“There’s nowhere safer in the world than by my side,” Bosco countered. “She has twelve men guarding her at any given time. They blend in with her surroundings, but they’re prepared to intervene if a man simply looks at her too long. If it weren’t for me, you would have lost your daughter months ago when she was taken down that alleyway. You would have lost her at the bank. I’m the monster that keeps the other monsters at bay—let’s not pretend otherwise. When one of the men from the casino became obsessed with her, I took care of it. Instead of having my men shoot him in the back of the head, I did it myself—with my bare hands.” He held up one hand and made a fist. “I have proved a million times over that I can be the man your daughter deserves. Instead of immediately dismissing me, you should have the humility to give me a chance—have a fucking drink with me.” He slammed his glass down, making it thud loudly. “I don’t want to come between you and your daughter, so your secret is safe with me. But I hope you don’t repeat your brother’s mistakes.” He glanced at Crow before turning back to me.
“If you’re such a good guy, why is there a three-month arrangement?” Crow questioned, speaking for the first time. “And from what we understand, she tried to leave, and you wouldn’t allow it. Doesn’t sound like you’re the nice guy you claim to be.”
Bosco took his time before he answered, absorbing the question like a sponge. “The only reason Carmen has ever pushed me away is because she didn’t see a future—because you two would never approve. I asked her to give me a real chance. That’s all I ever wanted. When she finally did…we had something beautiful.”
“You didn’t answer my question, asshole.” My eyes narrowed on his face, hating the way he danced around my question.
No matter how many times I insulted him, he never grew angry. “I’m not the same man I used to be. I’m much different now from the moment we met. I won’t pretend I was some kind of gentleman who played by the rules. But your daughter has softened me in many good ways. I need you to understand that I would never hurt her, that I only want to make her happy, and her safety is my priority.”
A part of me believed him when I didn’t want to. I was deep inside his lair, and he could have killed us a while ago. It wouldn’t be difficult to cover this up, especially when Griffin was the only one who knew what was happening.
“I’ll be frank with you, Cane,” Bosco continued. “Carmen has told me, many times, that her family is the most important thing to her. If the Barsettis will never accept me, then there’s no hope for us. I respect that because I respect everything that comes out of her pretty mouth. She doesn’t settle for less than what she deserves, and she’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. You raised a fine daughter—independent, smart, and resourceful. If that moment comes, and she wants to leave…I’ll let her go.”
Finally, some good news. “You will?”
He nodded. “I already told you I respect her. I’m sorry you didn’t believe that.”
It was hard for me to believe anything he said, not when he had such a barbaric reputation.
“But you wouldn’t be doing her any favors…because she loves me.”
“She does not love you.” My daughter might be dumb enough to get into this situation, but she couldn’t be that stupid.
He brought his hands together, his fingertips touching. “I told her I love her, Cane. I say it every day. And she says it back. You can think what you want, but I’m telling you the truth. I just want you to understand that this relationship isn’t just physical. It’s intimate, emotional, intense. It’s… I can’t even describe it. I would die for her in a heartbeat. By extension…I would never hurt you or your brother.” He pointed his hands at me then at Crow. “Because it would hurt the woman I love. Maybe I should have kept that information to myself, but I’m putting all my cards on the table…so you can see exactly what I have in my hand.”
Crow sighed quietly behind me, not in relief, but in disappointment. He turned to me, giving me a look only I would understand.
Now I realized this was so much more complicated than I had imagined. I was hoping Bosco was an asshole who was using her, so it would be easier to get rid of him. But if he loved her and she loved him…it didn’t seem like I had a chance.
Bosco kept his hands together and continued to stare at me, giving me a chance to process what he’d said. “Don’t do this the wrong way. Don’t push away your daughter or force her to push me away. She needs both of us.”