “That is… a good trade.” She was letting me call her Star in place of Scar.

Thank you, Mrs. Rossi.

Realizing Scarlett was truly a part of my destiny, I went from just being in love with her, to loving her madly. Mrs. Rossi’s premonition felt like granted permission, yet all the Giordano rules made this union impossible. I was torn between love and insane jealousy. My heart pounded for Scarlett, and to avenge any future ‘prospect’. My lungs labored for her, and at the thought of any future kills if anyone wished to hurt her or test me.

Breathlessly, she asked, “You want to taste me again?”

My soul answered Scarlett with my starving jealous Italian grumble, “I want to ravage you until my very last breath.”

“W-What did you just say?”

My body was trembling for all I wanted. I had to regain control over myself, so I shut my eyes to block out the sight of perfection. “Nothing.” But, then I saw my gun pointed to some man who planned on marrying my Scarlett.

From the kitchen, fucking Sal chimed in, “He said he wants to ravage you.” When I glared over my shoulder, he only shrugged. “Hey, don’t look at me like that. I only make her want to drink wine. Speaking of,” he looked around, “where is my glass?”

Unsure, Scarlett asked me, “Is ravage good?”