Todos los capítulos de The Butcher - A Mafia romance : Capítulo 181 - Capítulo 190

Dante’s eyes remained downcast. He was quiet for so long, it seemed as if he would never speak. But then finally, the words came. “She continues to speak highly of you.” He raised his chin to look at me. “So I assume you treated her well.”I was fucking Prince Charming…except when I fucked her like the devil. “I would take your deal, except we have a problem.” My fingers remained curled under my chin. “How will I get her to agree when she thinks I betrayed her?” I knew how proud she was, and even if she wanted to take me back, she wouldn’t.“I’ll talk to her.”“You’ll tell her that you forced me to do that.”Dante released a heavy breath. “No.”“Then we have no deal,” I snapped. “Tell her the truth or walk away.”Dante slowly shook his head. “If I tell her the truth, I’ll lose her. And I’d rather lose my business than my daughter.”I knew this wasn’t a bluff. He manipulated her and used her, but I knew he genuinely cared for her. His ambition and greed only went so far.“I’ll talk to

“I already said you couldn’t run this business on your own. You saw how Theo and I crossed your father, and he was none the wiser. If it weren’t for you, I would have carved his eyes out with my butter knife.” He cocked his head slightly and looked at me, like a king sitting on his throne in his palace. “A lot of horrible shit happens in this world, and you have no clue. You need someone like me to watch your back the way I watch my front. You need someone whom people respect and fear. You need a husband who will slit throats and break skulls for just looking at his wife the wrong way.”“Then how about I marry Theo instead?” I asked, just to get a rise out of him.It worked—because his stare turned angry. “You don’t love him.”“But I could love him. And there’s no chance I would ever love you.”The fire filled the room with warmth, forcing the cold air back to the windows. It was quiet, the flames crackling in the hearth, the raindrops kissing the glass in the background. A few lamps

“Sure.”His thumbs started to move together.“Sex is a much smaller payment than marriage,” I said. “So, how about we do that instead? We have our dinner then go back to my apartment and do whatever the fuck you want. Then tomorrow, you return the business to us and disappear.”“Do whatever the fuck I want…” He turned his eyes away, and a smirk moved across his lips. “Fuck, you’re killing me.”“Then take the deal.”He continued to let his eyes sit on something else in the room, his mind thinking. “That’s a very uneven trade⁠—”“No condom.” I could deal with Axel for a night. Could go through the motions to save the business—and get an orgasm or two along the way.His eyes shifted back to me, and he gave a heavy sigh. “Baby, you know your audience⁠—”“Call me that again, and I’m walking out of here.”He started to massage his knuckles. “As enticing as that is…no deal.”The disappointment was so potent, it was actually painful.“My offer stands.”“If all you want is to fuck me, then why

My eyes locked on hers, admiring that beautiful neck and those full lips. It was hard to look at her without staring. But that was all I wanted to do…stare. I used to watch her sleep beside me. Used to watch her relax in the bathtub. Some people cherished paintings and sculptures, but she was my art.“We need to discuss the wedding.”“You want roses or lilies?” Her eyes were ice-cold.“We aren’t doing this at the town hall.”Her eyebrows furrowed like she couldn’t believe what I’d just said. “Then what’s your idea?”“A real wedding.”“Why?”“Because this is the only wedding I’m ever going to have,” I said. “I’m not the most romantic guy, but I’m not getting married in jeans.”“You can wear a suit to the town hall⁠—”“I know you want that, too.”“Yes, for a real marriage⁠—”“This is a real marriage⁠—”“It’s fucking coercion.” She grabbed the glass on the counter beside her and took a big sip.“Let’s get married at the church,” I said. “Have the reception at the Four Seasons.”She stare

He stared at his glass for a moment before he looked at me, his blue eyes deep and broken. “It’s real to me.” As if we were back in time, he looked at me the way he used to, like he could stare at me forever.When I couldn’t handle the look anymore, all the pain it caused me, I glanced away. “I’m sorry they won’t be there tomorrow.”“I wanted them to meet you.” He looked forward again, returning his glass to his lips. “They would have loved you, and I think you would have liked them, if this were five years ago.” He took another drink, leaving the glass empty. “There are days when I’m fine with it, and there are other days when I’m not fine with it. I’m sure you can figure out what kind of day this one is.”“I’m sorry.”He inhaled a slow breath then let it out. “I know you are, baby.”I didn’t tell him not to call me that, not now, not when he was so sad. “They’ll come around eventually.”He stared at his empty glass for a long time. “I don’t think they will. But thanks for trying to