Page 90 of His Tesoro

I hoped everything was okay inside. It had to be something significant if Enzo needed backup.

I turned back to my drink, eyeing the maraschino cherries at the bottom. I was trying to discreetly fish them out when a gorgeous woman sat down beside me. I looked up, shocked that someone had approached me. Noodle wagged his tail, but stayed focused on me.

The woman looked to be in her twenties and had perfectly curled, fiery red hair and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. She was wearing a tight-fitting green silk dress, and I felt momentarily envious of her thin figure and graceful movements.

“God, these parties are boring, aren’t they?” She turned in her chair to face me, a bright smile on her face. “I’m Leona.”

“Sofiya,” I responded.

“Oh, I know,” she said with a wink. “The mysterious Bratva princess who has stolen the Don’s heart.”

I blushed. “I’m not sure about that.”

“Oh, but I am.” Leona’s voice was sultry as she reached over and wrapped a curl of my hair around her finger. I stared into her dark eyes. Her presence was equally alluring and dangerous. “All these men think they’re so powerful, out here posturing with their guns and their cocks. It makes it easy for them to overlook us,” she continued.

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure anyone could overlook you.”

Leona chuckled as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “That’s because you’re smart and observant. I am, too, which is why I know you wield the most power in this room. And all of them”—she gestured at the packed lawn of the men posturing in their suits—“are too blind to see it.”

“I’m not sure about that. I’ve spent most of my life feeling weak and invisible.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. In mere minutes, Leona had torn down my defenses. Or maybe I’d spent too many years alone that my defenses had grown as pathetic and vulnerable as me.

A feral smile split Leona’s face. She leaned in towards me until her face was close to mine. Her eyes flitted to my lips. “How dangerous you’ll be when you claim your power. I can’t wait to see it.”

My heart beat faster. I felt like I was pinned by a predator, and I didn’t know if she was about to kiss me or kill me.

“Leona.” Matteo’s enraged voice rang out, and I whipped my head up to take in my husband storming over in a cloud of rage.

“Don Rossi.” She leaned back in her chair, the picture of ease. “Nice to see you.”

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you right here.” Matteo vibrated with cold anger as he angled his body in front of mine.

Leona snorted. “Fuck, that line was so predictable.” She peered around him to catch my gaze. “It was lovely to meet you, Sofiya. I’m sure our paths are destined to cross in the future.” She reached out as if to stroke my face, but Matteo caught her wrist. She let out a bright laugh, did some sort of move to release his hold, and melted away into the shadows at the edge of the yard.

Matteo moved as if to chase her, but I snagged his hand. He looked down at where our fingers were joined.

“You don’t need to do anything. She was just being nice.”

“Nice?” He ran his hand down his face. “I swear to God, Sofiya. How do you get into so much trouble everywhere you go? Leona Byrne is the top assassin in the Irish Mafia in Boston.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Seriously?”

Matteo sat down in the seat Leona had just vacated. “Yes, seriously. What am I going to do with you, tesoro? I should kill Angelo for leaving you alone.”

“There was something happening inside. I told him to go, so don’t get mad at him.”

My husband’s heated gaze made me squirm again. “You’re just racking up punishments.” He brought my hand to his lips and gently kissed it. “What were you two talking about?”

“She was just telling me I’m the most powerful person here,” I said with a grin.

“Well, she’s right about that,” Matteo muttered under his breath. “Come here. I need you close so I don’t go inside and murder your bodyguard.”

He pulled me out of my chair and into his lap. I snuggled into him, soaking up his scent and his warmth. “Don’t you have more people to talk to?”

“They can wait.” He kissed my forehead.

A tense hush had fallen over the crowd, everyone trying to catch glimpses of their Don’s unusual behavior. “Isn’t this going to tarnish your image? Make you seem less intimidating?”

Matteo tightened his hold on me as I tried to sit up. I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the authority he’d worked so hard for.

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