By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(15)

“Threats to my life,” Clifford said.

I nodded. I had to admit it put me off that he’d called for help the moment Santino had grabbed him. Santino hadn’t even done him bodily harm. Maybe my standards were just warped because I’d been raised around men who were intimately familiar with violence and too proud to call for help.

Santino grabbed my upper arm and dragged me out, but the bodyguard stepped in our way.

“You can’t just leave. You attacked a senator’s son. This needs to be reported.”

Santino released me and stepped up to the other man, bumping chests with him and giving him a death stare. Santino wasn’t a walking wardrobe like that guy, but he was taller, and the look in his eyes even gave me chills.

“This is between the families. No police. No fucking official reports, got it?”

The man guffawed. “You think your gangster intimidation works on me? I don’t care what you want, Al Capone.”

Santino gave him a smile I knew to mean danger. He slammed his fist up into the man’s chin without warning and with such force that the guy toppled backward and landed on the floor with a loud thud. Santino kicked him a few more times for good measure until the guy didn’t stir anymore.

I was frozen. Clifford looked completely paralyzed and as if he might be sick any moment.

“Problem solved,” Santino said simply. “He won’t call the police today.”

“Is he dead?” Clifford pressed out.

Santino gave him a pitying look. “No.” He stepped up to Clifford who stumbled back. Santino obviously enjoyed Clifford’s terror judging from the excited gleam in his eyes. “And you keep your hands and tongue, and especially your dick, to yourself until the wedding night, understood?”

Clifford nodded hastily.

“Santino,” I protested but he stalked toward me, grabbed my upper arm and dragged me away. People turned toward us with open mouths when we hurried toward the front door.

Santino practically pushed me toward the car and rounded the hood toward the driver’s side and got in without a word.

I slipped into the passenger seat.

“Your place is in the back,” Santino muttered, already starting the engine.

“I feel like riding in the front today.”

He floored the gas. I was pressed into the seat and had trouble putting on my belt as he took the first corner.

I watched his profile. The only thing missing was fume rising out of his ears, he looked so majorly pissed. I had to stifle a grin.

He shot me a scowl. “Don’t look so fucking pleased with yourself.”

“You got mad because I kissed Clifford.”

“I protected you. If your father finds out that you tongue-wrestled Cliffy on my watch, he won’t be pleased, fiancé or not.”

I rolled my eyes. “You protected me from Clifford?”

The hint of amusement crossed Santino’s face. “His wandering hands are a danger to your virtue.”

“When you say virtue, it sounds so weird. You are the least virtuous person I know. You banged a married woman.”

“Don’t talk like that, and that’s none of your business. You should be worried about your virtue, not mine.”

“Clifford doesn’t care about virtue or our rules. He told me himself that he doesn’t care if I’m with other guys before our marriage.”

Santino shook his head with a look of disgust. “Fucking idiot.”

“Why?”

Santino stopped at a red light and turned to me. “Because if you were promised to me, I’d make sure no other guy would get within a mile of you.”

“So that’s why you attacked Clifford? Because you were jealous?”

“Why should I be jealous, Anna? You are my ward. Your protection is my concern.”

“You could have been the first to kiss me, but you didn’t want to.”

Santino hit the gas. “I’m your bodyguard and you’re not of age.”

“I’ll be of age in a few months, Sonny. Don’t be more Catholic than the Pope.”

“Why the fuck are we discussing this? I won’t kiss you. Not now, not ever. You are a job, Anna.”

He said one thing, but his eyes told another story. I’d been cracking his stony exterior brick by brick in the last few months. I’d have to use my chance before Santino rebuild his walls.

“You should be more careful around Cliffy. His father is a snake, and even if he still seems like a likable, sappy idiot, this could be an act. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So even if he doesn’t care about our rules and traditions, that doesn’t mean he won’t use them against you. If he starts bragging about kissing you, our people will hear it eventually, and they’ll judge you by our standards and not Cliffy’s.”

“He’s too terrified of you to ever mention the kiss to anyone.”

Santino smirked.

I shook my head. Then I smiled secretively and leaned slightly toward Santino. He sent me a warning look becoming visibly tense. I had to admit it gave me a kick. Santino never flinched away from danger or pain, but my flirting made him tense.

“You know, Santino, I wanted it to be you. I imagined it was you. And you protecting my virtue like a murderous, crazy knight in shining armor was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”