Page 18 of Heartless Union

“No, Ash. It’s ok. I don’t want to be here. Let’s go.” I tug on her arm, but she stands her ground, staring Rocco down. I’ve seen Ashley intimidate a lot of people in the years since I’ve known her, but it’s clear Rocco is not a man to be intimidated. He’s the one who does the intimidating.

“Ashley,” I say. “Come on.”

Finally, she relents and lets me take her out of the club.

“What the hell was that, Lara?” she asks once we’re on the sidewalk. “You’re going to let him boss you around like that?”

“I didn’t want to be there to begin with. You made me go.”

“Newsflash, Lara. I can’t make you do anything. And neither can your husband, who, by the way, seems like a controlling asshole. Wake up. Don’t marry him.”

“I don’t have a choice!”

“Yes, you do.” She scoffs. “I’m going home. You’re annoying me, and I need some space.”

I want to call after her as she walks away, but I don’t. I already knew I wouldn’t.

I’ll have to find my own way home.

I start walking in the opposite direction, but I stop when I hear something coming from the alleyway next to the club. It sounds like a fight.

When I look around the building, I see Rocco standing in the alleyway. Two men are with him. They look incredibly similar to him and must be his brothers. They’re holding a man against the wall—the man from the club.

And Rocco is punching the man again and again until the man’s face is covered in blood.

The sight makes me scream and stumble backward. I trip over my heels and fall onto the ground.

Rocco looks over at me. When he sees it’s me, his eyes narrow. He says something to his brothers and walks over to me. His knuckles are covered in blood.

“Lara, I told you to go home.” He extends his hand out to me.

I gingerly take it and let him pull me back up. “You hurt that man,” I whisper.

“I did. He touched you. No man gets to touch you other than me from now on. Is that clear?”

“I didn’t ask for him to do that.”

His eyes soften a fraction. “I know.” And then they harden all over again. “But I still need you to know. No more going to nightclubs where men can touch you. And I don’t think I have to say it, but I’m going to make it very clear. You are not to be with any other man than me. I expect you to be a virgin on our wedding night.”

I duck my head. “I understand.” Why is it so hard for me to tell Rocco my true thoughts? If I could, I’d tell him he doesn’t get to boss me around. That I’m a good girl who knows what to do. I don’t need him trying to control me. I’ll be a good wife. I don’t need to be reminded and patronized.

But none of it comes out.

“Where’s your friend?”

His question startles me. “She left. She said I was annoying her.”

“Some friend.” He squints down at me. “Do you have any way of getting home?”

“I was going to take the subway.”

“No. I’ll drive you.” He nods at his brothers, who let the man go, then come over. The man who touched me falls onto the ground, and none of them seem to care. “These are my brothers. Massimo and Emilio.”

“I’m so happy we finally get to meet you,” Massimo says, grabbing my hand and kissing it.

I blush.

Rocco clears his throat, and Massimo lets me go.

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