Page 30 of His Stolen Bride

Santino

Plaster falls from the ceiling with a crash as I stride past. The sound reverberates through the villa right along with the noise of hammers and saws.

Bella is speaking with the craftsman and pointing at what she wants changed. Everything. I don’t mind at all. I want to wipe every spec of Giuseppe clean from this entire place and remake it in whatever form Bella chooses.

“Red?” I ask and wrap my arm around her waist.

She smiles up at me.

“I think it’ll look stunning.”

“Yes, you do.” I kiss her. For the past two nights, I’ve done nothing except worship her body. I intend to do the same again tonight. Though, of course, I may have already had a taste this morning in the shower, then another with her bent over my desk. I can’t get enough.

Gianna smiles at us as she walks into the room, one tell-tale hand at her stomach. Leo is right behind her, as always.

She looks up at the new base coat on the ceiling. “Red?”

Bella laughs against my lips. “Yes. Problem?”

“No.” Gianna shakes her head. “I think it’ll be amazing, especially once you get that chandelier we ordered.”

“Right?” Bella reaches out and hooks her arm through her sister’s, and I reluctantly let her go.

“Keep up the good work, ladies.” I turn to Leo. “Come. We have some things to discuss.” I walk down the hall that’s been stripped of all finery and decoration. It already looks better now that it’s down to the centuries-old brick and stone.

Leo follows, and Lucenzo raises a brow as I walk past him and into my office.

“Close the door,” I tell Leo.

He does as I sit behind my desk. For two days I’ve been trying to figure out how to address the situation with Gianna. And for two days, I’ve failed to come up with a solution that doesn’t end in bloodshed between my budding family, the Davincis, and the Carreras.

“I’ve promised to keep Gianna safe.”

He eyes me warily and crosses his arms over his chest. “That’s my job.”

“Cut the shit.” I wave a hand at him. “I know she’s carrying your baby inside her.”

His eyes widen. “How—”

“I’m not blind. I see the way you are with her.” I pick up a coin from my desk and flick it across my knuckles. “You two aren’t careful. Not enough, anyway. And I notice things.” I won’t reveal what my Bella told me in confidence. “It’s clear. I assume you were better at hiding it when you still lived under Fernando’s roof.”

His jaw is hard, as if he’s waiting for a blow.

I lean forward, testing him. “I don’t blame you. Gianna is one hot piece of ass. Of course you’d want to bag that sweet, juicy—”

He lunges for me, a blade in his hand.

I shove back from my desk and get to my feet, a knife in my own palm. “Calm, Leo,” I warn. He looks about one hair away from coming over the desk for me. “I just wanted to see if it’s real.”

“It’s real,” he grates. “Don’t you ever speak of her like that again. I don’t care who you are, I’ll gut you.”

“Good.” I rest my blade on my desk. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

He rolls his shoulder and stows his knife, then backs up, though he still has that wary quality that I’m coming to respect. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. Ever. In our hearts, we’re already married.”

“I don’t think Fernando will see it that way.” I sit back down and gesture for Leo to do the same.

He sinks into the seat across from me and scrubs a hand down his face. “Honestly, it’s a relief that you know. I have to get her out of here before Fernando comes back and demands her again.”

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