Page 17 of Sins of the Son

I dumped the glass shards in the outside trash can, grabbed another glass of wine, and circled around to the shaded veranda on the side of the cottage. It really was more of an enclosed garden surrounded by wild rose and blackberry bushes, which gave the air a spicy floral scent. I inhaled the cool night air. The tightness in my chest eased. Nothing beat the beauty of the Italian countryside at night. The ethereal tranquility of the azure sky as it darkened and glimmered with diamond-like stars. The low-pitched hum and whir of night creatures awakening. The crisp bite of the evening breeze, carrying with it the subtle scents of moss and citrus.

I took a sip of wine and stared at the fields of vines below. My legacy. Tomorrow, we would continue the grape harvest. Something the Cavalieris had done for generations. Reputation, power, wealth, my family name. They meant everything to me. Yet, what had always seemed steadfast and solid now seemed hollow. What was the point of it all if I didn’t have a family of my own? A wife, a child. The Cavalieri name stayed strong generation after generation and continued to build wealth because we didn’t rely only on the eldest heir. The next generation inherited equally, just as we all equally worked the land side by side with our laborers to bring in the harvest. These vines were watered with years of Cavalieri blood, sweat, and tears. That was why they were strong.

I had a duty to my legacy, and to future generations, to marry a woman who would honor that tradition. Milana Carbone was that woman. Of that, I was certain. I just needed to have patience with her. Something I had always lacked, but for her I would try.

I refused to regret what happened tonight, only perhaps how it happened. Perhaps I should have been more gentle, more careful. I rubbed my neck as I smirked. I wasn’t sure that would have worked, even if I had known she was a virgin before I fucked her. Back when we were friends, we'd always had a volatile relationship. It was one of the reasons why I adored her so much. Unlike most of my friends, she didn’t give two shits that I was a Cavalieri. She’d tell me straight to my face when I was being an arrogant ass, then turn around and make me laugh until my sides hurt.

Fuck, I miss her laugh.

The truth was, I didn’t just want Milana in my bed, or as my wife. I wanted my friend back.

But nothing with her was ever easy. If I was going to truly make her mine, she was going to make me fight for it, of that I was certain. Stubborn minx.

I flexed my shoulders. She should be asleep by now. I never had any intention of leaving. I just wanted her to settle in and fall asleep before joining her.

As I turned back toward the cottage, I frowned.

Her bedroom light was on. I knew I had turned it off.

Dammit, she was trying to run again.

I stormed back inside the cottage and down the hall, intent on stopping her. Apparently, the spanking I gave her earlier hadn't been enough to make my point. I swung the bedroom door open, prepared to confront her.

Milana was curled up on her side, asleep.

Strangely enough, not only was the bedroom light on, but the window was open as well, despite the October chill.

I walked over to the bed and stood over her sleeping form. I stroked her soft cheek, annoyed to feel her skin cool to the touch. Crossing to the window, I pulled back the cream gauze curtains, lowered the sash, and secured it.

I then turned off the lights and approached the bed. Pulling off my jeans, I slipped between the covers, naked. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

She shifted and murmured something in her sleep, but soon settled against me. Her hair was still slightly damp and smelled like lemon verbena shampoo. I hugged her more tightly to my body and closed my eyes. Soothed by the feel of her curves nestled close to me, I quickly drifted off to sleep.

Only to be awakened by her terrified screams….

CHAPTER 6

CESARE

Milana shrieked and lashed out.

What the fuck?

“Milana?”

She thrashed about, tangling the blanket around her legs as her arms flailed.

“Baby, wake up.”

Her body twisted from one side to the other before turning toward me. Her arm swiped at my face, her nails catching along my jaw. I grabbed her wrists and held them tightly against my chest. “Milana?”

She screamed again. The sound chilled my blood.

Her eyes were wide and sightless as her head kept whipping from side to side and she struggled to break my grasp.

I released her wrists and sat up, pulling her onto my lap and wrapping my arms tightly around her, pinning her arms to her sides. Pressing my hand to the side of her head, I pushed her cheek against my chest. She freed one arm and her nails clawed at my back as she continued to whimper and thrash.

After several terrifying minutes, she stopped fighting me.

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