Keeping My Bride by Angela Snyder
Chapter 43
Luca
BY THE TIME we get home, Verona is curled up on my lap in a deep sleep. I hate to wake her, but I don’t want her sleeping out in the car all night in the cold. I don’t know exactly when Verona snuck her way into my cold, dark heart, but she did.
I care for her. I never thought I would ever care about anyone. It scares me, but also soothes me in a way. Maybe I’m not a complete monster after all.
She told me she loved me. I close my eyes, still hearing her melodic voice say those words. Fuck, I will savor them forever. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say them back, but I know I have stronger feelings for her than I’ve ever had for any other human being in my entire life.
And the thought of anyone taking her from me has me seeing red. Just thinking about Constantine touching her or thinking he could ever claim any rights to her makes my pulse hammer in my veins like an angry war drum.
And maybe war is the answer when it comes to Constantine. I’ve gone to war for far lesser things. And now that Verona is the most important person in my life, I want everyone to know the lengths I will go through to protect her. I would die for her, come back to life and kill everyone all over again. My vengeance knows no bounds on this earth or in the afterlife.
“What’s wrong?” Verona asks, her head still in my lap.
“I thought you were sleeping,” I say with a smile.
“I could feel you tense up. Did something happen?”
“No. But we are home. I just didn’t want to wake you.”
She sits up and stares at me with her honey-colored eyes. She looks thoroughly fucked with messy hair and smeared makeup, but I don’t think she’s ever looked more beautiful. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” I tell her before placing a kiss on her lips. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“And where are you going to be?” she asks as we climb out of the car.
“Benito and I have some things to discuss,” I say simply before glancing at my first in command. Benito gives me a nod, and I know he’ll understand what must happen when it comes to Constantine once I explain to him everything that transpired tonight. I’m tired of dragging my feet when it comes to him. Since Constantine won’t comply, I’m going to have to force his hand. It’s now or never at this point. I want to burn his entire empire to the fucking ground, preferably with him in it.
Verona catches up to me before we reach the front door and grabs my hand, pulling me back to her. “Luca, please, don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
I cock a brow at her. Has she been reading my mind?
“If you’re upset about Constantine, let it go. He’s dangerous. I don’t want you even being in the same room as him, let alone going after him.”
I put my palm on her cheek, and I love the fact that she sinks into my touch. “I’ve tried being lenient with him, and it obviously didn’t work. He knows he crossed a line that should have never been crossed tonight. I want to put him down like the dog he is.”
Verona pulls away from me, anger swarming in her eyes. “No.”
“No?” I ask with a dark chuckle.
“I’m telling you no to getting revenge on him. You can still help the people he’s taken, but from afar and by alerting the proper authorities, if need be.” She touches the lapels on my suit before smoothing them down. “Besides, if you leave, who will be here to protect me? Constantine will come for me when he knows you’re vulnerable and busy trying to take him down.”
I can see the fear in her eyes when she talks about him, and it almost makes me back down. Almost. “Honey,” I start, but she doesn’t let me finish.
Suddenly, she wraps her arms around me. “I can’t lose you, Luca. Please don’t do this.”
And just having her close to me makes the ice around my dark heart melt a little more. “Okay, honey. I won’t.” But I honestly don’t know if I’m telling her the truth or lying. I guess only time will tell.
