Page 3 of Cage the Storm
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of bringing this up to you. Sophie insisted, but I reminded her I’ll be your husband soon enough and sent her on her way.”
“I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.” I won’t apologize for feeling like he’s invading my privacy. I don’t invite him in, but I grab a handful of goodies before going back to sit on my chaise. Curling my legs underneath me, I pop a few grapes in my mouth. The sweetness hits the back of my throat, and I moan.
Nicolai steps into the room, kicks the door closed, and then places the board on the table beside me. I inwardly sigh. Of course, he’s here. My last night alone, and he won’t let me enjoy it.
“I don’t believe in superstition,” he says, as his gaze sweeps over me. “And this is my house. If I want to see my bride, I will. You belong to me whether it’s before midnight or after.”Of course, he doesn’t believe in luck. Nicolai believes in control. And tonight, he’s making it clear: I’m already his.
“Just so you know, I resent the fact that you dismissed Sophie. I still need her to get ready for bed.” I don’t, but he certainly doesn’t know that.
“Whatever she was going to help you with, I can do it now that I’m here. Besides, you won’t be needing her as much after tomorrow.” Oh, hell no.
“Are you trying to tell me you’re going to be my assistant after we get married?” I almost choke on my juicy grape when he sits down beside me.
“No, I won’t be your assistant, I’ll be your husband. Therefore, you won’t need Sophie to help you get ready for bed when I’m more than capable of doing that for you.” Yeah, I bet he is. I want to laugh in his face until his hand curls, wrapping around my throat.
“So, are you ready for bed now, Luna?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer when his mouth claims mine.
CHAPTER THREE
NICOLAI
One kiss.That’s all it took to keep me up all night. Her lips were sweet—too sweet. I could blame the grapes, but it’s just Luna. She’s been a thorn in this family’s side for years, and that ends tomorrow. She’ll learn to obey me since her life depends on it.
Barrett’s been fussing over the wedding since dawn. I couldn’t care less. I’m only doing this for my family. They’ll show up, smile, and leave. At least this time, no one will be checking the sheets. That tradition disgusts me. They did it when she married my brother, and I hated every second of it. Luna objected, but no one listened. They stripped her dignity like it was theirs to take. I won’t let that happen again. The marital bed is private, unless both parties say otherwise.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” Barrett asks. If I think about it for too long, I might tell him to fetch me a one-way ticket out of here.
“No, you’ve done a magnificent job of making me look like a dashing groom. You’re dismissed, and I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“Very well, sir. See you there and good luck.” I refrain and don’t mention that I’ll need all the luck I can get to tame thesiren that will be my wife. Luna will be a handful, but nothing I can’t handle.
Mateo enters the room next, and I’d like to point out that his frown has nothing to do with my upcoming nuptials. “Don’t beat around the bush. What kind of retaliation are we facing?”
“My intel has nothing, but I’ve decided to increase security anyway, but it’s in your best interest to consider moving the wedding indoors. We have no security measures in place to stop a sniper from setting up on a hillside miles away from here.” He’s concerned, as he should be, but I won’t cower to any family in or out of our territory.
He growls when I wave my hand, cutting him off.
“I trust your judgement, Mateo. With that said, now the wedding will take place in the estate gardens, as planned, since that’s where Luna requested it to be held. Do what you need to do to keep us safe since that’s what I’m paying you to do.” If I die on my wedding day, then so be it.
“Dammit, Nico! Do you have a death wish? Set your pride aside and think of how guilty you’d feel if they killed your mother or your baby sister. Could you live with that for the rest of your life?” He’s right. I know he is, but if I move everything inside, I’ll appear weak, just like my brother. I can’t and won’t allow that to happen. Ever!
Scrubbing my hands over my tired face, I stand up and saunter over to the only loyal friend I ever had. Mateo towers over me by a good three inches, and I’m six-one. My hand lands on his shoulder, and the asshole scowls at me. “How would it appear if Nicolai Caputo, theBoss,backed down and hid inside his humble abode? Not happening, so I promise if someone dies, I won’t hold you responsible. It’s all on me. Now your time would be better spent with security and doing your damnedest, so no one gets killed.” I tap him on his face since I know he hates it.
“Fuck you, Nico.” I throw my head back and laugh, because in this business, if you don’t, you’ll go fucking mad. “I think you’re crazy, but I’ll be standing by your side when you say, ‘I do.’” I know he will, and I also know that he’d take a bullet for me. I turn on my heel so I can finish getting ready for my wedding.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen, since my mother walks in just as Mateo exits. “You look exhausted. Did you get any sleep last night?” I refrain from responding since she was married to my father for thirty-two years. She, of all people, should know that Mafia bosses get very little sleep.
“I’m fine, mother.” I stride over, kiss both cheeks, and pull her in for a hug. She clings to me, and before she cries, I break the hold and walk away. Yeah, I’m a cruel bastard. But I understand that, just like Luna, my mother didn’t have a choice about who she married.
“Fratello!” That would be Bria, my baby sister. I should have known she wasn’t too far from my mother’s side. At only seventeen, she was unexpected but eagerly awaited.
“Bria, I thought you’d be assisting the bride instead of being here with the cranky likes of me. You, too, mother.” I know how they both feel about Luna; they’ve made that perfectly clear. But she’s here to stay, so they need to make the best of it.
“We tried, Nico, but she kicked us both out.” I glance over, and when my mother agrees, I bristle. Luna had no right to turn them away when they were being courteous. For that, she will be punished, and I know the perfect punishment. No laps in the pool or walks in the garden for two weeks. If she thinks she was a prisoner before, wait.
“Don’t be angry, son. She’s still young, and she’s learned the hard way what it means to be part of this family.” My mother’s voice is calm, but there’s something in her eyes. Regret, perhaps. She and Bria exchange a look, and I know exactly what they’rethinking. Next year, it could be Bria. That thought makes me fucking livid.
“Who? Has anyone come forward asking for your hand, Bria? Tell me now, or I won’t rest until I’ve slit their throat!” She whispers so softly I can’t hear. “Speak up, I can’t understand you.”
