His Stolen Bride - MINK Page 0,37
gives me that beautiful smile of his as he leans down and brushes his mouth against mine.
“I like her.”
Santino breaks the kiss.
I loosen my hold on his shirt and turn to look at Cato. I’d forgotten he was here.
“We need to talk about some things.” Cato glances up at Leo and Gianna then at the destroyed vineyard. This place is a freaking mess.
“Things that can’t wait.” Cato is all business.
I start to step back from Santino so he can go with Cato.
“Let me see to my wife first. I think I should bring Leo in, too.”
“Your office in 15. I told my tigress I’d be home for dinner.” Cato turns to leave.
“I can see to myself if you need to go.” I don’t want to leave Santino’s side.
“No, I need to speak to you first. Everything else will have to wait.” He takes my hand and leads me back into the house. I groan when I see the utter destruction that my father’s goons caused.
“Thank God you’re rich,” I mumble.
Santino barks out a laugh so loud it scares me for a second. “What? This is going to be expensive. It was expensive the first time around. And now—” I shake my head.
“There’s no such thing as too expensive when it comes to my wife’s happiness.” He picks up the pace. Whatever he has to talk to me about must be really important, because I’m practically running to keep up with him at this point.
“We need a minute,” Santino tells my sister and Leo as we enter our bedroom. “Don’t go far, Leo. We have a meeting in my office in ten.”
“I’ll be there.” He takes Gianna’s hand and pulls her out of the room.
Santino shuts the busted doors as well as he can. In two long strides he’s lifting me off my feet. His mouth takes mine in a fevered kiss. This kiss is different than any other before. After he devours me, he pulls his mouth from mine, leaving us trying to catch our breath.
“You didn't think you were going to live, did you?” I dig my fingers into his shoulders. That's why he kissed me like that. He thought he might never kiss me again.
He slides me down his body until my feet touch the floor.
“It was a possibility. I’ll do whatever I have to if it means protecting you.”
I shake my head. “That’s sweet and all, but I can’t lose you. Promise you’ll never leave me.”
He stares into my eyes.
“No, vow it.”
“I will never leave you.”
I pull his mouth back to mine, needing to feel him against me even if only for a few seconds.
“Beautiful, you have to understand your life will always come first.”
I start to talk but he puts his finger over my lips. “If you die, I’m as good as dead. There would be no way I could spend the rest of my days here without you. Life would have no meaning to me. Your death would end two lives.”
I suck in a breath.
“You may not like that, but I can’t change the way I feel in that regard.”
I shrug. “I’ll just do better about not getting myself into situations.”
“Situations.” He smiles before dropping his forehead to mine. “I never knew fear before today.”
“I’m okay.” I see the slight shake of his hands. I grab his with mine and lock our fingers together. As scary as today was, with me worrying I could lose this man, I know that’s the price you pay for loving someone so much. That one day they could be taken from you, heaven forbid. But it’s worth it. Even one night with Santino would have been worth it. No one has ever made me feel the way this man has. No one has ever loved me the way only he can.
He lets out a long breath. We’re running out of time, and I know there’s more my husband has to say. “You’re a Carrera.”
“I am. That name used to mean something.”
“It still can. It belongs to you and you sister. You took it back, and now all of it belongs to you. The eldest, and definitely the fiercest.”
“I thought you would just expand your area, take over all my father’s holdings.” I’d never thought about him giving me the reins to the empire my family built. Would that mean I’d have to go back home? No, that place was never home. Santino is my home. He’s the only true safe place I’ve ever known.
He sighs. “If that’s what you