Camille"I don't think that's what brought you out here though, is it? Ehlga said she heard you screaming like you were having a nightmare. Another one.""I didn't know she was awake." Or that she could hear me. God, that's so embarrassing."She's up sometimes at this hour, baking.""Oh.""You're still having the same nightmares?"I nod. "They don't stop. I have the same one over and over again.""With the crest?""Yes." I bite the inside of my lip.His shoulders relax and he looks like he's considering something, but I don't know what. We haven't spoken about my nightmares or the crest in weeks. I thought he'd brushed it off, even if he believed me."I spoke to your father about the crest, and I looked into it."A rake of shivers climbs up my spine, and my jaw loosens. There's no way he would have spoken to my father or looked into anything if he didn't think it was important. Or suspect something."Did you find anything out?""No. And your father said he didn't know the Butyrskayas.

Alessio"I believe you chose my family to take care of the Bratva because you believe we can handle things in the way they should be.""That's exactly why I chose the Scarfonis, but Uther has always been a part of that setup. You must understand my concerns." His voice echoes his displeasure. "To be honest, if things were like they were before I elected your father, I would have overruled this decision in a heartbeat.""Maybe you just need to trust me."He laughs without humor. "I'm going to need a hell of a lot more time to get to know you first before I can trust you. Last year our organization almost fell apart. Over a thousand years of a formidable legacy and it almost disintegrated on my watch. The Scarfonis were my plan to rebuild. The setup your father put togetheristhe Komarovski Bratva. That's why there was no question when it came to my decision to choose your family.""Then rest assured I've done the right thing and I've chosen the right people."He looks at me for a long m

Camille"I now pronounce you man and wife," Leif announces with a proud smile. And just like that I become Camille Scarfoni. "You may now kiss the bride."Alessio leans in and kisses me.The kiss, as soon as it touches my lips, feels different in all the right ways. It holds the passion we've shared mixed with lust and a promise for later.It's a real kiss. Something I know my father wasn't expecting.Can he tell it's real?I know Lorelai can.I'm all sorts of nervous, but this kiss takes me out of reality.I wondered how I would feel today getting married to Alessio. Not Richard.What I feel is that thrill. Like I'm flying close to the sun again, but I don't want to turn back. I haven't even thought about being bound to the Knights. Even though Alessio is in his tunic, I feel like I'm truly married to him, and this is the first time my heart hasn't been conflicted.We pull apart and our few guests clap. Dad doesn't. He keeps his hands at his sides and his face stern.Ehlga is the fir

CamilleSoft jazz music envelopes me as Alessio and I walk into the foyer at Scarfoni Inc.The fundraiser is being held in the grand hall but quite a few people have spilled out here, drinking from elegant long-stemmed glasses and talking in groups.Everyone is dressed in their finest as usual for this year's event. Last year was the first time Dad allowed me to attend. This year I'm here with my husband, who owns the company.It's interesting how times change, but some things remain the same. Last year, when I walked in with Richard, there were women casting glances at him.Women are looking at Alessio too, and because he has that obvious dangerous sexy edge, they look like they can't help themselves.He's dressed like he's going to the Emmys in his Boss suit and cropped cut hair. I'm in a strapless fitted gown, but I'm tired from the migraine that kept me up all night.It's still bothering me now, but I'm putting my best face forward. This is our first event as husband and wife and

Camille"It's time you get another rude awakening about your beloved Richard."I snap my gaze back at him. "He's not my beloved. I told you what happened."He replies by pushing two fingers into my passage, pumping in and out of me slowly. I suppress a moan, but he teases it out of me."Always wet for me, though." His voice is a whisper that speaks to the secret parts of me that crave his touch. "Your beloved Richard would never have been able to keep his dick in his pants, but there's something else you should know about him."I don't like the sound of this. Alessio's fingers trail up to my back again and linger by my spine."What should I know?""It's about the vineyard."I narrow my eyes when he returns to my face and brushes his nose over mine."What about the vineyard?"He releases a slow, pensive breath, tickling my skin, then moves away.I continue watching him, our gazes tangled and unwavering. He undoes his belt buckle, shoves his pants and boxers down his hips, then steps ou