Val knew what Stefano was telling him was the truth. Emmanuelle had already told him that. He’d listened. He’d tried to let her idea of a true partnership sink into his brain. His first step had been to acquire her by any means possible. Marry her. Get her commitment. Emme didn’t go back on her word. Once she took her vows, she would bend over backward to make things work between them.
He didn’t want Emmanuelle in danger. That was the bottom line, but just by marrying her he was putting her in danger. The marriage would give him so much. He would be strengthening his position in the five families immediately. He would be allies with the infamous Ferraro family. The other bosses would fear going up against him. He had already sent a huge message to everyone that he was in charge, and he wasn’t fucking around, sitting on his ass, waiting for Giuseppi’s murdering brother to come at him again. He was going after Miceli.
He had also signaled it was business as usual. He had insisted his capos pay their debts to him and do it immediately or tell him why they couldn’t. Even in the midst of a war with his uncle, he ran the Saldi empire with an iron fist. He’d weeded out the traitors and was still looking for others. He was bold, merciless, ruthless, and considered one of the most lethal but fair in the business.
He looked at Mariko and then at Nicoletta. Clearly, Ricco and Taviano didn’t love their women any less. Stefano would never encourage him to put Emmanuelle’s life on the line. He would want her happiness. He knew her better than anyone else.
“We haven’t talked about her skills. I never asked her specific questions about what she could or couldn’t do. We were always very careful not to get into each other’s family’s business. I loved and wanted her for her. I know she loved me for me. I studied your family just as I do everyone coming in contact with us. I guessed at what you did, but I never asked her, and it seemed rather preposterous.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Stefano said. “Emmanuelle will be an asset to you as a full partner, Val. She’s brilliant. She’s intensely loyal, and you can talk to her. She’ll see things you’ll miss, but if you try to relegate her to a place where she feels she’s nothing but a trophy on your arm, you will eventually find that she’s going to take you down faster than any of your enemies.”
“Emmanuelle is right here, in case anyone notices,” she said, looking up at Val. “I thought we discussed this. Are you having second thoughts? If you are, you should say so now, before we get married, not after. I mean it, honey. A full partnership is all I’m accepting.”
Valentino pulled her hand to his mouth, pressing her knuckles to his lips, and then scraped his teeth back and forth over her skin. His heart accelerated. He knew she was fully aware of it because they were so connected by the way their nervous systems were entwined together.
“I’m trying, Princess. The thought of anyone kidnapping you, putting a sniper’s bullet into you, or torturing you because of me makes me sick. I think I’m on board, and then it’s like my worst nightmare and I find myself backing away from the idea and wanting to wrap you up in a little cocoon somewhere safe.”
Val wasn’t even embarrassed to confess to her in front of her brother, not after seeing the man with Francesca. Val knew he sounded as raw and vulnerable as he felt.
She cupped the side of his face and looked into his eyes. His heart immediately had that curious melting sensation it sometimes did around her. It was the intensity of her blue eyes when she gazed into his. Her slow, sensual smile.
“I’m so in love with you, Valentino Saldi. I know you see me as gentle and soft. I’ve trained since I was two years old to be anything but. I’m good with any weapon. Hand to hand. I can fly helicopters, planes. I’m hell on wheels in a car, motorcycle, any land vehicle, boat, whatever you need. I can spot a tail and I can lose them. I can build a bomb or take one apart. I’m not as good at that as some of the others, but in a pinch, I can get it done. The point I’m making is, I’ll be a good partner. I know when to keep my mouth shut if you need candy on your arm. If you need a badass, I’m your girl. If you need someone watching from the shadows no one can detect, you have that, too. I can coordinate your safety with Dario and intend to whether you like it or not when you go to any meeting. I’m good, baby. Better than good. You hit the jackpot when you fell in love with me.”