Page 16 of DeLuca: The Devil

I pace around the dining room table, “Are women always difficult?”

Damian laughs louder than I appreciate, “It’s in their DNA brother. What’s going on? She not putting out yet?”

I growl, “Not until we’re married but it’s not about that. She won’t eat more than two bites of dinner because she’s heavy.”

Damian stops shuffling the papers I heard him going through when he answered the phone, “Bro, you know nothing about women. You told her she was fat? Which by the way, she’s not even close to being fat.”

“No Asshole, I did not tell her she was fat. She came to that conclusion on her own.”

I hear him typing on his computer, then he finally stops, “You told her she’s not, right?”

“No.”

“Domenic, she needs you to tell her that you don’t think she’s fat. Women are difficult. Relationships suck. That’s why I don’t have them. It’s also why I’ll never get married, regardless of the reasoning. Give her what she needs, or your life will be hell.”

He did have a relationship, but I won’t mention Katherina unless he does. It’s been a few years but it’s still a sore subject. That bitch broke my brother in a way I didn’t think was possible. I stop pacing for a moment, “We are not in a relationship. This is a business deal.”

He laughs, “You are abso-fucking-lutely in a relationship. It’s not a business deal. The agreement Baretti had with Bianchi was a business deal. You are marrying the girl to piss off two families. It’s a revenge deal. But she is being held captive, forced to be your bride. Maybe take two minutes to think about what this must be like for her.”

“I should’ve called Drake.”

“Or Dante,” he adds.

I grip my phone so hard I fear I might break it, “I don’t call that fucker for anything.”

Damian says, “One day you’re going to fall in love and realize why he did what he did, however misguided.”

I growl, “I don’t fall in love. I’m not that stupid.”

He snorts, “Yeah, we’ll see. You’re well on your way with Miss Baretti.”

I slam my fist on the table, “Goddamn it, Damian. I am not. I already told her I will never fall in love with her. She knows the deal.”

“Jesus Domenic. Are you trying to destroy what little spirit she has left?”

“What do you know?”

Damian sighs audibly, “Her father is Anthony Baretti who is a Grade A dickhead who was planning to have her married off to Enzo Bianchi, whom, as we both know gets his kicks from torturing women. Do the math. There is zero chance this girl isn’t already broken.”

I put the phone on speaker and set it down, “He beat the shit out of her repeatedly. Her face is badly bruised. When I asked her about it, she dropped to her knees and said she deserved the beating I would give her.”

“Wow. Maybe you could try treating her a little nicer. Probably, nobody has ever treated her with an ounce of respect.”

I run my hand through my hair ready to pull it out from the roots, “I don’t know how. It’s not exactly my forte.”

“Well brother, you need to figure it out. We don’t hurt women unless they try to hurt us. You know that. Destroying this woman emotionally is not cool. You’re better than that. We all are.”

I laugh, “You know this type of talk is exactly why we call you The Saint.”

Damian groans, “I’m far from being a fucking saint. I’m hanging up now, go fix your fuck ups.”

Chapter Twelve

GIADA

“I’m not used to people walking away from me during a conversation, Bellissima. I suggest you not do it again.”

I glance from my place on the bed and spot Domenic dragging a hand down his face, “I won’t beat you. Ever. Still, I have expectations, Giada. You will obey me, or there will be consequences.”

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