Page 3 of His Stolen Bride

Bella

Santino Baldoni. My mind races to try to place the name. I know it, but I can’t seem to picture him or where he’s connected. I look over my shoulder at Leo. I can tell he’s searching his mind, too. I keep my gun trained on the door.

Saldoni? I mouth to him. I’m sure his mind is as scattered as mine is right now. Everything happened so fast. Adrenaline is still wreaking havoc on us. He shakes his head minutely.

My eyes fall to my younger sister Gianna, who has tears streaming down her beautiful face. She’s always been the more emotional one. I have a feeling the baby we found out she’s carrying a few weeks ago isn't helping the matter. For any of us really. I thought I was protective over my sister before. This is something else altogether.

“Did he say Giuseppe’s dead?” Gianna asks softly. If it’s true, it’s a pity we can’t celebrate right now. All in all, it’s not shocking. I’ve only been here a few weeks, and I’ve seen so many holes in the security. I’d been planning to use some of those openings myself to get my sister out of here. My father won't be selling her off next. But now, whoever this asshole on the other side of the door is has gone and ruined that for me. For her.

My hand tightens around the gun, my anger growing by the second. Gianna calls me fearless. She says I can always stay calm and do the responsible thing, whereas she shows every emotion right there on her face for the world to see. She can’t help it. She’s so full of life. Something that a man like my dead husband and the man on the other side of this door would crush. In order to do so, whoever it is will first have to get through me. No one, and I mean no one touches my sister.

I am always slow when it comes to my emotions. My brain gets in the way, always trying to process what’s happening. Thinking of a plan or watching one unfold in front of me. It’s kept me alive thus far. I lick my lips, my tongue gliding over my cracked lip that is still trying to heal from my late husband. He struck me to get a reaction. He hadn't gotten one. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

It’s likely the reason I was allowed to marry Giuseppe. I volunteered. He asked for Gianna. How could he not? She is breathtaking. I begged my father to let me do it. He agreed, knowing I wouldn't put up a fight if I was volunteering and that I would give the little man hell.

Gianna, though, would’ve broken. She’d have been drugged to even get up to the altar. Leo would have been dead, unable to stand by while she married another. They’ve kept their love secret so long. Her marrying Giuseppe never would have worked. I would have lost them both and still been the one to marry the asshole in the end. This way made the most sense. It kept us all alive and together.

Giuseppe hadn't been happy, but he agreed without much of a choice if he wanted the Carrera alliance. He made it clear on many occasions that it was my fault that we hadn’t consummated our marriage. Blamed it on his lack of attraction to me. I could care less what that vile man thought of me. I considered myself lucky he found me so displeasing.

My gaze goes back to Leo, my best friend for as long as I can remember. It’s his gun I’m holding now. I’d demanded it, and he handed it right over without question. He’s the exception to the touching rule when it comes to Gianna. Considering the baby in her belly, he’s more than touched sweet Gianna.

“Davincis,” he mouths back finally. The second the word is out of his mouth, I remember. Santino is Cato Davinci's right-hand man. I’ve heard tales of his unwavering loyalty to Cato. Have the Davincis finally come to take over Giuseppe’s territory? Interesting.

I look back at the door. “Have you betrayed your master, Santino, or are you here for him?”

“I do not wish you any harm.”

“Did you not wish my husband harm? Because that didn’t seem to work out for him,” I toss back.

“You don’t sound too broken up about it.”

About him being dead? No, not in the least. About Santino ruining my plans? That’s something entirely different. No, I’m not broken up about it, I’m livid. I take a deep breath.

“What do you want?” I ask. “A war with the Carreras?” How reckless. Stupid even, if you ask me. I thought the Davincis were smarter than that. Taking on two families at once—and I’ve heard whispers they just took another. Men and their greed are never ending.

“That was not my intention.”

“Then what is your intention, Mr. Baldoni?”

“To take a bride.”

My sister sucks in a breath. I spin around and level Leo with a stare. He’s already shoved Gianna behind him. He closes his eyes before he nods, trusting me to handle this, the same way I always do when it comes to matters of keeping the three of us safe. I have to be smart. To meet the enemy head-on.

“Move it.” I point at the door.

Leo walks over and pushes the armoire out of the way. When he opens the doors, I’m caught off guard not only by the handsome man standing there but the fact that he’s alone with no weapon in hand. Though I’m sure he’s more than armed in some capacity. His eyes flick around the room before coming back to me, not the least bit fazed that I’m pointing a gun at him.

“You will not be marrying my sister.” Again, his eyes leave me to go to Gianna. I’m used to it. Men’s eyes always go to her, but for some reason, irritation grabs hold of me. I step to the side, blocking his line of sight to her. I glance at Leo, who’s staring at me. We can say so many things without saying a single word to one another.

I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy, but I can sense that not all of his rational thoughts are firing for him, and I fear he’ll do something stupid. That scares me.

“You’ll do just fine.” Santino’s tone is almost teasing. Just fine.

His gaze shifts to Leo and darkens.

I move again to stand in front of Leo.

Santino steps closer, his tone dropping to lethal levels. “Tell your boy there to keep his eyes off my bride.”

I kick my chin up. After all, I’m a Carrera. This two-bit gangster won’t intimidate me. I keep the gun in hand and step up to him. “You keep your eyes off my sister.”

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