Page 70 of The Gangster King

I can’t say no.

I definitely can’t say yes.

“Yes. You know I have.” His hand slides over my bottom as the other one cups the back of my head.

Yes, he’s a gangster, but Dante Baldassare is a man of pride. A man with honor. At least when it comes to me. He’s had the opportunity to do whatever he wanted with me and yet he’s held back.

I have to see this moment as an opportunity.

There are lines he has not crossed, so I have to believe there’s a part of him that truly wants me to accept his proposal and to give him permission.

Is that why he hasn’t fucked me?

He wants me to love him...

He might think he’s telling me we are to be wed, entertaining me with the question, but that he’s going to force me into matrimony with him.

Hell, maybe he will—if I don’t escape.

But I think Dante wants me to say yes. He wants to hear that I have the same feelings he has.

Do I?

If he lifted me onto the railing and slid inside me right now, I wouldn’t be sorry. If I had to spend my life with him...

I can’t think like that. I’m leaving.

The threat by this man of stealing my heart is great. Idodesire Dante Baldassare, but I can never be his wife.

I can’t.

The crime world and him are not separate.

I see vulnerability in his eyes and know that rejecting him is going to cut so deep it will hurt. I’m silenced by that knowledge. But he can’t know my plans.

Knowing I want to escape his hold is enough to have him guarding me.

If he knew I was one step away from leaving this entire world, he’d lock me up for the rest of my life.

I draw in a long, shaky breath.

Fuck this, I’m a mafia princess.

I have my father’s blood running through my veins. I’ve grown up around cruel, vindictive men.

And I’ve survived.

So I do what any survivor has to do.

I lie.

“If you want to marry me and spend your life with me, then you’ll set me free and propose like a real man, Dante Baldassare.”

His eyes flicker with hope and the corner of his lips curl up. “That what you want?”

I push him playfully, and he catches my hand as I smile. My cheeks blushing.

“Yes, I want that. You kidnapped me. I’m not saying yes while I’m your prisoner.” I lie like a damn professional.