Page 20 of His Stolen Bride

Bella

“Don’t fight with my husband.” I rush out the words. “No bloodshed, please. And Gianna must stay here with me.”

My father stares at me as my heart pounds so loud I swear everyone can hear it. His aren’t the only eyes on me. I don’t need to look; I can feel Santino’s on me also. My fingers grip the back of Santino’s shirt. I lean into him.

My father’s gaze promises retribution. “If something happens to Gianna . . .”

I hate how much he pretends to care about her. It’s really only what she can bring him.

“Never.” I shake my head. “I would never let anyone hurt a hair on her head, and you know it.” He’s always thought Gianna and I were too close. I think he really fears our bond. Our loyalty is to each other over him. Always has been and always will be. Gianna doesn’t have a mean bone in her body, but I have no doubt she’d cut our father from ear to ear if she thought she could save me. No one else would believe that by looking at her, but when our backs are up against the wall, we can be rather resourceful.

“I don’t like it, but you leave me no choice in the matter, daughter. Remember Carrera blood runs through your veins and where your loyalty should lie.” His words are ones I’ve heard many times before. I was a Carrera when it benefited him, but otherwise, he so easily threw me to the wayside when it didn’t. I hold on tighter to my husband, who has shown me more kindness in the hours I’ve known him than my father ever has. “And now you are indebted to me. A favor for a favor.”

“I know the rules, and I know where my loyalty lies.” I add a bite to my words.

He turns his stare to Santino. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” he agrees before my father turns to leave.

“Careful,” Santino whispers into my ear.

I look up at his handsome face and realize I’ve collapsed into him. He’s holding me up from falling. Giuseppe would have let me fall. Maybe even laughed about it. Though I doubt my body would have trusted him enough to catch me. It automatically trusts Santino. The question is, why?

“You were going to kill him,” I whisper. “To keep my sister here?” I swallow. “Why?” I hate the insecurity I feel in this moment. Is it her that he really wants? Is that why he was trying so hard to keep her here? None of it makes any sense. And I hate when things don’t add up.

“You said you’d be a good wife.”

I wet my lips. I did say that. I’m not sure I know how to be a good wife, but if it means keeping my sister safe, I’ll learn quickly.

“I did.” I right myself, finding my balance, but he doesn’t let me go. In fact, his hold only tightens more.

“They’re gone.”

I startle at the sound of Lucenzo’s voice. Why do I keep forgetting I’m not alone with Santino? He keeps making me forget a lot of things. He’s dangerous in more ways than I originally thought. Before Santino, I knew my role, but now with him looking at me the way he is has me questioning everything.

He doesn’t break his gaze. “I’m going to take my wife to bed. Then I’ll be back. There are things to handle.”

Lucenzo gives Santino a nod of understanding. His eyes slide to me for a brief moment with a curious look. As if he doesn’t exactly know what to make of me yet. Or maybe he’s questioning Santino’s judgement when it comes to me. Before I can delve deeper into that thought, Santino leads us out of the entryway.

Something I’ve never felt before starts to settle in my stomach at the thought of where he’s taking me. When I thought I’d have to sleep with Giuseppe, I was able to mentally shut down. I’d prepared myself to block it out and do what needed to be done to protect Gianna. I was lucky enough to not have to have that experience at all, because he didn’t find me attractive. With Santino, everything feels different.

I don’t know if I’m scared or excited. The feeling starts to become overwhelming. I’m not usually one that acts off emotion—other than anger—so this is all strange to me. “I don’t want to go back to that room,” I blurt out. That is one thing I am certain of.

“I would not share a bed with you that you once shared with your husband.” He says the last word as if it tastes rotten in his mouth. I bite my lip again.

I’m sure he knows this already, but I have to make sure. “You do know that he and I never-”

“That he never had you? Yeah, I know.” He gazes down at me, his eyes turning heated. At least I think that’s what they are. I’ve never had someone look at me the way he does. The feeling inside my stomach starts to blossom out, spreading through my body with an intensity that has me leaning more into Santino. “How he resisted you I’ll never know. If I couldn’t fuck you for some reason then I still would’ve feasted on you.”

Wetness surges between my thighs. “You put something in my food.”

His lips turn up into a smile. “You think I’ve drugged you? That’s why you keep clinging to me?”

“I’m not clinging to you,” I lie. I can’t get myself to stop. “I don’t see you denying it.”

He moves before I register what is happening and lifts me off my feet. He pins me to the wall.

“If you want to pretend I drugged you, then by all means.”

I moan as he thrusts himself against me where I need it most. “I don’t understand.” I dig my fingers into his shoulders. “You have to have done something to me.” This time it’s me that shifts, rubbing myself against him.

“That’s called desire, beautiful. You want me.” I shake my head, but again I move my hips, making myself whimper. I want him. I stare into his heated gaze. He wants me, too. Would it be so wrong to take something for myself? If only for tonight?

He’s right. I hate to admit it, but he’s making me feel desired. It’s intoxicating to think about him wanting me so badly. It makes me feel almost powerful for once.

“And you want me,” I breathe.

“‘Want is putting it mildly,” he growls before his mouth is on mine. And before I know it, everywhere else.

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