“That’s what I thought.” Siena soldiered on. “He wasn’t. He called me names. Horrible names. I told him I would never accept Paolo as a husband. I told him to give the estate to Paolo if that was what he wanted, but I would never, under any circumstances, marry Paolo after what he did to me. Paolo was in the room. He heard everything and he knew I meant it. So did Nonno.”

Drake leaned forward in his chair. She sensed the movement but she kept her gaze locked with Elijah’s. His features had darkened, but it was impossible to read his expression. His eyes were flat and cold and so dark it took her breath away.

“My grandfather acknowledged my proclamation and indicated I would always be his heiress and he would accept my decision. I left the room and went to mine. I overheard Paolo arguing with him. A little while later I heard the gunshots, and I raced downstairs. Paolo was at the entrance of the sitting room and Alonzo was heading up the stairs toward me. My grandfather was dead.”

She couldn’t look away, waiting for condemnation. Clearly Elijah would understand what she was saying. She had made her declaration, her grandfather had accepted it, but Paolo hadn’t. Rather than allow her to choose her husband, he had killed her grandfather.

“How was that your fault, honey?” Emma asked.

Still looking at Elijah, she answered. Truthfully. “Had I just accepted my grandfather’s choice of husbands, I believe he would still be alive.”

“Accept a man who beat you?” Emma said.

She nodded, still not looking away from Elijah. Her heart beat too fast. She still couldn’t read him. Say something. Anything. She was terrified of his reaction. Of his judgment.

Elijah put down the beer bottle, framed her face with both hands, leaned down and took her mouth. He kissed her hard. Long. Wet. Deep. He kissed her possessively. His mouth demanded a response. Demanded. There was no coaxing. No gentleness. This was Elijah. Rough. In total command.

His kiss was unlike anything she could ever imagine. Just as it had the first time, his kiss ignited a firestorm in her. The world receded until there was only Elijah and his mouth. His perfect, unbelievable mouth and his extraordinary ability to kiss. She kissed him back, her mind melting. There was no thinking. No worrying. There was only the perfection of his mouth and the absolute ecstasy it brought.

He lifted his mouth first and when hers chased his, he kissed her again before pressing his forehead to hers. “Fuck, baby. I want to kill that bastard with my bare hands. You didn’t do this. He did.”