CHAPTER XIII

Dante’s POV

I’ve been punched by gang members all at once until they knock the living daylights out of me and had the nail of my pointer finger ripped out of me with a pair of pliers but, nothing compared to the pure torture I had to endure last night. I had to force her to fall into unconsciousness, glad for her inflated skirt that shielded my hardness from coming in contact with her soft body. It was all I could do not to ravish her right there and then.

My father called first thing in the morning. As much as I’d want to be the first thing she sees as she wakes up, duty called. I stared at her sleeping figure for a moment. Tear tracks decorated her cheeks. Guilt twisted my gut at the reminder of the way she cried in my arms. My hand moved to touch her face, wiping the tear stains with my thumb. Her lips slightly parted. I remembered how soft they were and my cock hardened at the thought of how they would feel wrapped around my length.

I pulled my hand away and straightened up, preparing to leave. This frustration was new to me and I didn’t know what else to do but to leave my little temptress to rest. Yet, I couldn’t help but steal one last glance at her face. She looked so at peace, so different from her troubled expression when she’s awake. I thought I was cursed in life to only like broken things but I’d never had such a dark desire awakened in me, the urge to keep her in the dark, away from the nasty reality to make sure she never worries about anything.

“You look like shit,” my father said as soon as I arrived in his office. He already got started on the scotch which was never a good sign. “One might think you went to bury a body instead of f*cking your new bride last night.”

“Is that why I’m here? You want to talk about how I f*ck my wife?”

He leered at me. “Except you didn’t.”

“Ah, so you resorted to hiring a spy in my own home.”

I had a hunch early on that he’d have some eyes on me. I even had the spy’s name ready to add on my list of people too bothersome to be left alive.

“Based on the stunt you pulled the first time, I think I’m entitled. And what do you know, even as simple as putting your dick in a hole, you can’t even do right. Do you need a f*cking tutorial?”

“I need her to be stable in the head first before she carries my child. Plus, it’s not like she has anywhere to go. There’s plenty of time to try.”

“You better get started now before the traitors make another move. We may have secured peace with the Old Families because of your little bride but a child will guarantee our alliance and share of the inheritance. You know how much these old fools put weight on their bullshit pact,” he sneered, spitting on the floor.

You will never understand it.

And neither will I. But I’d be damned if I’d take any family advice from a man who drove his own wife mad enough to kill herself. However, as much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Having a family with the Caruso heir would make us trustworthy to the Old Bosses, especially Argento. The only problem was, Caterina was still nowhere to be seen. An unbidden impulse deep in my bones wanted it to stay that way for a while.

I shot to the doors as soon as our meeting concluded. Business was the only thing my father and I could talk about, and since he hadn’t been happy with me these days, our conversation grew shorter and shorter. Not that I’m complaining. This meant I could get home back to my wife than spend the day torturing some smelly f*cker for him.

My wife.

“You whacked some big shot?”

I threw my arm back and Leo swerved in time before my fist hit his grinning face. The bastard was too thrilled at being able to sneak up on me as it never happened before. If he was an enemy, I’d be dead by now.

“What?”

“You’re smiling.”

“I don’t fucking smile when I put someone out.”

“I’ve never seen you more happy than the day the Renetti brothers stared down the barrel of your gun. Well, until now.” He smirked, teasingly pointing his envelope at my face.

“Some bastards deserve it.”

I pushed past him as I walked to my car, all the while muttering curses as the f*cker followed me.

“So when are you planning on telling the missus about her father? After the birth of your third child?”

“All in due time.”

I could feel the judgment seeping off of him. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

“F*ck off, man. I mean it.”

I was opening the door to the driver seat when he slammed it shut back.

“You’re playing with her. You know this whole arrangement won’t last, right?”

“Since when do you care what I do with her?”

“When it compromises our plans, it’s my duty to step in.”

My eyes narrowed at him. If I didn't need his help, I wouldn’t have told him about her. He’s a loyal friend but if I had a choice, I wouldn’t include him in my plans, especially when it came to her. There was too much history there.

“This still bothers you. Don’t tell me you’re seeing this situation as another do over of your past f*ck up?”

“C’mon, Dante. That ship has sailed and sank. You were there. You were so happy you might as well have done an Irish jig. No, don’t deny it. But like I always said, for the good of the Family first. It has always been that way.”

I stared at him. It’s a known fact that when it comes to women, men can do the dumbest sh*t in the world. I couldn’t be too sure even though it was a long time ago, not when he’s giving her a cross-stitch and acting sweet and sh*t with her. Whatever he’s feeling I decided I didn’t give a f*ck anymore. At the end of the day, she is mine.

I opened the door with a force that knocked Leo’s arm off the handle. He stepped back.

“Good. Because I need you to take her to my brother’s next Friday.”

“Where will you go?”

I gave him a look. A sudden realization flashed in his eyes and his expression turned serious.

“Why don’t you take your wife instead and I’ll handle the deal with the Mexicans.”

“You know that brat can’t stand the sight of me. Won’t even allow me inside his house. Besides,” I said, looking back at him as I entered the car, “we can’t have you on the dirty side of business.”

Lucy’s POV

I woke up to a cold morning, Dante’s side of the bed was already empty. As expected. I realized I was already craving the warmth his body provided and I wanted to smack myself with a pan.

What’s wrong with me? This was the same man who threatened to kill my father once he found out where he’s hiding if I didn’t marry him. And yet, he didn’t force me to do anything last night. He even tucked me to bed, his hand stayed put around my waist the entire night. A warm feeling expanded in my chest just by thinking about it.

I wished he had been an asshole. It would have been easier to hold on to the grudge I had against him. My body wouldn’t have responded the way it did at his touch. Yes, that’s the only explanation. I’d been so touch-deprived I would have gotten off the same by the next guy around.

Ugh. I need help.

My skull throbbed as though a hammer was pounding on my brain. I didn’t even drink that much. That’s what I get for downing glasses of champagne like it was shots of espresso. A long hot bath was all I needed to clear my mind off Dante and processed yesterday’s events. Everything happened so fast, it felt like a fever dream. I let the wedding gown pool around my feet so I was left only in my bustier and thong. I couldn’t help the blush that spread on my cheeks.

I can’t believe I’m wearing a thong for this.

I hurriedly set the gown on the bed so I could get out of the provocative underwear and prepared myself to take a bath. Someone else had been in the room as my heels were put back on the shelves. It couldn’t have been Dante. As if the wedding turned him domestic overnight. Annalise. The thought that she, along with the men guarding the house, were aware that we spent the night together brought another painful wave of shame across my cheeks and I sank myself further in the tub.

God must be on Dante’s side as it wouldn’t be likely that I’d get out of this room any day now.

After I managed to scrub off the mortification of my body, I was drying my hair when my eyes widened at the sight of a brand-new phone on the table. I unlocked it. There was already a note for me but I ignored it and went straight to dial. My thumb hovered over the numbers.

I couldn’t call him yet. Surely, he must have this phone monitored. I scoffed as I saw he already put it in his number in my contacts along with another one named, Guard. He could have at least had the courtesy to put it in the man’s name.

I read the note pinned but it was just a series of numbers. A lightbulb went off in my head.

I got dressed and went straight to the front door and without preamble, I punched in the code.

The door opened. Before I could even put a foot out of the house, a voice suddenly spoke up.