He made those choices, Bonnie. You didn’t make them for him.
Still, had I not come into his life in the first place, he would’ve never found himself in handcuffs.
“Quite a leap,” I murmured.
“It’s done,” Ash said.
I whipped around and saw her standing next to the couch.
“Didn’t hear me come in?” she asked.
I grinned. “Your footsteps have always been silent.”
She nodded to the window. “My reflection. You should’ve seen it.”
I nodded slowly. “Maybe so.”
We stared at one another in silence before I cleared my throat.
“What would you do?” I asked.
Ash blinked. “What, ma’am?”
“Right now, in this scenario. What would you do?”
“I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer that.”
I took a step toward her. “I’m asking you anyway. If the man you loved could possibly be saved by marrying his brother, would you do it? Would you take that chance?”
“Honestly?”
“I’d want nothing else.”
She smirked. “You fought for this position all by yourself, Miss Moretti. And you haven’t yet asked for help from anyone. You’ve followed your gut, and it’s kept you alive.”
“It also has Israel in handcuffs right now.”
“What I’m trying to say is: you’ve gotten this far on your judgment. Don’t start questioning it now.”
“One could argue that my judgment is what created this situation in the first place.”
She shook her head. “No, ma’am. Falling in love created this situation. But even so, the two of you have succeeded in ways no one would have ever predicted. Your gut is good enough. So, as long as you stick with it, I know it won’t steer you wrong.”
I turned back toward the window. “I sincerely hope you’re right, Ash.”
For all of our sakes.
22
Israel
“Oh, fuck,” the officer murmured.
“That who I think it is?” the other officer questioned.
I grinned when I saw my lawyer standing in front of the police station.
“Gentlemen, you can unhand my client now,” he said.
The officer snickered. “Under what authority?”
My lawyer brandished a folder of paperwork. “Illegal seizure of evidence, tampering with witness testimony, and bribery.”
One officer scoffed. “In your fucking dreams.”
The other officer snarled. “We’ve got every right to hold this man until we get some answers.”
Then, the chief of police walked out. “His lawyer’s right.”
I looked to either side of my body. “Well, you heard the man.”
The officer to my left gripped my arm. “We can’t let him go, Chief.”
The officer to my right nodded curtly. “You know damn good and well—”
The chief of police locked his eyes with mine. “I’ve seen the paperwork. I want the two of you in my office now. And as for Mr. Rossi? I want him uncuffed and headed home.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
Chief shook his head. “Don’t thank me. Thank your smooth-talking lawyer and the loopholes in our justice system. You watch your back, though. I know what’s happening. I know what’s been done.”
The second I felt the handcuffs fall away from my wrists, my lawyer walked over to me. He held his arm out toward his car, and we started back for his vehicle. I had no clue who called him or what had happened, but I felt everyone staring at me as I made my way across the parking lot.
“You owe me big time,” my lawyer murmured.
I snickered. “Trust me, I know.”
We slipped into his car, and I pulled out my cell phone. I needed to call Bonnie. I needed to tell her what had happened. But, more than that, I had urgent news to relay to her.
News that couldn't wait.
“My God, Israel. Is that you?” Bonnie asked as she picked up the phone.
I nodded. “It’s me, beautiful.”
“Why in the world are you calling me from—?”
“Someone called my lawyer, and he showed up with documentation from my PI.”
“So, you’re not being booked right now?”
I sighed. “No. But, that doesn’t mean the police will stop pursuing this. The chief of police knows.”
My lawyer shook his head. “I can’t hear this, Israel. Wrap it up.”
Bonnie sniffled. “I never thought I’d hear your voice again.”
I smiled softly. “Just hang tight. Once I get back to the hotel suite, we can talk.”
“I want to help, Israel. I want to help save you. You’ve saved my ass so many times, and I have yet to return the favor.”
I chuckled. “Saving someone isn’t a favor to be paid back. I did it because I love you, Bonnie.”
She drew in a broken breath. “I love you, too, Israel. So, so much. Please, never forget that.”
“I don’t like your tone of voice right now. What’s going on?”
She sighed. “I just—”
A chill slithered down my spine. “Bonnie, spit it out.”
“I just never thought I’d hear you say those words. That’s all.”
I blinked. “What?”
She giggled breathlessly. “Ever since you saved me from those men who came into the penthouse to try to kill us, I’ve loved you. And the reason I stayed instead of taking all of those chances to leave when I could is that I wanted to stay. So I could try to get you to love me. So I could try to prove my worth and get you to see that I was a woman worth loving.”
I paused. “You did?”
“Yes, Israel. I’ve loved you for months now. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved in this capacity. You’re the only man who’s ever enthralled me and frightened me and made me feel beautiful and worthy and safe. You’re everything to me, and there isn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do to protect you.”
“There’s that caveat again, Bonnie. What aren’t you telling me?”
A long silence fell over the phone before she spoke. “Your brother has offered to marry me and merge our families. And in exchange, you would be—”
I narrowed my eyes. “No.”
“Israel, I think he’s telling the truth. I really do think Gio’s trying to—”
I growled. “You're not marrying my fucking brother.”
My lawyer put the pedal to the metal as we raced back to the hotel.
“Just listen, Israel. All right? You said so yourself. The police won’t stop coming for you. But, if I do this, I might still be able to negotiate me being your mis—”
I interrupted her. “I won’t listen to this bullshit any longer. You’re not marrying my brother in some ill-fated attempt to save me. Understand? I’ve sacrificed too much and given up too much of myself to keep you at my side. I fucking love you, Bonnie. All right?”
She sniffled. “I’ve thought about it long and hard. This is the only way out, Israel. We have no other options.”
“What if I gave you another option?”
“What?”
I felt an idea forming in my head. “What if we had another option? One that didn’t involve marrying my brother. Would you take it?”
“In a heartbeat.”
I looked over at my lawyer. “Turn around. I’ve got somewhere else I want to go.”
The man nodded before he whipped a U-turn in the middle of the road.
“Israel? What's happening?” Bonnie asked.
“Do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me, Bonnie?”
“With everything I am.”
I pointed. “Take a left.”
Bonnie paused. “Come again?”
“Not you. My lawyer. Look, I’m going to text you an address. You go straight to the parking garage and don’t stop for anyone. You head to that address, and I’m going to meet you there. We’ll t
alk, in private, and I can run you through the plan forming in my head.”
“Israel, I don’t know if—”
“Do it, Bonnie. Now.”
I hung up the phone and texted her the address. Then, I kept pointing out directions for my lawyer. I had him pull up to a curb three blocks away from the abandoned building downtown, far enough away from our meeting spot to declare incompetency in a court of law.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
I looked over at him. “I’m sure.”
“You keep yourself safe, all right?”
I nodded. “You get yourself home. And thank you for everything you did for me today. I don’t know who called you or what you did—”
“Your brother called me.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Giovanni called me. He was angry as all hell and cursing up a storm, but he’s the one who called me and told me what happened.”
I searched his eyes. “You aren’t lying to me.”
He shook his head. “I know better than that. And for what it’s worth, I think your brother is just trying to get you out of this mess. I don’t think he’s trying to encroach on your territory.”
I nodded. “I’ll take that into consideration. Thank you.”
Then, I got out of the car and started up the block. I jogged up the broken concrete sidewalk before dipping into the building. This place used to be a massive warehouse that served my family a long time ago. You know, before Dad purchased a warehouse closer to his estate so he could keep eyes on it twenty-four-seven. Now, the rotting remains of this metal warehouse sat untouched for years, except for the occasional clandestine meeting.
Like now.
I had a plan, though. A plan that would erase this murder, give Bonnie a clean slate, and allow me to secure the position in the Rossi family I had always been destined to hold.
I was going to pin this murder on my father.
And I knew exactly how to do it.
23
Israel
I silenced my footsteps as her breathing hit my ears. She sounded nervous, and I couldn't blame her for that. Everything had gotten turned so wildly upside down that neither of us knew which way was up. But I had a plan.
I just had to get her to go along with it.
“I hear you watching me, Israel.”
I grinned as she turned around just before a ray of sunshine poured through the cracked glass window. It illuminated her features, her eyes sparkling with delight as she gazed upon me. Her skin seemed a bit darker. Her eyes, a bit deeper. Her lips, a bit redder than normal. Sunlight looked good on her. Hell, everything looked good on a woman like her.
But, the darkness nipping at her heels made my heart stop in my chest.
What a woman.
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” she asked.
I smirked. “Come here, beautiful.”
Her heels clicked quickly against the ground before her arms threw themselves around my neck. She wrapped me up tightly, her lips falling against mine. And when I tasted her tongue, my cock started to ache. My soul started to take flight. My stomach burst to life with small butterflies that wouldn’t quiet down. I scooped her into my arms and held her close. I walked her into the middle of the room and passed the sunlight, cloaking us in darkness that suited us all too well. I pressed her back against the wall as my knee slipped between her legs. And like the good woman she’d always been to me, she offered me her body on a silver platter.
Ripe for the taking.
“I brought it with me,” she whispered against my lips.
I sucked on her lower lip. “Just a few more seconds.”
She giggled. “Don’t mind if I do.”
I let my tongue linger against the roof of her mouth one last time. I let my hands slide down her torso, clocking the soft dip in her waist before we had to ruin the moment. My forehead touched down against hers, parting our lips. I felt her breath against my own, giving me life as I committed her scent and sound and the feel of her to memory.
Good fuck, I love this woman.
“Israel.”
I sighed. “I know, I know.”
Bonnie slipped away from me. “I brought this damn marriage contract Gio handed to me.”
The nape of my neck prickled. “I want to see it.”
I watched her dig around in her purse before she pulled out a file. She handed it to me, and I flipped it open as ice rushed through my veins. I shook my head and slapped the file closed. I tucked it beneath my arm and drew in sobering breaths while Bonnie’s hands rubbed my chest, trying to calm me down.
“The idea of you with him makes me sick,” I spat.
“Which is why it isn’t happening. Though, for a second, I was ready to do it if it saved you.”
My eyes found hers. “I’d rather rot in prison knowing you’re mine than be free knowing you belong to someone else.”
Even if I have to kill my brother myself.
“Well, in your brother defense, Israel—”
I scoffed. “You’re defending him? Now?”
She shrugged. “Sweetheart, when you got dragged away, there was nothing either of us could do? We were both distraught. I really do believe Gio had good intentions, despite what he was offering.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. What exactly did he say to you?”
She blinked. “Are you sure you want to know?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What. Did he say, Bonnie?”
She sighed. “He said that if I married him and handed him my place in my family, he could merge my family with yours, and then we’d have the pull to do something about you being in prison.”
I paused. “That’s—not a terrible idea. But, it still takes into consideration one assumption that pisses me off.”
She nodded. “Gio in power. It assumes that you going to prison would make him the head of the family. I didn’t like that assumption, either.”
I brushed my knuckles against her cheek before our eyes connected. And when we spoke, we spoke in unison. As if our brains were one and the same.
“Gio’s still up to no good.”
I took Bonnie’s hand. “Come with me.”
She cocked her head. “What about the plan? Aren’t we supposed to talk about—?”
I tugged her toward the door. “All you have to do, beautiful, is what I tell you, and we’ll make it out of this. But, the less you know right now, the better.”
She tugged on my hand. “Israel?”
I turned to face her. “Yes?”
Her eyes danced between mine. “If you get yourself killed, I’ll never forgive you. I’ll marry your damn brother out of spite.”
I grinned. “Promise?”
She snickered. “Yeah. Promise, my ass.”
She walked up to my side and, together, she led me to where she had parked. I opened her door for her and let her slide in, offering her my hand to help her down into the seat. Then, I leaped over the front of the car and quickly sank behind the steering wheel. I loved the feeling of her being at my side. Of being on my side. Of her doing whatever was necessary, even though she might be in the dark. The trust it showed she had in me left me breathless. The love I saw in her eyes every time she looked up at me left me stunned.
I never thought I could find this with another woman.
And I sure as hell wasn’t giving it up now that I had.
“Can you at least give me the gist of things?” she asked.
I nodded. “We’re heading to my brother’s place. I want you to go inside, tell him you’re not going to marry him and stall for time until my signal.”
“What’s the signal?”
“Trust me. You’ll know what it is when it happens.”
She sighed. “If you say so, handsome.”
Oh, I know so. And you’re going to be terrific.
24
Bonnie
I stood in front of Gio’s apartment door with the file folder of marriage papers clutche
d firmly in my grip. I stared at the door, readying my gut to knock as I saw Israel backtracking toward the elevator. I didn’t know what the hell this man was up to, but I knew he could take care of himself. I just had to stay alert. I had to wait for his signal, whatever the hell that would be.
And after my heart settled its rattling around, I raised my fist to knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
Gio’s apartment building was a bit more rundown than I figured it would be. I mean, the man wasn’t bad off with money in the first place. He worked for the Rossi family. I wasn’t quite sure what he did, but I had dug enough into him and his past to know that he was well off. So, why the nasty apartment? Why this side of town?
It almost looked like a place someone would only pay for in cash.
“Who is it?” Gio asked.
“It’s me. Can you open up?” I took one last peek down the hallway and found myself alone. So, I drew in a deep breath and steeled my resolve as the lock on the door flipped.
“Bonnie. You’re here.”
I nodded. “May I come in, Gio?”
“Of course, of course.”
The man looked like shit. His hair was a disheveled mess. His clothes needed to be ironed. I was pretty sure the red stain against his chest was red wine, but I couldn't be sure. Gio looked like a mixture of concerned, paranoid, and afraid. And it made me wonder who was right.
Was I right? Was he really this distraught about his brother?
Or, was Israel right? Was he just this good at putting on a front?
“Are you all right?” I asked.
Gio closed the door. “I mean, I’m probably as all right as you are right now.”
“From the looks of your clothes, I’m doing a bit better.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, well. Never been one to dress up unless it's necessary.”
“Obviously.”
He turned to face me. “Let me guess. You’ve come here to tell me that you can’t marry me.”
His Prize: An Arranged Dark Mafia Romance (Cruel King Book 3) Page 11