Page 44 of Brutal Vows

Twenty-Three

I already knewthat Gia wouldn’t be thrilled about following through with getting married. It was hardly a wedding, considering everything had been slapped together in mere hours. Nan, Liam’s mother, had at least managed to find a delicate satin dress for my bride, while the rest of the decor and essentials were borrowed from the twin’s wedding to Bailey last summer—floral arrangements, folding chairs, even the music playlist. I haven’t even managed to get her a full set, leaving her finger noticeably bare of an engagement ring.

“You look beautiful,” Ava says, smiling warmly at my blushing bride before leading her off to the buffet of food her father has laid out for us. If only Gia’s cheeks were flushed from happiness instead of the seething frustration I can sense simmering beneath her calm facade. Her eyes glint with a dangerous determination, likely plotting my demise. It certainly doesn’t help that the vows I prepared for the priest to read included the wordobey. Gia’s eyes had narrowed at that, a clear sign of her displeasure.

No matter. Gia will learn to follow that vow, starting tonight.

As soon as we can slip away from this dinner and be alone.

Sighing, I reach for my glass of champagne, letting the bubbles tickle my throat as I down it in one long gulp.

“Shouldn’t you be waiting for us to toast you?” Kenzo leans in with a knowing smirk.

“There are a lot of things I’m waiting for,” I remind him. “But there isn’t time for any of that nonsense.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard many grooms refer to their wedding as nonsense,” Adrian chimes in with a smirk of his own. “Your glowing bride might not take kindly to that.”

“There are a lot of things my little deer isn’t going to take kindly to,” I say, shaking my head slowly. A companionable silence falls between us. The three of us have shared so many moments like this over the years that the quietness between us feels natural, almost sacred. We’ve always been able to simply sit in each other’s presence without the need for idle conversation.

“What do you plan on doing with her once everything is over and done with?” Adrian asks the question that has been sitting heavily on my chest since I came up with this foolish plan of marrying Gia.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” I admit, my voice steady but my mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. It’s the most honest answer I can muster because the truth is, I haven’t given much thought to what I plan to do about the fiery little Italian who’s been occupying a corner of my mind. For the past several weeks, I’ve kept my interactions with her minimal, maintaining a safe distance as if she were a tempting flame I dared not touch. It helps thatthere has been so much that has kept me away that I haven’t had to come up with piss-poor excuses.

“Maybe you should start,” Kenzo suggests, his eyes narrowing with a knowing glint. The obviousness of his statement grates on me, and I can’t help but shoot him a withering glare. He responds with a laugh that echoes around the room, as if my frustration is nothing more than a source of amusement.

He’s not wrong. At some point, I will have to decide if I let her go or keep her. A few weeks ago, I would have easily just let her go, but now—when I’ve felt how perfectly she fits in my arms and how beautifully she cries—I want nothing more than to keep her by my side.

Forever.

My gaze follows my new wife as she comes out of her shell, engaging with Ava and her friends. Something about the way she so seamlessly interacts with the people around her reminds me of my mother. Gia doesn’t look as if she’s been forced to be here. Even with Tomas, a man who has haunted her nightmares until today, is able to make her laugh.

She appears so carefree, her dark chocolate eyes glimmering with just a hint of gold as she throws her head back with laughter at the antics of the twins. A vision of another life flashes before my eyes. This was my father’s dream for us. To be married, have children, and lead the empire his forefather’s built. This was supposed to be us, in Italy, before my uncle’s betrayal.

When dinner is done and it is time to go, I gently take her hand and lead her out the front of the bar where the SUV is waiting. She doesn’t question me, simply says a quick goodbye and follows behind me like a dutiful wife.

Why does that bother me?

When I slide into the backseat, I notice the way she subtly shifts away, her body language transforming from the effervescent joy she displayed earlier to a more reserved and distant demeanor. Gia, once full of bubbling laughter, now seems to withdraw into herself, creating an invisible barrier between us. It eats at me. I long to rekindle that sweet, vulnerable side I glimpsed after her panic attack—the moment she leaned into me for support, seeking refuge in my embrace. But I know that bringing this side of her out again is beyond my reach. Gia must choose to reveal it herself.

As the SUV glides to a halt in front of the hotel, I gently take her hand, help her out of the vehicle, and draw her close to my side, guiding her swiftly through the lobby and into the elevator. The moment the opulent gold doors glide shut, enclosing us in the small space, I act on the desire that has been simmering beneath the surface since the instant I first held her—I devour her.

With a slow, deliberate motion, I slide the tie from her hair, fingers weaving through the tangled curls, and tug her head back gently but firmly, her lips parting in a soft, surprised gasp. Pressing her against the cool elevator wall, I pin her there, one hand resting at the delicate base of her throat, the other tangling deeper into her luscious mane, as I claim her mouth with a fervent, consuming kiss.

Gia stiffens against me, her lips moving in a mechanical rhythm. It isn’t until I tighten my grip around her slender neck that she truly responds, her moan vibrating into my mouth like a soft purr. I smile smugly against her mouth and take her bottom lip between my teeth, drawing another breathy moan from her that sparks a heated pulse through me, my cock lengthening in my trousers.

As the elevator jerks to a halt and the doors slide openwith a soft chime, I pull back, savoring the rosy flush spreading across her cheeks and the glint of desire flickering in her eyes.

“You’re mine now, Gia De Luca,” I declare, stepping out of the elevator and leading her with a firm hand. She follows quietly, her face twitching with unspoken thoughts but wisely remaining silent. Good. The punishments awaiting her are already considerable; she doesn’t need to add more fuel to the fire.

Not that I would mind if she did.

“What happens now?” Gia whispers, her voice barely audible as I guide her through the spacious living room, past the sleek kitchen, and towards the doorway of my bedroom.Ourbedroom.

“Now, we make this marriage official,piccola cerva,” I reply with earnestness, my voice low and intimate. “But first—your punishment.”

Twenty-Four

The bathroom doorclicks shut behind Vitali, and a jolt travels up my spine, causing my entire body to tense. I’m a virgin. He is well aware of this fact. Yet here I am, caught in a confusing whirlwind of anticipation and fear that courses through my veins like a storm.

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