Page 35 of Cherished Union

“I know that,” she replies heatedly. “I always believed that my father was a good father, Hayden. He’s a bastard to the world, but I believed he was a good man. Until I discovered the truth. Just because he hadn’t started hurting me until we became engaged, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t always a bastard.” She glances toward Dario, and I’m curious as to her comment.

Was that bastard abusive to the youngest of the Gallo brothers?

“You have the same reputation as him, Hayden. You are known for your brutality. I don’t know you well enough to make the judgment on whether or not you are a good man.”

I nod, completely understanding her words.

“I’m not,” I say simply. “I can be your worst nightmare, Dove, or I can be the man you allow to cherish you. Who I am is down to you, what you want, and how you treat me.”

It’s simple. She treats me like the monster she believes me to be and that’s how I’ll behave.

She steps closer to me. “Since we became engaged, you have shown me more kindness than anyone in my life.” She presses a kiss against my cheek. Her lips are soft and gentle. “I never intended to offend you.”

She walks away before I can reply to her. I want to laugh. I’m not easily offended, and I doubt Adelina could ever do so, and if she did, she’d apologize immediately.

Before this conversation, I was in no hurry to knock Adelina up, but hearing her say that she’s always wanted to be a mam, it makes me want to see her round with my child.

I glance around the room. A lot of the family have already left, many wanting to return home in the morning so they can get back to their children. Makenna and Dante need to return to New York. Their two sons are currently with their nanny and guards. Denis and Callie have left their four small ones back in Ireland with their guards and multiple nannies, as there’s four young kids that need to be looked after. Danny and Melissa have left their two daughters with Danny’s right-hand man, Keegan. They don’t trust anyone else to watch over their daughters while they’re gone. Malcolm and Raylee left not long after the shit with Addie’s parents. They wanted to fly home this evening so they can go home to their three children—whom they left in the care of Raylee’s brothers. Denis, Callie, Chloe, Danny, and Melissa will be flying out tomorrow morning, while Makenna, Dante, Romero, Holly, Finn, and Destiny will return to New York.

My family will always be on call if we need them, but they are the last resort. My da, brother, and sister, along with our men, will always take care of things first. That includes taking out the Masters and Aldo and Natalia Gallo.

“Ready?” the soft voice of Adelina calls out. Once again, her hand presses against my back. “You look angry. Is everything okay?”

“Fine, Dove, just deep in thought,” I tell her as I take her hand and lead her away from the continuing party. My men are getting drunk and enjoying themselves.

She’s silent as we make our way up to our room. Her body becomes tenser with every step we take.

She’s like a scared jackrabbit, ready to flee at any moment.

My ma went all out for this wedding. She hired out the biggest and best hotel money could buy. Everyone is spending the night here, including my men. In doing so, Addie and I have the honeymoon suite. Something I had no intention of using—wanting to travel back to Indiana this evening—but Ma flipped out, which got Da involved, and eventually Granda, and here we are. My wife trembles with fear as we enter the suite.

I make a beeline for the mini bar.

“Get changed, Ade,” I snap, annoyed that she’s acting as though I’m about to rape her.

She nods, the tears in her eyes making my heart clench, something I didn’t realize it could do. Usually, tears don’t affect me, but for some reason, Addie’s do.

I reach for the whiskey and down it, my gaze glued to the bathroom door Addie has disappeared behind. Hayes questioned me this morning, asking whether I was nervous or not about tonight, and I punched the ass for asking. I don’t get nervous. There’s nothing to be nervous about. Tonight isn’t about me. I’ve fucked countless women; some memorable, others not so much. Whereas for Adelina, this is her first sexual encounter, and unlike for most people, it’s not going to be a wham-bam-thank-you-mam encounter. I’m going to ruin her completely. She’s not going to be able to worry about what’s going to happen because her defenses will be lowered, and she’ll be writhing with so much pleasure she’ll be begging me to fuck her.

The bathroom door opens, and I move my gaze to it. Out walks Adelina—a beautiful vision in white. She’s wearing lacy white panties and a matching bra. Her hands are resting against her thighs, by her side, and her gaze is on the floor as she steps forward. She’s nervous, and I fucking hate that.

“Come here, Dove,” I coax her gently. Her head pops up, and I see the uncertainty in her eyes. “Lie on the bed, Addie,” I instruct her, my voice thick with lust and filled with authority.

Her pupils dilate, and she holds my stare.

Interesting.

“Dove,” I repeat, louder this time.

Her steps are tentative, but she does as I instruct. She climbs onto the bed and lies down. Her beautiful body trembles slightly, but she keeps her gaze on me. I see the bruises that mar her skin, the ones that her father left on her, and I make note of every single one of them. When the time comes, I’ll repay him in kind. Thankfully, they are fading, but I’ve seen them. Tonight, I’ll mark them in my mind. Every single place there’s bruises, I’ll remember.

“Take your panties and bra off, Dove,” I say, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. She doesn’t need that. She’s scared and needs to be relaxed.

I place my glass down onto the table. “I want to see all of you.”

I hear her moving and smile. I have a feeling she’s going to love what I’m about to do to her. Once the moving stops, I peek over at her and see she’s lying on the bed, her hands lying by her side, and she’s got her eyes closed. Her beautiful, tanned body is on full display for me, her breasts perky and pert, her nipples pebbled and erect.

I step toward her. I knew the moment I saw her that she was beautiful, but seeing her like this—vulnerable and bare—she’s magnificent.

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