Page 16 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

Nevio is still staring.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Suddenly, his lips spread into a wide smile. Dimples form in his cheeks, his eyes seem to glow, and he steps towards me, wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me right up against him.

He doesn’t dip me, by he lifts me off my feet as he kisses me.

That kiss.

That kiss brings back all the sensations I experienced beneath his touch last night.

I hear Lucia laughing in the background. Nevio sets me down on the ground again.

“Let’s go home.” He smiles.

I have so many questions about why my brother was here, but now doesn’t seem to be the right time. I turn to look at Lucia, and she quickly brushes a tear from her eyes. Her smile is making her face glow, and it makes me smile in response.

Nevio leads me out of the church after we’ve signed all the documents. We say a quick goodbye to Lucia, who announces that she is going to be telling everyone. It’s sweet how excited she is for her brother. I think they’re really close. It lets me glimpse a side of Nevio no one else has.

On the way home, I finally pluck up the courage to ask questions.

“My brother — what did he say?”

“Let’s just get home first.” Nevio says, his eyes on the rearview, watching, alert and ready for anything.

I scrunch my brows together. “Is something going on?”

“Let’s just get home, Dalila.” He says forcefully and I feel myself getting angry.

I clamp my mouth shut and stare out of the window in silence.

Inside the house, I toss the flowers onto the kitchen counter.

“We’re home. Tell me what the hell is going on. What did my brother say? Why didn’t he stay and talk to me?”

Nevio walks over to me, reaching out to me. He runs his hands down my arms. A gentle gesture. “Your brother said that there is still danger, even now that we are married, and that you are to stay in my house for the moment. You may not go outside.”

“Excuse me?” so even after pawning me off to some random guy, my brothers are still trying to control me? Still trying to stop me from living my life?

“He wants you safe, Dalila.”

“Bullshit. If he wants me safe, he can tell me himself. He should have stayed to speak to me. Anything. He didn’t even have one minute for me. He expects me to just go along with all of this without explaining a fucking thing.”

Suddenly, the anger is boiling inside me and I can’t control it.

I push Nevio’s hands off me, wanting to leave, wanting to go home.

“Dalila, stop this at once.”

“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? Everyone wants to control me like I’m some toy. Some doll.”

“I am your husband, and I only want you to be safe.” He did not just say that!

“Then tell me what’s going on? Husband! Why is everyone keeping secrets from me?” I snap, heated. My cheeks burning from anger.

“I can’t.” He says, his eyes narrowing, frustration creeping onto his face.

“Then leave me the fuck alone until you can.” I push him away, my hands against his solid chest. He doesn’t even budge. So, I step around him and storm up to the bedroom. I need to be alone.

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