Gabriella
When Stefano glances at me while he removes his jacket, a weird sensation creeps over my skin.
“You embarrassed me, Gabriella,” he mutters as he drapes his jacket over the back of the chair by my dressing table.
His tone brims with anger, and it has me glancing at the door.
Suddenly, he lets out an incredulous-sounding chuckle. “You’re not even going to apologize?”
Pride has me lifting my chin, and I force myself to lock eyes with the man I’m going to marry. If I don’t stand my ground today, he’ll make my life a living hell.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, my voice sounding much stronger than I feel.
When Stefano starts to undo his belt, a wave of terror-filled pins and needles coats my skin.
Dio.
“You can’t take my virginity until we’re married,” I say as if the words will stop him.
Stefano’s mouth lifts in a smirk. “You already belong to me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Mr. Falco hasn’t given his permission.”
“I don’t plan on fucking you right now. First, I’m going to give you the beating of your life so you don’t dare embarrass me again,” he growls. “I’ll have your virginity for dessert after dinner.”
The leather wooshes through the loops of his pants, and not thinking twice, I run for the door. I manage to yank it open just as the belt lashes over my shoulder and neck. The sting is intense, making me fall into the hallway.
I scramble to my feet, but I can’t get away before Stefano grabs hold of my hair.
I should’ve shaved it all off.
My head’s yanked back, and as his breath hits my ear, he says, “You better be the best fuck of my life tonight for all the trouble you’re causing.”
Strands are ripped from my skull as I’m pulled back, then thunder cracks through the air as Damiano snaps, “Enough!”
Stefano shoves me into the bedroom, then I hear him say, “I apologize for disturbing you, cousin. I’m dealing with the problem.”
“The problem can wait,” Damiano mutters. “Everyone back in the living room. Now!”
My entire body is trembling, but somehow, I manage to adjust my dress around my thighs and pat my hair into a neat style. My scalp stings from where I lost a chunk of hair.
After composing myself as best I can, I walk right by Stefano and follow Damiano to the living room. I struggle to keep my eyes from darting over the black fabric of Damiano’s dress shirt that stretches tightly over his muscled back.
Entering the living room, I find safety behind an armchair, and in less than a minute, my family and Stefano stare at Damiano with bated breaths.
“I’ve made my decision,” the Capo dei Capi mutters.
My breath stalls in my throat, and my heart sinks.
“Do you give your blessing, cousin?” Stefano asks.
Damiano’s eyes lock with mine, and once again, they narrow as he stares at me.
I lift my chin and clench my jaw as I hold the gaze of the man who’s killed people for the mere pleasure of feeling their blood seep through his fingers – the man who is about to condemn me to a life of hell.
His lips part, and a second later, a single word breaks the tense silence.
“No.”
“What?” Mother gasps.
“Cousin?” Stefano says, the word filled with confusion.
“Mr. Falco?” I hear my father ask.
He said no.
Air bursts from my lungs, and the relief is so intense I have to place my hand over my heart to keep it from beating out of my chest.
I won’t be forced to marry Stefano.
He won’t get to take my virginity.
My eyes drift shut from the overwhelming happiness coursing through my body, making me feel faint.
When I hear movement, my eyes snap open, and I watch as Damiano pours himself a drink.
I almost thank him for not giving his blessing, but something tells me to keep quiet.
Damiano glances at his guard. “Get the men to pack Gabriella’s belongings. We’re leaving.”
“On it,” the guard answers before he stalks away to carry out the order.
What?
Mother gasps, and my father’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.
Stefano is the first to recover, and shaking his head, he dares to ask, “What are you doing?”
Damiano downs the bourbon before shoving the glass into Stefano’s hand. Without a single word of explanation, he walks out of the living room.
Everyone stands frozen for a moment before life returns with one hell of a bang.
Mother rushes to me, a smile spreading over her face. “I can’t believe the Capo dei Capi has taken an interest in you.”
What?
It’s the only question that keeps playing on an endless loop in my frazzled mind.
“Holy shit,” Santo breathes, shaking his head in disbelief.
Looking confused, my father asks, “Mr. Falco is taking Gabriella?”
“Damiano!” Stefano shouts, going after his cousin. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Mother once again grabs my wrist, and I’m dragged out of the living room. As we rush through the foyer and up the stairs, I hear Damiano’s voice rumble like fire and brimstone as he says, “I’m taking the woman. It’s not open for discussion. Find someone else to marry.”
Holy crap.
Damiano is a million times worse than Stefano. There’s no telling what he’ll do to me.
Before I can hear more of the conversation between Damiano and Stefano, I’m pulled into my bedroom, and seconds later, five men come into my private space and roughly start throwing my belongings into bags.I can’t think a single coherent thought as Mother thrusts an outfit into my hands before shoving me into the bathroom.“Get changed. Hurry,” she orders before yanking the door shut.I hear my bedroom being torn apart while I stare at the doorknob.This isn’t happening.“Hurry, Gabriella, or I’ll come in and dress you myself,” Mother threatens.In a stunned daze, I start to undress and quickly put on the light pink pantsuit. The pants are three-quarter in length and look good with the black five-inch heels.Mother forgot to grab a blouse, but I shrug on the jacket and fasten the two buttons. A sliver of black lace from my bra is visible.Taking a moment for myself, I wash my hands and pull a brush through my hair before I open the cupboards to dig out toiletry bags. I quickly pack m
DamianoHalfway to the airfield where the private jet is waiting, I tuck my phone back into my pocket.Stefano’s pissed off that I didn’t give my blessing and instead took the woman he wanted to marry, but he’ll just have to get over it.The di Bella household is a fucking mess, and I refused to stay there a second longer. I’m used to violence. It’s second nature to me, but having to see Gabriella degraded and mistreated tested my patience. If I’d stayed for dinner, instead of leaving, there would’ve been a blood bath.I glance at Gabriella and notice she’s changed her outfit. She looks glamorous in the pink suit, and even though I have zero interest in her, I notice her cleavage that’s on full display.She might be on the shorter side, but she has curves in all the right places. She’s beautiful, but that’s not why she’s sitting beside me.When she held eye contact with me, I was actually a little stunned. It showed she has more guts than most of the men in our world.No matter how sh
GabriellaDamiano Falco; 38. Gabriella di Bella; 23.“This is a great honor for the family,” my mother says as her eyes slowly sweep over every inch of me. “Don’t disappoint us.”She’s referring to my impending marriage to Stefano Ferraro. That’s if the Cosa Nostra approves of the union.Or rather, Damiano Falco. The Capo dei Capi of the Cosa Nostra. He’s the only one who still has to give his approval, which he’ll do tonight at the dinner party that’s being held in his honor.The stories I’ve heard about Damiano are enough to make my blood run cold in my veins, and I’m not looking forward to meeting him.But first, I need to get through an entire afternoon of smiling and pretending I want nothing more than to become Stefano Ferraro’s wife.God help me.A chill creeps down my spine because the last thing I want is to marry Stefano. The man is in his late forties, and I’ve only seen him a handful of times. Every interaction with him didn’t bode well for my future.Not once has he offer
Before I can try to catch my balance, I fall to my knees while my mother’s fingers tighten around my wrist, making a sharp pain shoot up my arm. My free hand slaps against the tiled floor to stop me from face-planting in front of everyone.“Get up,” Stefano growls beneath his breath.Intense embarrassment burns through me, and before I can scramble back onto my feet, Damiano walks right by me, his steps filled with confidence and threats of death.Mother yanks at my wrist, sending another sharp pain up my arm. “You’re embarrassing us,” she hisses between clenched teeth.I struggle to my feet, in time to see all the men rush after Damiano. Even though this is his first time here, he heads straight for the living room.Stefano shoots me a dark glare that promises nothing good for me before he disappears from my sight.I’m yanked again, and I barely have time to fix my dress as my mother hurries to catch up to the men.“Stop yanking me,” I snap at Mother while managing to rip my wrist fr