Page 42 of Let Vengeance Be Mine

“I have to protect you both, and I don’t know how to do that with your father so close. You don’t know him like I do, Aria, he doesn’t play fair.”

“This isn’t a game Matteo, this is something we have to face up to. We have our story, he doesn’t need to know you took me. We’re married now, he can't just take me away from you.” I try my best to assure him, but I can see it isn’t working.

“I ordered for the jet to come back tomorrow morning. Tonight’s going be our last night here,” he tells me sadly.

“Then we better make it count.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

“Do you ever think of anything else, these days?” I can see his mood has already shifted when he huffs a laugh at me.

“Other than my husband's big cock? Not really.” I shrug, shrieking in shock when his arms slide under me and lift me from the hammock.

“What are you doing?” I giggle as he carries me back inside the house.

“I’m making it count.” He kisses me.

MATTEO

“It seems strange being back home doesn’t it?” Aria smiles, as we walk through the door to my mansion. She’s right, being here does feel strange, especially knowing her father is here in the city, and all I can do is try to remain calm for her.

“You should go and rest, all the traveling must have tired you out.” I place a kiss on her cheek and smile at her, assuringly.

“You’re home!” Anita bursts through the kitchen door with a welcoming smile and does me an unintentional favor when she sweeps Aria off into the living room, asking to hear all about our wedding.

I look at Demitri, who’s standing on the other side of the hall, and gesture to my office. He quickly follows me, closing the door behind him.

“So, what do we know?” I ask, pouring myself a drink, and letting my frustration release. Suddenly, the island and all the new memories we made there seem a million miles away.

“Fucchini has made some investments while he’s been here, ones that suggest he’ll be sticking around.”

“Whatkindof fucking investments, Demitri?” I slam my hand at the table in frustration. There has only been one other time in my life that I’ve felt so helpless and that was when the car, that drove the woman who was carrying my child, blew up right in front of me.

“He's invested big on some luxury apartment project.”

“Property?” I shake my head, doubtfully. Stevan Fucchini is known for making his money from contraband, not bricks and mortar.

“I know, it seemed strange to me too, but that's what I’m hearing.”

“And how about things here, are they running smoothly?” I start sifting through the unopened mail on my desk.

“Everything is fine, I had a meeting with our Columbian importer just last week, he assures me he can keep up with our demand for supply.”

“What is this?” I hold up the cream-colored envelope with my name neatly calligraphed on the front. “You know I don’t accept invitations, they shouldn’t even make it onto my desk. You always decline on my behalf.” I toss the envelope across my desk at him, and the clever smile he gives me back suggests I’ve missed something.

“I think you might make a special exception for this one.” He presses his finger on top of it and slides it back in front of me.

“Your mother has arranged a get-together at her house so you and Aria can announce your marriage. She’s also invited Aria’s father,” he explains

“What!” I slam both my palms onto my desk and lean over it. “And you're just telling me about this, now?”

“I was sworn to secrecy, by your mother.”

“I’m sorry, Demitri, I must have missed the memo that told me you were working for her, now.”

“I work for you. I care for you, and I see you like a fucking brother. Your mother has organized a safe environment for you both to come clean to Aria’s father. There will be witnesses and guards surrounding the place. I didn’t tell you, because I knew you would act this way, and I think it’s a good idea.”

“You think taking my eight-month pregnant wife to a party where the man who's been trying to find her is going to be, is a good idea? Demitri, she’s going to freak out over this. She’s too close to her time to be worrying about this shit.”

“She’s not going to freak out,” Demitri assures me.

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