When She Unravels (The Fallen, #1)

by Gabrielle Sands

Papà always made a point to reward loyalty in his men, but that approach didn’t appear to extend to his daughters.

My sister can never know the details of my marriage—the things Lazaro does and makes me do. It would shatter all her illusions about our parents and about me.

Does he think he can intimidate me by unfurling to his full height and towering over me? What De Rossi doesn’t know is that I’ve lived my whole life surrounded by men far more terrifying than him.

“Of course, your highness. I’ll be sure to rub your wood just the way you like it.” I realize how that sounded the moment the words leave my mouth. My eyes meet De Rossi’s. He tips his chin up and gives me a very male smirk. “You really want to ace your trial week.”

Either I make her mine or completely erase her from my mind.

“There was no reason for me not to give her the job.” “Is a bodyguard part of her benefits package?” I run my hand over my face. “No.” “Then what the fuck was that?”

“The moment I saw you, I thought you were the most infuriatingly beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on,” he says against my lips. “One look was enough for me to know I’d lose my mind over you if I wasn’t careful. I tried to be. I manufactured reasons for why I should stay away from you, but I can’t seem to make any of them stick.”

“I don’t even know your first name,” I mumble like an idiot, still in shock at his revelation. “Damiano,” he says. “But don’t you dare say it back to me. If I hear my name just once on your lips, I know I’ll become addicted.”

A moan fights its way out of my throat. “Damiano…” He shuts his eyes. A tremor runs up the thick column of his throat. Just then, I remember what he told me about calling him by his name. “You always remember your first hit,” he mutters.

“Him and his crew are a bunch of shit heads. If they even think about touching a hair on your head again, they won’t live long enough to regret it.”

“I’m going to make you mine, Ale. And I always protect what’s mine.”

“I can’t go back. I can’t,” she says between sobs. “Please, please don’t do this.”

In that post-orgasm moment of clarity, I realize a very inconvenient thing. I’ve claimed her as mine. And I’m never letting her go.

This was a goodbye. He’s going to send me home, and he knows I’ll never forgive him for it. This is all over.

“Mio Dio, you’ve lost your head over her. When will you admit it?” “Admit what, exactly?” “That you’re in love with her.”

He just jeopardized his entire plan for…me. He stood up for me.

“But I don’t want you to leave. Stay with me, Vale. Stay with me, and you’ll never have to fight another battle again. I’ll fight them for you. I’ll protect you. I’ll avenge you.”

I love this woman. I’ll swim to the bottom of this sea if that’s what it takes to bring her back to me. Please God, let me find her. If you do, I promise you, I’ll never leave her side.

“I don’t want a kept woman. I want a partner. An equal by my side. That’s you. If I’m about to become a king, you will be my queen.”

That’s when I know. I’m going to marry this man.