Page 22 of Blackmailed Marriage

If Aria kept squeezing her nails into her palms, there would be nothing left of her. Dante reached down and took hold of her hand. She turned toward him.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“This is all well and good, but … don’t you think this is a little … I don’t know … soon?”

She’d been nervous since he told her about the party yesterday. He understood her nerves, and other than a brief business meeting with his father, he’d not left her side.

Dante didn’t intend to cause a public stir when they entered this event. Every other time since they’d been married, he entered with Aria at his side. The only difference was, tonight, when they entered, he was going to be holding her, and she wouldn’t leave his side.

“Aria, we’ve been married eight months and have attended many different gatherings.”

“Yeah, but tonight you’ve told me not to leave your side. On other occasions, you’ve advised I stay out of your way.”

He’d been horrible to her.

Dante had made it clear from the very beginning that he didn’t want to be married to her. She had followed his directions completely, giving him the space he required, but now he wanted to be close.

Their car pulled up outside of one of the capos’ houses. It had been an hour’s journey from their penthouse suite. Dante didn’t want to go to any social function, especially not one that had been sprung on him with such short notice.

He preferred to be prepared, to know every single aspect of every venue. This was a capo’s home, so there wasn’t as much to fear, but if they had been lax in their security, it would put them all at risk.

The car came to a stop and he kept hold of Aria’s hand. He helped her out of the car and then banded an arm around her waist.

“We can do this, right?”

He found her honesty refreshing.

Dante couldn’t help but wonder if she realized her brutal honesty and growing spine was what … intrigued him about her in the first place. He didn’t want a simpering fool. He wanted a woman by his side. Not someone who would agree with him about everything. No, he wanted to have a challenge, and Aria provided that.

After hearing what she’d told her sister about hating sex, he was encouraged to try harder.

Last night, Aria had been nervous. Even though he’d spent the last eight months telling her to stay on her knees as he fucked her from behind, not once had they shared a bed. Noteven on their wedding night. He’d been a cruel bastard.

Dante hadn’t cared until now.

He had to be cruel to survive this life. They had too many enemies waiting for the right moment to exploit, and he wouldn’t allow that to happen.

“We’ve got this,” he said.

He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Aria.

She was so nervous that all he wanted to do was keep her close, protect her, and not let anything happen to her.

They walked into the function, and Dante already spotted his parents, along with Aria’s. The whole house was thriving. Engagements often were. His own had been the same, but there had been several nasty comments, all of which he allowed to slide because he’d been so pissed.

He knew people watched them. This was not new, apart from him holding Aria. Whenever they entered a function, they were side by side. He never touched her. Now, he kept Aria close.

Dante noticed the whispers start, and he decided to go straight toward his father.

Again, he did something different by taking Aria with him.

“Dante,” his father said.

“Father,” he said.

“Mr. Gallo,” Aria said, bowing her head toward him.

She didn’t look up, but stayed silent at his side.

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