A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

it's off, he will know, and he will be here within hours. I don't want this thing on any more than you. I wanted to throw it in his face as soon as he presented it Daveon." I can feel the excess moisture in my eyes.

"I don't give a damn what it does, I want it off your finger now, Gianna!" He roars out. He reaches for my hand once again as I pull back.

"Do you have a plan, Daveon?"

He narrows his eyes on me. "What?"

"Do you have a plan because if not this ring has to stay to buy us more time. The moment it's off, he will come for me."

"Let him."

I shake my head, "No. We need to figure out a way without throwing all of the Familias into war. He already moved the date up for the wedding. He will be back in a month for me. We need to figure out something by then. Not focus on this meaningless piece of metal!"

Grasping a glass off the counter from behind me, he hurls it at the wall in the living room beyond us. I flinch as I hear it shatter against the wall. He paces the kitchen as he tries to calm himself. Taking a deep breath to stabilize himself he comes back to me.

"What happened to your lip?" Looking closer he inspects my face as his forehead creases down. Picking up a towel off the counter he wets it in the sink. He places the cold, wet rag over my skin and I wince drawing back. His eyes narrow before he speaks trying to calm his voice. "I need to see it, Gianna." Nodding slowly, I move closer to him closing my eyes. He turns the water back on getting it warm before ringing it out. Placing it back to my cheek he slowly moves it around as he wipes away the make-up. "I need you to tell me what happened."

My voice is small and quiet for once in my life. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"If you don't, I can tell you that nothing will stop me from finding him right now. I will take that fucking ring, put it on his own finger. Then use it as a way to gauge how close he comes to dying. Each time I come back I’ll torture him until I’m finally allowed the pleasure of watching the life drain from his worthless eyes by my hands."

Looking at him I see his mask of control has slipped revealing the true man beneath. There is no hint of an empty threat in them and I’m not sure he won’t still do it after he hears what happened. "After he forced the ring on my finger, he kissed me. I slapped his face wanting him off of me and he freaked out. Demanded retribution for me embarrassing him. He threw everything he had into his backhand."

He doesn't speak as he watches me. Placing the pad of his thumb over the purple bruise below my eye. “Fuck, I’m sorry Gianna.” He drops his head, closing his eyes. Confusion pulls my brows together.

“Why would you be sorry? You didn’t do this Daveon.” I say trying to ease this undeserving guilt he carries.

When he looks up, guilt and anger battle for control. “Because I didn’t protect you! Because I allowed this to happen. I was careless and he was allowed to get to you!” His voice is strained and tormented as he takes on the responsibility for what happened.

Placing my hand on his face, I draw him to me. “You can’t always be the hero, Hercules. Some things are out of your control and you don’t need to take the blame for them. I’m fine, just a little bruised.” I try to give him my best attempt at a smile without wincing. Leaning toward me he gently brushes his lips across mine. The touch is so light I barely feel but a whisper of them as they graze mine.

Needing more than ever to feel more of him, I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling myself flush against his body. Carefully pushing my lips to his, I move them, encouraging him forward. Ignoring the aches and pain that come with each movement. Brushing his hands under my shirt at my waist, his fingers dig into my flesh. Satisfaction rumbles from his chest. I’m suddenly reminded of the searing pain as he pushes into me roughly. Out of reaction, I jerk back, sucking in a breath.

Upon seeing my reaction, he shoves away from me, grabbing his gun off the counter as he heads to the door. Slipping off the counter, I run to stop him. Latching onto his arm, I try to put my weight into pulling him back as tears begin to fall. "Please don't leave. I need you to stay here. I don’t want you to leave me." His head whips around to face me, eyes taken over by rage before he sees my face, red and bruised as tears roll down my cheek. As we stare at each other, I begin to watch the anger wash away with each tear that rolls down my face.

Sighing heavily, he removes his hand from the door as he wraps his arms around me, enveloping me like a shield from the world. He reaches down grabbing hold of me as he lifts me up, cradling me in his arms. Moving us over to the couch he sits down holding me into him. Laying my head against his chest, I can’t keep from crying. Allowing my wall I have built over the years to come crashing down with him there to stand guard over me.

When my tears finally stop we sit in silence until his deep sigh breaks it. "I need to make a call in the morning and whatever the outcome of that call is you will not leave my side. If I am to go back to New York. You will go with