Page 47 of Crazed

She doesn't argue, and I steer her in the opposite direction of my brothers and Papà. When we get far enough away, I apologize. "I'm sorry about that. I'll talk with Arianna and assure her you aren't to blame for her kidnapping."

Katiya furrows her eyebrows. "It was a bad idea to bring me here. I'm going to go home so you can enjoy your night with your family."

"What? No! You'll do no such thing. I'm sorry for what just happened. I promise you I'll change their minds about you," I vow.

She reaches for my cheeks. "Massimo, they're never going to accept me. You need to be realistic."

"They will," I adamantly reiterate then step closer. "They have to. I'm in love with you. I choose you. So they're going to have to find a way to stop assuming you're part of the Abruzzos."

She squeezes her eyes shut.

"Hey. Everything is okay," I lie, not willing to let her leave.

She opens her eyes, and a tear falls. She swipes at it, but another one replaces it.

"Dolce, don't let them get to you," I assert.

"I'm sorry. I-I just...can you show me where the ladies' room is?" she asks.

I deeply exhale. "Sure." I grab my scotch as I pass the table and steer Katiya to the women's room. Once she's inside, I step against the wall and take a drink.

"What's she doing here?" Gianni seethes.

I fill my mouth with more liquid, swallow, and cringe from the burn. I spin on my brother. "This is my club. I own it. If you can't be respectful toward the woman I love, then get out."

Gianni's eyes nearly pop out of his head. He steps closer. "You're choosing an Abruzzo over me?"

"She's not an Abruzzo," I insist for the millionth time.

He shakes his head. "Wake up, little brother. Your woman is an Abruzzo. And that makes your entire relationship a setup."

Rage rushes through my blood. "A setup? You're one to talk."

"What does that mean?"

"You want to make false accusations about my relationship, but all you are is a hypocrite," I declare.

"About what?"

"You wouldn't be married to Cara if you hadn't tricked her then paid millions for her, would you?" I spout.

"Shut up," Gianni sneers.

I finish my drink. "No. Exactly how many millions did it take to buy your wife? One? Five? Ten? And what does that make her?"

"Are we really having this conversation right now?" he asks.

I sniff hard, wishing I had more scotch in my glass. All the thoughts I've had about the things Gianni did to marry Cara come out with no filter. "It's so easy to judge others when you bought your wife. If you hadn't, she wouldn't be here right now. How big was the transfer out of your bank account? Does she even know you own her?"

Gianni points in my face. "You better watch your mouth."

"Me? I—"

"I already know. It was ten million," Cara interjects, her voice shaking.

The hairs on my arms rise. I glance over his shoulder to see a devastated-looking Cara. I immediately want to crawl into a hole but stand taller. In normal circumstances, I'd never say the things I just said. And Cara's been a part of our family for as long as I can remember. I've never had any issues with her. But I'm still angry Gianni chooses to judge me and bash my woman without even knowing her. To piss him off further, I scoff, "Ten? You didn't tell her, did you?"

Gianni scowls at me for another moment then turns.

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