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I’m torn between swooning because he called me his girl and rolling my eyes because the macho posturing is a little overkill.
Dante continues to smile, an easy expression on his face. “She was almost my girl.”
Oh, for the love of god. “Shut the hell up, Marino. Or I’ll break your jaw and do it for you.”
Dante’s not nearly affected enough by the threat. I got to hand it to him, if it was another man, they would have been shaking in their boots. Carlo can be scary when he wants to.
“Yeah, yeah. You D’Angelos sure do like to act like the big bad wolves,” Dante says.
“What the hell are you even doing here?”
“None of your business.”
“Seeing as this is my brother’s house and you just touched my girl without permission, it’s my fucking business,” Carlo tosses back.
Without permission?I almost laugh out loud at that. This is hilariously funny.
Like he was summoned, Carlo’s brother sidles up next to him, quickly taking note of the situation. He offers me an apologetic glance.
“I invited him. I didn’t realize there’d be friction,” Topher says, looking from me to Carlo, to Dante. “Could you please play nice? It’s Jameson’s party.”
He gestures at the birthday boy and his wife as they float around the party, talking to the guests.
“There won’t be any problems as long as Marino leaves,” Carlo states.
Topher’s face falls. “Oh come on, Lo.”
“No, get him out of here.”
Dante’s expression is amused. “There’s no need. I’ll just talk to the birthday boy for a minute. I was going to leave anyway.”
I almost feel bad. He might be a slimy asshole but he doesn’t deserve to be kicked out like this.
He shoots me a wink. “See you later, princess.” Then he walks away.
Carlo’s hand tightens around my waist. Tension is practically vibrating from him. I believe he’s one second away from going after Dante. Which would be ridiculous.
Once Topher’s sure that the situation has been managed, he walks away. I wrench myself out of Carlo’s arms.
“Spit on me next time, would you? It’ll mark me as your property better,” I say angrily.
He gives me a dark look before taking my wrist and dragging me into an empty hallway. His jaw is clenched tight and his eyes are still bright with anger.
“Do not go near him again. I’m not playing.”
“I am qualified to make my own decisions as to whom I can or cannot go near,” I say obstinately.
He scowls. “This is not the time to be stubborn.”
“But it was time for you to treat me like your toy?”
“You’re mine, Astoria. Mine,” he says possessively.
“I’m not yours. I’m my own person, Carlo. You can’t just lay a claim on me.”
Carlo looks like he has reached a breaking point. He takes a step toward me and I automatically take one back. My back hits the wall. I swallow softly as I look up at him. His eyes are gleaming, dark and dangerous. And yet there’s a thrum in my lower belly. I clench my thighs.
I lose all train of thought when he wraps his arm around my neck. It’s a gentle, almost reverent touch.
