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More so when we came from where we did, when we were fighting for a place in a society that didn’t accept our kind—Afro-Italians. Why fight for a place where you aren’t wanted when you can create your own?
I did know that my father would never agree to an arranged marriage on my behalf with a man who wouldn’t protect me with his life. Did he know I could protect myself and him if it came down to it?
“I don’t place value on titles,” I said, meeting his gaze dead on. “My self-worth is worth more than any title; treating me with respect is enough.”
“A pretty woman who likes roulette,” the gentleman beside me spoke, a cigarette hanging from his lips. His gaze landed on Gaia next. “Two pretty women.” “Two pretty women who hate the smell of these cancer sticks you are smoking,” Gaia said, taking it from his lips and putting it out. “Light it up when we’re gone.” “You can’t—” “I can and did,” she told him, cutting into whatever he’d been about to say.
“Playing the dutiful wife in front of guests when I now know you could put everyone out of their misery without blinking only makes me want to fuck you,” he confessed. Breathe, Lucia. “And?” “And unless you want to be bent over before our wedding night, then I suggest you keep your distance as much as possible.”
“Well…” I shrugged and walked forward again, pushing her head up with the barrel of my Glock. “You said you did it for your family, but they’ll all be meeting you soon. I wonder how Pietro’s shoulder is doing?” I watched as the realization of what my words meant sunk in. “It feels good to be a Moretti. Can you imagine the whispers? A Costa woman by blood but a Moretti by honor slaughtered an entire mafia family with a smile on her face. I hope they let you watch in hell. It’ll be a good show.”
Maybe red was my color. A knock at the door then an invitation from my mother for our guest to enter produced my father and brother. Luca smirked at my choice of dress. On the other hand, my father didn’t seem amused. “Lucia…” “Don’t get her started, Leonardo,” my mother interjected, moving to stand beside him. “You encouraged her to be the woman she is today, save the traditional talk for never.” “Do me a favor, figlia.” Daughter. “Try not to kill the man before sun up?” My lips curved immediately and he chuckled.
He nodded and Luca stepped forward, taking one of my hands in his before leaning to whisper in my ear. “I know you can handle yourself,” he said. “And there isn’t a doubt in my mind that ol’ boy has his work cut out for him, but if you ever need an out…” I pulled back to look him in the eyes and he shook his head, silencing what he knew was coming next. “...if you ever need an out, come to me, Luci. Come to me and I’ll get you out.” I squeezed his hands and nodded.
“Always and forever, right?” “Emphasis on forever. I’ll light the entire tri-state on fire for you.”
“I’m ready,” I declared, slipping my arm through his. The real question was is my soon-to-be husband ready for me?
“Are you ready?” Was I? “Yeah,” I said, choosing the most logical answer. Ready or not, I was leaving Blackthorne, Pennsylvania as a married man.
Not a soul in this room was going to stop me from doing what the fuck I wanted.
“Did you get my gift?” she asked, her tone soft but gaze fierce. “I did and now I’ll have to repay you.” “Mmm,” she hummed, her lips curving. “There’s something magical about having a man indebted to me.”
Our gazes never left the other’s and I knew right then I was not ready for the likes of Lucia Moretti.
“You wore the perfume,” he said, brushing his nose up against my neck and awakening a primal side of me. “I like when you listen, bellissima.” “Enzo…”
“Are we not pretending anymore?” I asked, pressing my hands against his chest. “How can I pretend when you’re dripping in red, Scarlet?”
“We did,” he mused, brushing his lips against mine. “But now you’re a Bianchi, just like I wanted. I’m done pretending like I haven’t had you before, Scarlet.”
I’d never been so enamored by a man before. Until I met the Enzo Bianchi.
“How about this…” I leaned forward, purposely brushing my face up against hers. “Shoot the door and let out all of that aggression,” I whispered into her ear. “Or, I could fuck it out of you right now.”
“I agreed to a date and now we’re in DC.” Silence then laughter filled the line. “Lucia, I love you, I really do…” She paused to laugh again. “…but sometimes you work my last nerve. What kind of pep talk do you need? One that’ll help you be okay bouncing on that man’s dick later. Or do we have to have the other talk? You know the one I’m referring to.”
She opened the door and slid inside, moving over to make room for me. “Come on, future husband, we have shit to do. People to see. Businesses to destroy.” I chuckled and got in. Fuck it.
Her eyes still filled with heat, she smirked. “Who says we don’t have time?” she questioned, placing her lips against my ear. “You could always introduce me to the mile-high club.”
“I can’t believe you agreed to marry that man. Though, I do hope his dick game makes this whole thing worthwhile. You deserve good dick.” We stared at one another then burst into laughter.
“All I’m saying is this life is hectic enough,” Gaia said, reminding me that she was still with me. “Why not find love in the midst of it all?”
“For what it’s worth,” he whispered against the shell of my ear as we rocked back and forth. “The moment I laid eyes on you, I saw a woman who’d set herself apart from being just a mafioso’s daughter and the twin to his heir. I saw a woman with power and a brazen enough personality to find herself tangled up with the likes of me. You are not just anything, Lucia Bianchi; you are everything. And I can guarantee that even though they aren’t saying it, every mothafucka in this room can feel it. It’s why they can’t keep their eyes off you, same as me.”
“No, Lucia…” He reached into the truck and grabbed my neck, pulling me halfway out but keeping me upright with his body. “I want you to say the word when I ask. If I’m going to be reckless for you, let me go all the fucking way.”
He deserved a bullet to the head. Getting away with disrespecting my wife? That was an open invitation for other made men to do the same and over my dead fucking body.
“Yes, what?” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and narrowed her eyes at me. Mmm. There she was. Lucia didn’t just take anything. You had to earn her submission and I loved every fucking minute of doing just that.
She tasted like a grown-ass woman, my woman.
“Two months,” I murmured against her mouth, straining to keep myself in check. “No call. No text.” I worked my fingers in a “come here” motion, unhurried. “A fucking pigeon carrier would have sufficed.”
“Through the shutters and shadows,” I whispered against her ear through our panted breaths. “I see you. You can’t hide the rest forever.”
“No can do, Rexford.” Rexford? The fuck kind of name is Rexford?
“Ha. Ha. You’re lucky I’m starving.” “You’re lucky I don’t take you home and fuck you until hunger pains set in.”
“What the fuck are you doing to me?” I didn’t care for the answer. I only wanted him to never stop. “I’m fucking my wife the way she deserves after a long day of work.”
“I need your crown on, head up, eyes fierce, and when problems arise, I want you to point and I'll shoot.”
He hummed and squeezed my body as if he were trying to drag me closer. I couldn’t, but if there was an option to live in his skin, I would.
“I knew you and I would be special together,” I told her, our lips just barely touching. “I found in you what I’d unknowingly been searching for longer than I can fathom. This…” I pressed my hand against her flat stomach. “…a family I know will be here with me, doing life, until we can’t anymore. If I had to do it all over again, I’d choose you. Without pause, without any doubt, and in a fucking heartbeat.”
It took one sinful vow to get us here and I would do it all over again. As long as it was with her. Only her.
