Page 15 of Doll's Eye

“Everything is fine,” he mutters, not looking at me and screaming guilt.

“You might want to go change your shirt. There’s lipstick on the collar.” Lipstick that does not at all match the color I am currently wearing. My words are tight, and so are every muscle in my body. “And I’d appreciate it if you did it before anyone sees it.”

His eyes remain reserved when they snap down to mine, and I want to fucking kill him. “Alessia—”

“Don’t. Not now. We can talk about this later. We have people watching. Excuse yourself and go change your shirt.” Turning with a forced smile, I walk away and do my best not to walk right out of the door and scream. My temper can be a ruinous flaw. Sometimes, it is impossible to rein in when it burns like molten lava inside of me.

It’s not just humility and anger I’m feeling; it’s jealousy, too.

What a fuckingstronzo! We had an agreement, and he already broke it. An agreementheinsisted on. I gave him the opportunity to fuck around before we got married, and he opted out of it.

Trust has to be earned as it is, so to break that already before it’s even built is setting us up for a strenuous road ahead.

And to dare try and make a fool out of me at our fucking engagement party. I already want to shank his ass right herein front of everyone. Luckily, I didn’t catch him in the act, or I would not have been able to restrain myself.

If he thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants and I have to follow the rules, he has another thing coming. I will not stand by and behave like a good, obedient girl while he’s out there making a mockery of me. Fuck. That. And fuck. Him.

Plucking a new glass of champagne off a tray, I glance around the room to find who the whore might be. Obviously, a woman wearing red lipstick and someone with a death sentence.

I continue scouring the room, smiling politely at anyone I come in eye contact with when my gazing gets put on pause. Arianna De Niro. Rumors about her and Massimo being an item a few years ago sizzle as her red-painted lips are curled up into a dazzling smile directed at me. My vision is polluted with murderous rage as I use deep breaths to calm myself. I’m a Bonetti, and I will not lose it on some hussy that messed around with my fiancé at my own engagement party. She knows better than to disrespect a woman in my position since she, too, is the daughter of a capo. Not a well-respected one, but one no less.

It seems my reputation has not made an impression on her as it should, and she needs a little demonstration.

Downing my champagne, I begin to make my way over to her. Our eyes locked, and a smirk now mocking me on her face. She will not get away with this— “Alessia.” A strong hand wraps around my upper arm, and a deep voice in my ear stops me. “I can explain. It’s not at all—”

My glower snaps up to his. “Oh, I think I’ll have Arianna explain it to me,” I coo and try to pull away from him, but he doesn’t let me go.

“It’s not what you think. I said I would not touch any other woman, and I meant it,” he practically spits at me as if I should be the one on trial here.

To everyone else, it looks like I am leaning into my handsome fiancé getting a little cozy, and when I open my mouth, my words are passionate, but not in a loving way. “Your word doesn’t mean shit. How thefuckdid red lipstick get on your collar? Someone would have to be awfully close to you for that to happen. You think I’m stupid? I know you and her used to be a thing, and she happens to be wearing that exact color on her whorish lips. Not to mention the fact that when you came back, you were slightly flustered and wouldn’t even look at me. Those are not hard puzzle pieces to fit together. They fell into place all on their own. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must remind someone what happens when I feel disrespected.” I place my hands on his chest and smile up at him coyly. “Care to join me?”

“My place is at your side,cara mia,” he says evenly as if no longer perturbed. Taking one of my hands from his chest, he laces his fingers with mine a little too tightly as a warning. I squeeze his hand right back, and we journey the short distance to the lovely Arianna.

“Arianna, how are you?” I walk right up to her and kiss each cheek. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she purrs, then turns her attention to Massimo. I watch them out of the corner of my eye as I greet the others around. “Massimo.” She smirks at him over her glass of champagne and sips from it.

“Arianna. Good to see you again,” he responds dryly, his voice as level as usual.

“Your dress is lovely, Arianna. It’s very…pageant-like. Something only you could pull off.” A few people chuckle around us as I smile at her. Hers fades a little, and she stands straighter in her red sparkly gown. She looks like that big-boobed cartoon chick in that one movie married to a rabbit. “I do love a good red dress. Easier to conceal blood splatter.” I bat my lashes as everyone chuckles.

“So, are you as savage as they say?” she responds as if it would offend me.

“I’m only savage when I feel disrespected,” my words come out smoother than honey.

“I know I certainly would not want to be on the receiving end of your wrath, Miss Bonetti,” a man of little importance says from somewhere around the small group gathered.

“You definitely wouldn’t,” I agree loudly, my eyes still locked with Arianna’s. The little bravado she had left disappears quickly, and she looks like she might tuck her tail and run. And I do love a good chase. “Well, we do have other guests to get around to.” I tear my gaze away to address the others. “But thank you all for being here. Come, my love.” I tug at Massimo’s hand that I’m still adhered to, and we walk away without direction.

I pry my shaking hand away from him, and he puts his at the small of my back. “I need a private moment with you,” he rumbles in my ear, and I try to calm the rage his voice is amplifying. I have never practiced such great self-control before. I should be picking her teeth out of my knuckles, but here I am, acting like a dignified lady.

Why am I not angrier withMassimo? He’s the one that broke my trust.

“I don’t want to be alone with you right now,” I say defiantly with my eyes averted.

“I will drag you out of this room if I have to, Alessia,” he threatens.

“And make a scene?” I taunt. “That wouldn’t be very kingly.”

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