Page 91 of His Tesoro

“I didn’t give you permission to move, Sofiya.”

My fingers tightened their hold on his jacket as arousal shot through me.

“I’ll be more than happy to show anyone here who thinks I’m less powerful because I adore my queen the error of their ways.” The words were delivered as a low threat, and it sent another shiver through me.

Movement caught my eye as Angelo and Enzo strode towards us. I wrapped my hand around the back of Matteo’s neck. “You can’t kill them.”

“I’m the Don. I can do what I like,” was his only response. I let out a long sigh, glad I was on his lap so he couldn’t easily attack my guards.

“Boss, I—” Angelo started.

Matteo held up his hand, silencing him. “You and me, in the ring tomorrow.”

Angelo gave him a curt nod before turning his gaze on me. “Are you alright, Mrs. Rossi?”

“Matteo’s the one who’s mad at you, not me, so cut it with the Mrs. Rossi crap,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m perfectly fine. My husband is irritated because I had a perfectly lovely conversation with an Irish assassin.”

Angelo’s jaw clenched. “Leona Byrne?”

Matteo nodded.

“Shit,” Enzo said.

“Leona isn’t an Irish name, is it?” I asked.

“It’s Italian,” Matteo said. “Her mother was the daughter of one of our capos. She ran away to be with the second-in-command in the Boston Mafia—Leona’s father. Leona claims her Italian heritage only when convenient. Have Franco look into what she’s doing in my city, and ask him why the fuck we didn’t know she was here.”

Romeo lifted his chin in assent before pulling out his phone.

“What was going on inside?” I asked Angelo.

“Apparently, Lombardi’s daughter isn’t thrilled with her fiance,” he said with a grimace.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s in love with one of Riccardo’s foot soldiers, or at least that’s what I gathered when he showed up to try to claim her,” Angelo said.

I turned to Matteo. “Her father can’t force her to marry her fiance if she’s in love with someone else.” I could hear how ridiculous my words sounded as I sat on the lap of the husband I never would have chosen, but now would never give up.

“He’s her father, tesoro. It’s the way things are.”

“It’s not fair,” I said quietly.

Matteo ran his hand through my hair.

“Can you at least make sure nothing happens to the other guy? The soldier?”

“He insulted his capo,” Matteo said.

I cupped his face and stared into his dark eyes. “Please. He doesn’t deserve to die because he loves her.”

Matteo sighed before turning to Romeo. “See that it’s done.”

“Yes, Boss,” Romeo said before he headed inside.

“Time to go,” Matteo said. He kept me in his arms, holding me tight as he strode out of the party, ignoring everyone who tried to get his attention. Angelo followed with Noodle and my wheelchair.

Matteo settled me in the back of the car, pulling me flush to his body once he got in. He ran his thumb across my cheek in a gesture that felt painfully tender.

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