Page 8 of Vicious Union

“Would it be so bad if I were to go out to a club, so I could dance in public?”

He frowns. “Well … no. Not exactly. But I want you here where I know you’ll be safe, darling.”

Dammit. It was worth a shot.

I can’t tell my dad the truth because I don’t want him to be disappointed in me.

It’s Emilio’s turn to look smug. He knows what I was doing by testing the waters with my dad and that I just lost.

“You know, I was thinking you looked familiar,” Emilio says. “Like I’d met you before.”

“Probably at your brother’s wedding.”

“Right. That’s it.”

Rocco looks between Emilio and me with a frown. “Well, you two seem to be hitting it off.” I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or if he’s just that blind. Clearly, Emilio and I are not hitting it off. “Can we go through with the wedding?”

“I’ll do my duty,” Emilio says, staring me down. “So, yes.”

Everyone looks at me.

I can’t let Emilio look better than me, so I sit up straighter in my seat and announce, “Yes. I’d love to marry Emilio.”

I smirk as I look at my future husband.

He’s not going to win this challenge.

CHAPTER 3

Emilio

Caterina is not going to win.

She gives me a smug look, like she has me beat, but she doesn’t even understand the meaning of that. I’m Emilio De Luca. I don’t fold so easily.

Later, as we’re driving away from Francesco’s house, I don’t realize just how much she got under my skin until Rocco asks me why I’m clenching my hands. I immediately relax them. “I’m not clenching them,” I mutter.

Rocco lifts an eyebrow. “Are you ok? I’ve never seen you look so rattled before. Intimidated by your future wife?” he teases. Normally Massimo is the one to tease me, but ever since Rocco married Lara, he’s been much more at ease.

“I’m not intimidated by her.”

“Then what is it? You don’t want to marry her? Francesco is a loyal employee, and he has contacts who can help our business. I want to reward him by marrying you to his daughter. I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”

“She’s just not as innocent as she appears.”

Rocco sighs, his hands moving on the steering wheel. “What does that mean?”

I’m tempted to tell Rocco about meeting Caterina at the club, but for some reason, I hold back. That’s leverage I have over her. I want to keep it to myself.

“It’s nothing,” I say instead. “I’m just not sure about her. That’s all.”

“Well, you’ll have time to learn more about her once you’re married.” He pauses. “She does have a bit of an attitude, I’ll admit.”

“She does,” I growl.

“But so does Gabriella. And speaking of our sister, she wants to meet at Mom’s grave tomorrow.”

“It’s not her anniversary.”

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