Free Protected by Shadows by Aliyah Burke

his glass and held her gaze. The candlelight flickered off her smooth skin, tempting him to reach out and touch her. “What does it have to do with?”
    “The marriage.”
    He poured more wine for himself. Lexy got herself some water then sat back across from him.
    “What about it?”
    “It has to be real.”
    Valentino choked and began coughing. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “You come in claiming we’re married.” She leaned back and toyed with the silverware on her empty plate. “I’m not going to be living a lie, nor will I continue to lie to my brothers. You find a preacher and marry me for real, get a ring on your finger as well.” Lexy gave him an untamed grin. “And as for that ring around your neck. It goes. No husband of mine will wear another woman’s ring.”
    She rose from the table and walked to the door where she paused and glanced back at him. “Don’t ever try to put me in a corner again to get your way, Val. I promise it won’t end well for you.” Lexy vanished from view, leaving him alone.
    Married. For real. His heart pounded in his chest. He’d never envisioned marrying again. That first one had turned out to be such a disaster. He reached beneath his shirt and withdrew the gold band on the chain he wore.
    The pain of her betrayal lanced through him and he stared at the candles while running the band along the chain. The thought of going through another marriage had his stomach churning.
    On the other hand, it was with Lexy. Perhaps things would be different. His phone rang and he answered.
    “Is she willing to go along with this?” Masters asked.
    “As long as I make the marriage a real one.”
    “Good. Then there’s no problem.”
    “No problem? I never said I was actually going to marry anyone again.”
    “I don’t care what happened in the past. Hell, for all I care you can marry her and forget your vows. Just do what she wants to insure her cooperation. You can get it annulled after we catch that bastard.” Masters coughed. “Get it done, Cassano.”
    The call ended and Valentino scowled down at the phone in his hand. “Yeah, right. Like it will be that easy.” He downed the rest of his wine. “Nothing is that easy when it comes to Alexsa Camden. At least not where I’m concerned.”
    She returned to the kitchen while he was cleaning up. Without any remark, she jumped in and helped. Once all had been put away and the dishwasher was running, she wiped off the table.
    “So is it a yes or no?”
    He crossed his arms and stared at the top of her bent head. “You’re not really leaving me much choice.”
    “Hell, I’m sorry, because you gave me the same courtesy? Oh, nope. That’s wrong, you cornered me as well.” The rag was back over the sink divider and she faced him. “You don’t want to marry me, just leave. It’s not that hard of a decision. However, if you are staying and we are getting married, I hope you brought money because I’m feeling in the mood for one hell of a ring.”
    Her laughter mocked him as she left the room, fading only when her bedroom door closed with a decisive sound. He blew out a frustrated breath and left the room. Down her hall, he could see his bags on the floor in front of the other door. Muttering under his breath, he entered the guest room and found the bed had been made.
    He debated barging into her room and seeing what she’d do. His phone beeped and he glanced down at the screen. Then cussed. The message from Beau didn’t help his temper any.
    “I’m going to meet Beau,” he called out as he walked back up the hall.
    “Knock yourself out.” She never even opened her door.
    The walk wasn’t long and it didn’t entirely take out all his anger, but he had a better hold of it by the time he rang the doorbell of the Pepto-Bismol-pink house he stood before.
    Ethan opened it and waved him in. After following the man through the small house, he found the others in a back bedroom. A bunch of surveillance equipment lay scattered