Read Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess for Free Online Page B

leaned forward, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “I love you, Carter. You know that.”
    Carter lovingly wiped the single tear from his face and looked in his eyes, seeing the truth in his words. “You’re telling the truth.” She smiled, gave him a soft kiss on his lips, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “I love you, too,” she whispered. “Please take me home, Kyle.”
    “You
are
home, angel.”
    Carter backed away a bit and frowned.
Why was he saying that?
“Kyle, I live in Hope Beach— you know where I live. I’m a damn waitress. I can’t afford a house like this!” she said, getting irritated with him.
    “Do you trust me, Carter?”
    “I …”
    Kyle put his finger to her lips silencing her.
    “You were hurt, angel. Very badly. You nearly died. But you survived a serious head injury.” Kyle took Carter’s hand and placed it on the back of her head softly. “Feel it?”
    Carter pushed her thick hair aside until she felt the evidence of her injury. She looked up at Kyle with confused eyes.
    Kyle took her hand from her wound and held it in his.
    Carter suddenly became serious. “What the hell happened to me? Who did this?”
    “He’s dead, honey.”
    “How? How did I let this happen?”
    “He caught you off-guard, baby,” Kyle said sadly. “We were all caught off guard by this.”
    Carter frowned. She didn’t like this one bit. She was surrounded by people she didn’t know, and her body was weak— she could feel it. She wouldn’t be able to defend herself if she had to. Subconsciously, she moved closer to Kyle, feeling a need for his protection. She needed to feel safe. “I-I can’t be caught off-guard Kyle.” She lowered her eyes. “My father would never approve of such carelessness.”
    Kyle cupped her face “It was an unexpected event, sweetheart. We all learned a lesson from it.”
    Carter raised her eyes to his. He was still being honest. Thank God.
    She swallowed then asked another question. “Is that woman back there my mother?” she whispered.
    Kyle hesitated for a moment, and then he nodded. “Yes,” he replied softly.
    Tears immediately spilled from Carter’s eyes. “But how?” she cried. She didn’t turn to look at the woman— she wasn’t ready for this.
    “There’s no need to be afraid of anyone here, angel. We all love you.” Kyle tucked her hair behind her ear.
    She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I’m not afraid,” she lied firmly. She was scared shitless, but she didn’t want anyone to know it. She shook off what she could of her fear and continued to search for clarity. “I’m wearing a ring,” she continued. “These men keep telling me this is my house. Are—” She placed her hand on his chest and looked into his eyes “Am I your wife, Kyle? Did we get married?” she asked him meekly.
    Carter wasn’t opposed to the idea of being Kyle’s wife— she loved him. She could see how their love for one another could have easily become romantic. It may take her some time, but she was sure she’d remember those feelings eventually.
    An unreadable emotion flashed through Kyle’s eyes before he took her hand in his. “No, angel, you and I aren’t married. You’re engaged to my best friend— you two are very much in love.”
    Carter nodded then timidly glanced over her shoulder at the men still standing in a circle around them, as if ready to catch her if she decided to escape again. She locked eyes with the tall man with black hair, gray eyes, and godlike features. Lowering her eyes shyly and turning back to Kyle, she asked, “Is it him? I know those eyes. I just can’t—” Carter frowned as she tried to remember. “I can’t remember anything. None of this feels real.”
    “Well, you’re getting warmer. You know his eyes because they’re identical to your fiancé’s. That’s progress, Carter,” he encouraged.
    Carter shook her head. “That isn’t progress, Kyle,” she