Page 26 of His Stolen Bride

Santino

By the time we’re done talking business, it’s past lunch. Fernando and his crew leave, though he hesitates at the door.

“Where’s Gianna?”

“Lunch.” I shrug.

“We have business,” his second-in-command urges.

“Fine.” Fernando waves a hand at him. “We’re going.” He turns back to me. “Keep her safe. Keep her intact or there will be hell to pay.”

“Santino is married to her sister, and from what I’ve seen, smitten. No chance he’s touching Gianna.” Cato stands at my elbow.

“Keep the other wolves at bay.” He shoots a look at Lucenzo. “If she’s spoiled before I marry her off, I’ll rain hell on anyone who had a hand in it.”

“You sure you don’t need a snack before you go?” I ask.

Cato grunts, hiding a laugh.

Fernando narrows his eyes. “Remember what I said.” He and his men stomp out, the door slamming behind them.

“Asshole.” I run a hand through my hair. “Did you know Fernando was this huge of an asshole when you sent me over here to fuck up his life?”

“He’s an asshole.” Cato pats my arm. “You’re a bigger one. You did well in there.”

“I’m not letting some Carrera prick push us around.”

“I saw.” Cato walks with me toward the dining room. “Remember to watch that temper of yours.”

“I kept my temper.”

“No, you lost it when he went after your wife. The rest of the time, you were perfect. But when it comes to her—” He stops me and lowers his voice. “She’s more than just a prize, isn’t she? I can tell by the way you are. She’s the one for you.”

I could deny it, but why try? Cato can always see the truth in me. “Yes.” I crack my neck. The last 24 hours have been long as fuck. “She is. She tried to kill me straight away.”

“And that’s when you knew?” His lips twitch, a smile begging to be born. But Cato doesn’t truly smile for anyone except Apollonia.

“Perhaps when she threatened me, or maybe when she taunted me. Can’t be sure. But I know it now. I can feel it.”

He nods. “I know the sensation. Apollonia and I are forever, and nothing will ever break us apart. You know when you find your kindred. When you find your heart.”

“I didn’t see it coming.”

“We never do.” He leads me into the dining room.

Apollonia, Bella, and Gianna sit at the large, ornate table and eat while going over some drawings with a local tradesman.

“Berizio,” Lucenzo fills in from behind me. “The most highly-recommended construction expert in the region.”

Berizio peers at where Bella is pointing on his papers.

“Okay, I like this, but I want this entire wall gone. That master bedroom can’t be the same. I hate it. But if you blow out this wall, move the bed over here, and create a new sitting area with a larger closet and a larger bathroom, you’d never even recognize it for what it once was. Can you do all that? Or is it too expensive?” Bella puts her fingernail between her teeth.

“Nothing is too expensive for you, beautiful.” I jerk my chin at Berizio. “Make it happen. All of it down to the very last detail. She shall have exactly what she desires, understand?”

“Of course.” He nods. “Of course. I already have a demolition team lined up to arrive in a few hours. We can get to work immediately. I’ll need to travel to Florence and possibly Rome to arrange the purchase some of the supplies, but—”

“Did Giuseppe have a helicopter?” I ask Bella.

---