Chapter 2

No matter how badly I wanted time to pass more slowly and allow me more time to prepare, the last few months had passed far too quickly. It will be my engagement celebration in two days. Mother was busy running the household staff around and making sure everything was running smoothly. Not even a large party was held. We were the only ones invited, along with Luca's family and the families of the leaders of New York and Chicago. Umberto said it was for security purposes. It was still too soon after the truce to risk inviting hundreds of people. 

I wanted it to be completely scrapped. I couldn't care less if I didn't meet Damon until the wedding day.

On my bed, Fabiano leaped up and down while pouting. He was only five years old and far too animated.

"I want to play!" 

"Mother does not want you to run through the house".

For the guests, everything must be flawless.

"But they're not even here"I say. Please God. Luca and the other visitors from New York would show up the following day. I would be meeting my future spouse, a man who killed with his bare hands, in just one more night. I shut my eyes. 

"Are you crying yet again?" Fabiano got out of bed, approached me, and put his hand in mine. His hair was messy and dark blonde. I attempted to calm Fabiano down, but he yanked his head away.

"What do you mean?" I made an effort to keep my tears from him. I cried most often at night because the darkness shielded me. 

"Lily said that you cry a lot because Damon bought you."

I became frozen. Liliana would need to hear from me to stop making such comments. It would only lead to difficulties for me.

"He declined to buy me."

"Liar. Liar. "

I was surprised to hear Gianna say"Same thing," from the doorway. 

“Shhh. What if Father is listening?"

Gianna wavered. "He  is aware of my hatred for the way he treated you like a cow."

I cautioned, "Gianna," gesturing at Fabiano.

He gave me a close look. He muttered, "I don't want you to leave." 

"I won't be gone for a while, Fabi." He appeared content with my response, and the fear on his face vanished to be replaced by a grimace.

He stormed off screaming, "Catch me!" and shoved Gianna aside as he sped passed her. 

Gianna threw herself at him. "You little monster, I'll kick you in the ass!"

I dashed into the hallway. Liliana peeked her head out of her door before joining my brother and sister in running after them. If they destroyed another piece of family property, my mother would have my head. I took off down the stairs. The lead was still held by Fabiano. He was quick, but Gianna and I were too slow in the high heels my mother made us practice in, and Liliana had almost caught up to him. The rest of us followed Fabiano as he sprinted down the hallway leading to the west wing of the home. I wanted to yell at him to go away. This area of the house served as Father's office. If he saw us having fun, we'd be in big trouble.

A manly demeanor was expected of Fabiano. What five-year-old behaved masculinely? 

I was relieved as we passed Father's door, but three men suddenly appeared around the bend at the end of the hallway. I opened my mouth to yell a warning, but it was already too late. Liliana struck the man in the middle hard as Fabiano skidded to a stop. Most individuals would have fallen off their feet. The majority of people weren't bulls with six-five-inch frames.

Time seemed to crawl to a standstill all around me, and I jolted to a stop. Gianna screamed next to me, but I couldn't take my eyes off of my future husband. He was holding my younger sister steady with his powerful hands while gazing down at her golden head. hands he had previously used to strangle a man. 

I cried out in dread, "Liliana," with my voice loud. If my sister was in trouble or anything major was happening, I would call her by her entire name. I wished I could conceal my fear better. At this point, Damon was also looking at me intently. His icy gray eyes lingered on my hair as they combed over every inch of me. 

He was tall, my God. He overshadowed the two men next to him, who were both taller than six feet. He continued to place his hands on Lily's shoulders. I firmly said, "Liliana, come here," and extended my hand. She should be distant from Damon, I wished. She fell backward before flying into my arms and pressing her face on my shoulder. Damon arched a single black brow. 

"Is that Damon Vitiello ?" Gianna asked without even trying to hide her displeasure.

Fabiano ran toward Damon, howling like an enraged wildcat, and began pummeling him with his small fists on his legs and stomach.

"Leave Freya alone! You can't have her!" 

My heart immediately stopped. The man standing on Damon's side moved forward. Under his vest, a gun's silhouette could be seen. He had to be Damon's bodyguard, even though I failed to see why. 

"No, Cesare," Damon simply said, causing the man to stop.

My brother was attacking when Damon caught one of his hands in one of his. I didn't think he even noticed the strikes. I pushed Lily in the direction of Gianna, who encircled her with a shielding arm, and then I went up to Damon. Even though I was utterly terrified, I had to remove Fabiano from his presence. Perhaps New York and Chicago were attempting to put their conflict to bed, but coalitions can crumble in an instant. Not for the first time, either. The adversary was still Damon and his troops.

"How graciously received we are."  The other man with Damon replied" He had the same black hair, but his eyes were deeper. Although he was a few inches shorter and not as broad as Luca, it was clear that the two were related.

Damon whispered, "Matteo," in a very low voice. Fabiano continued to struggle and snarl like a ferocious beast, but Luca was holding him at arm's length. 

I firmly said, "Fabiano," and grabbed his upper arm. “It’s enough. That's not how we handle visitors here."

Fabiano froze, then turned to look up at me from behind.

"He is not a visitor. Freya, he wants to take you away."

Matteo grinned. "This  is too excellent. I'm happy Father persuaded me to go."

Damon said, "Ordered you," but he didn't look away from me. I was unable to meet his eyes. His inspection caused the heat to flare up on my cheeks. Gianna, Lily, and I weren't around men very much, and the ones he did let around us were either family or very old. My father and his bodyguards made sure of that. Damon was neither a family nor was he senior.

He was just five years older than me, but he had a manly appearance that made me feel like a little girl. 

Fabiano was pulled toward me with his back against my legs once Damon let go of him. I covered his tiny, groaning chest with my folded palms. He continued to sneer at Damon. He was a boy and the heir to my father's title, and I wished I had his courage. Except for the Boss, no one would make him obey them. He had the means to be brave.

I said, "I'm sorry," even though the words tasted bad. "My brother didn't mean to be rude," I said.

“I did!” Fabiano bellowed. He writhed in my hands as my palm covered his mouth, but I wouldn't let go.

Gianna abruptly exclaimed, "Don't apologize," disobeying the stern look I gave her.

"He  and his bodyguards taking up so much space in the hallway is not our responsibility. Fabiano at least speaks the truth. Everyone else believes that in order to stop him from becoming Capo, they must blow sugar up his ass."

“Gianna!” My tone was shrill and sharp. She clenched her lips while giving me a wide-eyed look. "Go to Lily and Fabiano's rooms right away."

“But—” She sent a quick glance my way. I was relieved that I couldn't see Damon's face.

“Now!” 

She seized Fabiano's hand and pulled both Lily and him away. My initial meeting with my future spouse couldn't have gone much worse, in my opinion. I faced him and his soldiers while steeling myself. Instead of the rage I had anticipated, Damon's face was grinning. My stomach was in knots, and my cheeks were burning with shame now that I was alone with the three men.

If Mother learned that I hadn't dressed up for my initial meeting with Luca, she would lose it. I was wearing one of my favorite maxi dresses with elbow-length sleeves, and I was silently grateful for the coverage the fabric provided. I didn't know what to do, so I folded my arms in front of my torso. "I'm sorry for my brother and sister. They are..." I found it difficult to think of anything else.

"Simple, Protective of you," Damon replied. His voice was smooth, powerful, and dispassionate. "This is Matteo, my brother." 

Matteo smiled widely, pulling his lips together. He didn't try to take my hand, which made me happy. If either of them had gotten any closer, I don't believe I would have been able to maintain my composure. "And here, Cesare, is my right hand." Cesare nodded at me momentarily before resuming his duty of surveying the hallway. Why was he holding out? We didn't keep killers hidden behind closed trap doors. 

I concentrated on Damon's chin, trying to make it look like I was looking into his eyes. I backed up a step. "I ought to visit my siblings." 

Damon had a knowing look on his face, but I couldn't care less whether he noticed how uneasy and terrified he made me feel. I turned and left without waiting for him to excuse me because he wasn't yet my fiancé or spouse. I felt proud of myself for resisting the temptation to flee.