Page 26 of Ruined in Vows

Tearing my gaze away from them, I look at Dante. He watches me expectantly, waiting for me to begin. It’s my favorite story, one I could tell over and over again.

Sucking in a breath, I cast my mind back to the beginning. To the moment, I realized I was in love with my brother’s best friend and the frustrating times my feelings weren’t reciprocated. I mean I understood why he didn’t feel the same way. I was young and the age gap was too vast. But that didn’t change the love I had for him. As the years went on it only grew stronger, morphing into something deep, unbreakable and irrevocable.

It was only when I turned eighteen that things changed, and Dante started looking at me differently, seeing me as a woman and not the baby sister of Nico. I remember as if it were yesterday, the moment I knew things between us had changed.

It was the best day of my life.

The day I realized that finally everything I felt toward my brother’s best friend was returned.

He saw me just as I saw him.

It was the beginning of something neither of us would come back from.

Chapter 18

Allegra

The past…

Excitement bubbles in my stomach as I pace the spacious entryway waiting for my brother Nico, and his best friend – the love of my life – Dante to arrive. They haven’t visited in what feels like forever, but one call to Nico where I laid a complete guilt trip on him, had him canceling all other plans and coming home to see his little sister.

Sure, I have missed my brother, but my motives aren’t exactly pure. I know without a doubt that he will bring Dante with him. They are practically glued at the hip and have been best friends since birth. Where one goes, the other is not far behind.

I remember the first time I realized my feelings for Dante were more than familial, the moment I knew I was in love with him. I was fourteen, way too young for his twenty-four years of age, but nonetheless, my feelings were real. I knew it with every interaction, every innocent touch, and the protective way he looked out for me. To Dante, it was in a brotherly way, but it only escalated the love I had for him further. I despised seeing him surrounded by women and did everything in my power to sabotage any relationship he may have considered. It was manipulative, out of line, but if I couldn’t have him no otherwoman could. Despite my sabotaging ways, I wasn’t naïve enough to think he was celibate.

By the time I reached sixteen, I realized Dante with other women was the least of my worries. Being born into this life, I knew how it worked. I would eventually be entered into an arranged marriage of my papà’s choosing. Whoever he picked for me would be with the intention to bring more power, money and secure alliances with the other families. Still, I held onto hope that I could convince Papà to choose Dante for me. I would be happy with Dante. And I know I could make him happy.

It’s now two weeks before my eighteenth birthday. Though my body has been changing the last couple of years, and I now have womanly curves, what I really want is for Dante to finally start seeing me as a woman and not just Nico’s little sister. It’s wishful thinking but I am nothing if not determined. If he won’t see me, then I will have to make him.

Coming to a stop in front of the floor length mirror in the entryway, I smooth down my hair and check that my makeup is in place. My gaze shifts to my outfit. A cute, long sleeve, tan, sweater dress with collar and bow paired with some suede Chelsea ankle boots with a small chunky heel. I made sure to change out of the compulsory school uniform I arrived home in. Don’t need anything reminding the object of my affection that I am in fact a schoolgirl.

“What are you doing, honey?” I freeze at the sound of my mamma’s voice, spinning around to face her. My cheeks heat when she throws me a knowing look, a smirk playing on her lips because she no doubt caught me checking myself out.

I clear my throat. “Nothing. Nico will be home soon. I wanted to greet him.”

She smiles. “Uh uh. I’m sure it has nothing to do with Dante.”

My eyes widen. Have I been that obvious? I step toward her, looking around for any sign of my father, but thankfully don’t see him. “Shh, Papà might hear you.”

A hint of concern flashes in her blue eyes before she covers it by plastering on a smile. “Don’t ever change that big heart of yours, mia figlia. No matter where this life might take you. Keep wearing the love you show like a badge of honor.”

I frown, wondering what she could possibly mean, but don’t have time to question it because the door is shoved open, startling me. My brother stands in the doorway, but it’s the shadow behind him that has my heart racing.

Dante.

He is here.

“Mia figlio,” Mamma coos, moving toward Nico and wrapping him in a hug as if he is a small child and not a six-foot two mafia prince. But I can’t focus on the way she coddles my brother right now. Because by embracing Nico, she has revealed Dante.

My heart stalls in my chest, pulse kicking up to an unnatural rhythm as I take him in. Tall and muscular with dark hair and eyes he is surely every woman’s wet dream. The thought makes me purse my lips in annoyance. But I can't deny it’s the truth. I mean, there have been many a night where I have touched myself to thoughts of this man. Found an orgasm with his name on my lips.

My body heats in remembrance. The way I stifled my moans in my pillow, while I rode my fingers to thoughts of the forbidden. Jesus. Did someone just turn the temperature up in here? My eyes meet Dante’s. His chocolate eyes blaze with something that looks a lot like desire as he takes me in. His gaze trails over every inch of me, burning my skin in its wake before looking away.

“Dante,” I greet a little breathily.

His jaw clenches, and I frown, not understanding why he seems... angry with me. “Little Leg,” he responds softly, though it’s at odds with the tension radiating from him.

“Sister,” Nico finally addresses me.

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