Page 19 of Dating the Don

I’ll just get this one and be done with it. I wonder if I would feel more excited if this were a real wedding.

I drape the dress over one arm and head out of the room to pay.

Only there’s nowhere to pay.

“Ready?” Ada grins.

“Just have to…”

“Oh honey, it’s being billed to my brother. You didn’t think I was actually going to let you pay, did you?” Ada grins. “I don’t think you can ever fight me on paying the bill ever again now that you’re marrying my brother.”

“Absolutely not. I still have my pride!” I protest.

“Can’t. Cristiano’s orders. My hands are tied.”

I grunt in annoyance. I know that this is a fight I can’t and won’t win.

“Whatever. At least say you’re coming with me to the fabric store so I can try to fix the thing.”

“Of course!” Ada leaned in close as she wrapped an arm around my waist. “That’s what maids of honor are for!”

CHAPTER TEN

CRISTIANO

Convincing my men that Maeve is no threat to us was always going to be hard. They think of her as the help. Never mind that to me she’s always been so much more than that. Annalisa, my mother, is standing unhelpfully on the balcony as I address my men in the yard. I’m sure that they have questions, but I will not allow them the chance to ask a single thing. This is not an option. There is no explanation needed. I am marrying her, she is the one that I have chosen and as such, she’s infallible to them.

Or else.

“Two of you are to be on rotation at all times to guard my fiancée until further notice. You will divide the duties amongst yourselves. If I must do it, I will be most displeased,” I speak firmly, despite my casual posture as I walk between the militantlines of my closest and highest-ranking men. As I near the front of the perfect lines covering the expanse of my front lawn, I move closer to Al, my right-hand man. To him, and him alone, I allow myself to speak more softly. “I suppose that it goes without saying that I will have you assigned to Ada. I need somebody I trust to keep a close eye on her at all times.”

Al rarely questions me, but I can see the flicker of hesitation in his gaze. “I don’t like the thought of leaving you without a guard. You need somebody on your side, timing is crucial.”

His words might seem insubordinate to others but I know that he’s only looking out for me. I squeeze his shoulder in acknowledgment of his words.

“Ada is the one who’s fragile in the wake of father’s death. We cannot allow her to backslide when she’s come so far. We both know that she would rather die than willingly ask for help from anyone, least of all me.”

Al dips his head in understanding. “It will be done.”

He starts to walk away, but I stop him and step closer, speaking lowly so that only he can hear. “I will need reports on when and how much she eats, if she’s going to the bathroom after eating her meals, things of that nature.”

Al’s lips pull into a thin line, but he nods. “Like before?”

I nod once, and we share a look of understanding before Al silently excuses himself. It’s for the best. I hate not having him at my side for the reasons that he mentioned, but I know where he will be most useful.

Ada has struggled with both anorexia and bulimia since high school. Not long after she started modeling, that toxic world threatened to consume her. Body image is hard enough on a teenager without the added pressure of thousands of eyes on you at all times. After a small stint in college, she’s had the disease mostly under control but severe stress tends to bring it out in her. She thinks that I haven’t noticed the way her ribs are slowly growing more and more visible. Her worst nightmare is that Maeve will find out about her issues, and that fear has allowed me to blackmail my sister into eating since my father’s death, but I can’t always watch her on my own. Not now. Not with everything else that’s going to happen in the upcoming days.

She has to be cared for.

My family will always come first.

I turn on my heel, looking out over the lines of men with a soft nod. I understand these men, and they will come to understand me. Despite their reservations. It’s only natural. I was born to do this job. I’ve been groomed for this position my entire life. The only difference between today and any other day, is that instead of giving these speeches with my father standing right by me, I now say these words alone.

My father should be here.

He always wanted to see his legacy in action.

With that thought, I dismiss my men and they break apart in waves to head back to their assigned duties. I turn and make eye contact with my mother. She’s leering down at me with clear disapproval. Her black dress swishes around her as the lace veil she wears to cover her face sways in the soft breeze, but I miss not one watt of her anger.

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