Marrying the Mob Prince

INDIE

Three months later

I sat in the stands of a basketball court. The ball smacked the ground as Knox stole it from Tony, whose angry swipe missed him. Knox tossed the ball. It sank through the net. "I could've done that if I were your age."

A gloating smile flashed across Knox's face. "Need a break, old-timer?"

Tony straightened and uttered a harsh-sounding Italian curse.

I checked my watch. "Babe, we should get going."

"All right, T. You made a good effort." Knox slapped his arm and winked. "Poker on Thursday?"

"Bring twenty thousand dollars. Cash."

"No problem."

Tony's sank into the bench in front of me and toweled his brow. Then he glared at Knox. "I'm not losing my winning streak."

"Do you want me to lose on purpose?"

"No, but I know you. You'll have all the stats memorized. You'll calculate the odds of every hand and it won't be fair."

Knox rolled his eyes. "Then use multiple decks. Makes it a lot harder for me to count cards."

They bantered as we strolled to the parking lot. We parted ways, and then Knox slipped his hand in mine, a gesture that would've been unthinkable months ago. "What is that?"

"An Audi TT." Knox led us to a fire-engine-red luxury sports vehicle. It seemed like a strange choice for a loaner car, given Knox's size and the feminine sculpting of its body. "Where's the Mustang? Did you get rid of it?"

"Tony's driving it home for me." He grabbed my wrist and folded the keys in my palm.

I gaped at him. "Really?"

"It's yours. Give it a test drive."

His grin flashed, dazzling against his tanned skin. He dropped in the passenger seat and shut the door, cutting off my gasp. He was giving up control. The old Knox never would've let me drive.

It'd been ages since I'd owned a car. I'd learned to drive in a very battered Kia handed down to me by my parents, and it died one year into college. After I moved closer to campus, I didn't need a car, so I never replaced it. Excitement throttled my veins as I settled behind the wheel. The leather interior smell saturated the air. My hands splayed over the dash, which flickered to life.

"Wow. You didn't have to blow our kids' college fund."

"It wasn't that expensive. Any fiancée of mine will have a sick ride." Knox's eyes gleamed as he fingered the gear lever, like an eager boy with a new toy. "I picked it up yesterday. Do you like it?"

It was an over-the-top but surprisingly sweet move. By the way his eyes tracked my face, he wanted my approval.

"I love it." I programmed my radio stations in the dash and synced my phone to the Bluetooth. "It's beautiful."

Knox looked pleased with himself.

I kissed him. His hot sigh scorched my lips before he responded hungrily, and then he kissed down my neck. He breathed a kiss at the base of my throat, triggering a wild swirl in my stomach.

He'd refused point blank to try talk therapy but did other things to soothe his need for control. He'd even volunteered at St. Luke's a few times. He still had his real estate projects, which he'd toned down after I'd drilled into his head about acts of kindness healing the soul. He'd redirected his millions to building low-income housing instead of the fancy high rises. He smiled more. He laughed. The best part of living with Knox was watching him thrive. He'd done so many beautiful things for me that I considered giving him a child a privilege.

"Drive," he whispered into my ear. "You'll be late."

I was meeting my sister for lunch near Bourton University. I adjusted the height of the seat. My laugh bubbled with joy as I started the car, giddy over his gift. I pulled from the garage. It purred like a jungle cat, responding to the slightest touch. I didn't know much about cars, but I loved that he'd thought of me. Sometimes, I could barely contain my guilt over the fallout.

Knox had lost everything. After his deal with Cainan, doctored photos of an overdose and Knox entering a rehab facility made the rounds on social media. His publicist issued a cookie-cutter statement about a drug addiction he didn't have. Then the Pentagon yanked out of his three-hundred-million-dollar deal. The board at Black Prism voted unanimously to fire him. Anyone who remotely knew Knox didn't buy the drug habit angle, but it seemed to convince everyone else. "Do you miss working at Black Prism?"

"A little. I've made my peace that it's gone and with the idiot they replaced me with."

"You'll get it back."

"Maybe."

A heaviness centered on my heart. "I feel awful about what you've lost. It's so unfair. How could they do that to you?"

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"Believe me, I'm over it." Knox swayed forward as I tapped the brakes. "No regrets. I gained you in the process, and it turns out you're all I need. I have enough rage without piling this on top." He always had a good answer.

I admired the part of him that shrugged off negativity. "You're the strongest person I know."

"I'm many things," he said, folding my palm in his. "Joyful, pissed off, content, and angry. All the time. Even if I don't look like it. But I realized that if I wanted a decent life, I needed to let go." Really?

That threw me for a loop. My emotions skidded and crashed. It was a hell of thing to throw at me while driving. I flipped the turn signal. I stopped beside the campus and rolled to the curb. The engine idled as Knox and I got out. My chest still rattled with Knox's confession, but he beamed at me.

"Have fun with your sister." He anchored an arm around my waist. "And do me a favor, honey."

"Anything."

Knox fixed me with a penetrating stare. "Try not to kill anyone."

He found out.

We'd never discussed the incident with Valerie, but I imagined he'd exchanged words with her at some point. After I discovered what she'd done, I tracked her down to her apartment. I had no idea what I thought I'd accomplish. It wasn't a very civilized conversation. She'd barely said hello before I sank my fist into her mouth. I ended up knocking out at least one of her veneers.

I smiled at him. "I'll try."

He shook his head, smiling. "I'll see you in a couple of hours. I love you."

Warmth bloomed in my stomach at those unexpected, but incredible words. "I love you, too."

I squeezed his shoulders, stunned by the confession I never meant to make. Knox's chuckle tickled me before he claimed my mouth. Slow and scorching. His lips fluttered on mine, sucking gently.

I dragged him closer, deepening the kiss. His tongue swiped across, parting my lips. I groaned, and he laughed. He grabbed my ass and kissed me, his firm grip biting through my jeans. I tipped my head to invite more, but he'd already pulled away. The heat from his arms buzzed my skin as he returned to the car and drove off.

I strolled between the limestone buildings without paying attention, my feet bumbling into cracks as my insides fluttered.

I passed through a grassy lawn surrounded by skeletal cherry trees. They'd long since lost their blossoms. Clouds of cotton candy pink tumbled across the pavement. I crossed a street and entered the café where she worked.

Claire waved as I slipped into the emptying cafe. She ran around the counter and grabbed me, her eyes alight with excitement. "I hope you don't mind that I invited someone. It's this guy I'm seeing. I can't wait for you to meet him."

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"Oh? Where is he?"

"He's somewhere." She dragged me to an empty table with a man's coat slung over the chair. "He's so hot, Indie. I met him randomly. It's only been a couple of weeks, but it's crazy how much we have in common. We're inseparable. He wants me to go on a trip with him."

"Like to the White Mountains?"

"No, like an island retreat."

"I hate to be a downer, but that seems fast."

She smacked my arm playfully. "Look who's talking."

I squirmed. "I just want you to be safe."

"Oh, this guy is harmless. He helped me pick up trash for four hours on Sunday. He asked permission to kiss me on our first date. He's so sweet, Claire. You'll see. You'll love him."

"Wow. He sounds like a keeper."

"Well, I'm trying to be." A gravelly, masculine voice cut me to the bone as a man I'd thought I'd never see again sank in the chair beside my sister, beaming. "You must be Indie. I'm Cainan."

I gaped at him as he palmed my sister's back. I managed to close my mouth but was too stunned to speak. I sat in silence. Because the devil who'd kidnapped Knox, drugged him, and threatened me could not be the man dating my sister. This had to be a sick joke.

I swallowed hard and forced a smile on my face. "Claire, can I be a jerk and ask you to make me a latte? I'm dying for something to drink."

"Of course," she murmured, her brow furrowing. "I'll be right back. Cainan? Would you like one?"

"Yes, please."

Claire wandered off, glancing back at us twice. I waited until she'd disappeared behind the stainless steel machines and the sound of the coffee grinder drowned out my question. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Cainan's full mouth lifted into a dark curl, a warning darkening his gaze. "I promised to stay away from you, but I never said anything about her."