Page 56 of Brutal Vows

Affection.

How long has it been since I’ve held any affection for a woman? Sex for me has always been about achieving a release and nothing more. I’ve never had a woman back to my house or stayed the night with one. Even the women I have on my phone, the ones I can stand seeing more than once, were nothing more than convenient hookups. We didn’t talk about our day or how our life was going.

Gia has an insatiable curiosity, always peppering me with questions about everything from my favorite breakfast foods to my typical lunch choices. In the stale hotel penthouse, she made it feel like a home, and I’ve come to realize it is becauseshefeels like home in a way I never thought possible. Before we got married, our time together was scarce; we barely interacted except when we were asleep. Even then, I made it a point to wait until she was sound asleep before slipping into bed, and I ensured I was up and gone before she awoke.

Somewhere along the way, Gia slipped beneath my defenses and I’m not sure how.

We’re only here in Miami for a couple of days. It is part of the plan to convince Megumi that the lack of security is because we are still holed up in Seattle, plotting Salvatore’s demise. We don’t want her to become suspicious when one of Kenzo’s men happens to not check that the door secured itself properly.

Once we’ve confirmed she’s contacted her handler in Italy, we will make our move. Megumi isn’t aware that we’ve chipped her with a tracking device. Similar to the oneAdrian put in Vanya, but stronger. After Evaline’s tracker was unable to permeate the underground bunker where she was held, our engineer began working on creating something stronger that could penetrate through miles of earth and places with RFID shielding.

No matter where she goes, we will be able to track her.

Which reminds me of the task I have for tonight. One I know my little wife won’t be happy about. Like it or not, we all have them, and she will too. But for now, the sun is beginning to fade, and I want to take my wife to dinner.

“Come,piccola cerva.” Grabbing her hand, I pull her into the main bedroom. “Pick out a dress. We are going to dinner tonight.” Invading her space, I step closer and run a finger down the gentle column of her throat. My dick hardens at the thought of having my hand wrapped around it again, controlling her breathing. Watching as her pupils dilate with arousal while her mind struggles to come to terms that her body relishes the fear of what I could easily do.

The beaming smile she gives me tells me I’ve made the right choice in taking her out. We won’t need a reservation, not in this city. People beg me to grace their restaurants and put them on the map. This city is what Italy was once to my father. Owned by me. Police. Politicians. You name it and I have my hands in it. Nothing happens here that I don’t know about, and it all comes down to loyalty.

There are times when I need to make threats. Kill someone to make a point. But what I offer in return is usually enough for most. People in this city are greedy, and greedy hands can easily be greased.

“How did all my clothes get in the closet?” Gia asks as she steps back into the main room in nothing but a robe. “I haven’t seen anyone but Dario and theleccaculo.” I biteback a snort when she calls Marcello an ass-kisser. To her, it might seem that way. He’s young and eager to prove himself, but he’s never been one for conversation or idle chatter. Part of the reason why I chose him.

“Flavia came and put them away while I was showing you around.”

Gia’s face darkens. “Who is Flavia?” The jealousy coating her words amuses me, and I can’t help the smile that tips my lips. An action my little wife doesn’t appreciate.

“She is the one who runs the house for me,” I reassure her. “And she’s nearly seventy.” I’ve been pleading with her to retire. The woman damn well knows she will be well provided for, but she’s stubborn and refuses to. Flavia has been with me since I was only five years old. She started as my nanny and then quickly proved herself invaluable to my father’s household.

When all hell was breaking loose, I brought her and her daughter with me, knowing that Salvatore would kill her for her loyalty to me.

“Oh.” Redness seeps up her neck, and she quickly dives back into the closet, embarrassed. I remind myself that I need to be patient with her. Like me, she’s never been in a relationship, and I know her distrust will fade in time as I prove to her that she is the only one I see.

While she dresses, I go and put on my suit for the night. A black Armani with a burgundy silk tie. I’m clasping my golden cuffs when I step back into the main room to find her anxiously waiting for me.

The breath nearly leaves my lungs when I catch sight of her in a sage green dress that stops just above her knees, displaying her gorgeously long olive-toned legs. She’s wearing a pair of matching heels that bring her heightslightly closer to mine, and all I can think about is fucking her in those heels and nothing else.

“Bellissima,” I breathe in a husky whisper. Stepping forward, I cup the back of her head and pull her closer, groaning in pleasure at the small whimper she gives as I devour her. Snaking one hand down her back, I palm her ass, squeezing it as I pull her body flush with mine while my tongue plunders her mouth.

When I start to lose control, I force myself to pull back, resting my forehead against hers.

“We should probably go before we don’t make it out of this bedroom.”

Gia laughs, sliding her hand down to press against my cock straining inside of my pants.

“That doesn’t sound all that bad.”

Chuckling, I shake my head and kiss the tip of her nose. “As tempting as that is, wife…” I wink at her as I take a step back so there is some distance between us. “We are going to the most popular steakhouse in the city. Everyone who is anyone will see us together, and that is exactly what we need.”

Gia’s face falls slightly, but she rights it before I have a chance to wonder why. Shaking it off, I take her hand, thread her fingers through mine, and lead her to the door, wondering why she is suddenly less enthusiastic about leaving the house. Her shoulders are slightly slumped and the shine in her dark eyes has dulled. But whenever I look at her, she pastes on a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

If we had time, I’d ask her about what the hell is bothering her now, but I don’t want to be out on the streets too late. I have more important things to worry about than my wife’s mood swings.

Thirty-Two

“Everyone who isanyone will see us together, and that is exactly what we need.”

I’m not sure why, but the words sting. Knowing that the only reason he is taking me out is to make sure people see us together, and that word reaches back to my father. Miami isn’t a hotbed for Italians, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t those who will want to gain his favor by reporting to him that Vitali De Luca married his only daughter.

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