Page 41 of Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss

Adriano got to my parents, but I don’t know any details.

“He already does, because your father told him himself. Your parents were at our wedding, of course.” Adriano grins. “That’s why they... disappeared.”

I grind my teeth together. Adriano will think of everything, won’t he?

“And your father and your brother?” I bite out. “Were they there too?”

His face turns serious. “They were unfortunately busy.”

“Right. And where was our wedding?” I take a sip of the tea.

“I’ll have Rocco print out all the details that you’ll have to learn if anyone asks.”

“Of course,” I mutter under my breath.

“He’ll also bring you twenty different dresses and you’ll have to pick one.”

My eyebrows shoot up. Twenty dresses?

“Why not just choose one for me? Let’s not pretend I have any choices here. You decide everything.”

“I thought it would keep your mind off things a little. And I need you to be comfortable. Can’t have you messing with your dress all evening. You’ll only know which one is the best fit once you try out the ones you like the most. I’ll make sure my tie matches the color of the dress you choose. But if you need suggestions, I can give you some.”

He’s impossibly frustrating. Going from total psycho to wannabe fashion designer husband in two seconds.

“Can you do your own makeup or should I call one of my makeup artists?” he asks.

“You have your own makeup artist?”

“She’s the wife of one of my men, and she does makeup for special missions. Sometimes you have to pretend to be someone else or look exceptionally good. She’s great at all that.”

“I’ll do it on my own.”

Adriano’s people won’t help me, and I don’t like heavy makeup anyway. But he reallydoeshave a huge network of people working for him, probably in all kinds of professions. Even if my family and I tried going to the cops, he’d have his guy there too. No wonder he’s so sure he can get whatever he wants.

“All right, but if you change your mind, she’s only a call away.” He flashes me a smile.

I wish I could tell him what I really think about this whole marriage charade, but I need to bite my tongue for my parents’ sake.

“You should get some rest,” Adriano says. “We all need to be ready for the big night.”

CHAPTER 23

Adriano

Rocco toldme Chiara chose a red dress to wear, but when the door opens and she walks out, my jaw hits the floor. The sleeveless dress hugs her curves perfectly, as if it has been molded to her body.

As she steps forward, her leg shows through the slit on the side. All my blood rushes down to a completely wrong place. I want to shove her against the wall and kiss her, and then I want to pull her leg up and fuck her right here in the hallway.

Do I even want her to go out like this? The dress wasn’t this hot in the photos because Chiara wasn’t wearing it. People will be staring at her. She’ll have everyone’s attention. Is she even wearing any panties?

I want to take a peek, but Chiara is watching me. Her chin is up, her eyes full of fire. I think she chose the sexiest dress on purpose. Does she think I’ll change my mind and not want her to come with me? Or does she want to provoke me into ripping the dress off her and forgetting all about the party until it’s too late?

If I didn’t know any better, I’d hope for the latter. But Chiara hates me now, as she should, and I can’t give in to the temptation. It would be so easy to let go of my iron control, but I don’t want to. I can’t.

Soon enough, our ways will part, and I’ll never have to think about her or see her again. I’ll just have someone make sure she and her family stick to my terms. There are plenty of beautiful women out there. Maybe no one quite like Chiara, but keeping her isn’t in my best interest.

I offer her my hand because she’s a little unsteady on her high heels. She gives me a wary look, but then she takes my hand.

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