THE DON'S BRIDE

Enemies

Marco Romano stepped beside me, his face a mask of calculated calm, but I saw the tension in his jaw.

He was flanked by two of his most trusted capos,Uncle Vito and Lorenzo, my childhood friend who had once promised to protect me from men like Rossi.

“You spoke with him,” Father said,It wasn’t a question.

I lifted my chin. “He made it very clear what he expects.”

Uncle Vito grunted, eyes scanning the room. “Del Brenta doesn’t expect,he takes,the contract is already drawn,the wedding is set for three weeks from now,no negotiations.”

Lorenzo’s hand brushed my elbow, a gentle, familiar touch. “You don’t have to do this, Kiara,say the word and I’ll.....”

“Enough,” Father snapped, shooting Lorenzo a warning glare. “The Romano name is hanging by a thread after the Messina hit last month. We lost three warehouses and half our shipment routes. This alliance is the only thing keeping the other families from carving us up. You will marry Rossi Del Brenta, and you will play the perfect wife.”

My stomach churned. “Even if he breaks me?”

Father’s eyes hardened. “Better broken by your husband than dead by our enemies. The Del Brenta syndicate controls the northern ports. With their protection, we survive. Without it…” He let the threat hang.

A new voice joined us, smooth and venomous.

“Well, if it isn’t the little Romano princess being served up like a sacrificial lamb.”

I turned to see Bianca Moretti gliding toward us, her silver gown shimmering under the chandeliers.

She was Rossi’s rumored former mistress,beautiful, deadly, and notoriously jealous.Her red lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Careful, Kiara,” she purred, leaning in close. “Rossi likes his toys untouched… until he decides to shatter them. I lasted six months before he grew bored. You? Sweet little virgin that you are… I give you one night.”

Lorenzo stepped forward, positioning himself between us. “Back off, Bianca.”

She laughed, low and mocking. “Protective little lapdog,how adorable,tell me, Lorenzo, does it kill you knowing your precious Kiara will be warming the Devil’s bed while you stay here playing guard dog?”

Before Lorenzo could respond, the air in the room shifted Rossi was coming,I felt him before I saw him, that heavy, possessive presence cutting through the crowd like a shark through water.

Heads turned.,conversations died,even my father straightened slightly,Rossi stopped beside me, one large hand settling possessively at the small of my back, fingers splaying over the bare skin exposed by my dress,the touch burned.

“Bianca,” he said, voice deceptively calm. “I don’t recall inviting you to speak to my fiancée.”

Bianca’s smile faltered for a split second. “Just offering the girl some friendly advice, darling.”

“Advice isn’t needed.” His fingers pressed harder into my back, pulling me closer until my hip brushed his thigh. “Kiara is under my protection now. Any insult to her is an insult to me. Understood?”

The threat was quiet, but the entire group felt it Bianca inclined her head, though her eyes flashed with hatred as they flicked to me. “Of course, Don Del Brenta.”

She melted back into the crowd, but not before shooting me one last poisonous look.

Father cleared his throat. “Del Brenta,a word about the wedding arrangements...”

“Not tonight,” Rossi cut him off, eyes never leaving my face. “Tonight I want time with my future wife,alone.”

Lorenzo’s fists clenched at his sides. “She’s not yours yet.”

Rossi’s smile was slow and dangerous. “She’s been mine since the moment your boss signed the contract, boy,touch her again and I’ll remove the hand that did it.”

The tension crackled like live wire,I placed my hand on Rossi’s arm before blood could be spilled. “It’s fine, Lorenzo. I’ll be alright.”

My friend’s eyes were filled with pain and barely contained rage, but he stepped back.

Rossi guided me away from the group, his hand still burning against my bare back.

He led me through a set of French doors onto a dimly lit terrace overlooking the gardens.

The night air was cool against my heated skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me.

Once we were alone, he turned me to face him, backing me against the stone balustrade.

“You’re trembling,” he observed, voice low.

One finger traced the line of my collarbone, dipping dangerously close to the swell of my breasts.

“Is it fear… or something else, *mia moglie*?”

“I’m not your wife yet,” I whispered, hating how breathless I sounded.

“Soon.” His head dipped, lips brushing the sensitive spot just below my ear. “Very soon,and when that day comes, every man in that room,including your loyal little shadow Lorenzo,will know exactly who you belong to. I’ll make sure of it.”

His free hand slid down my side, gripping my hips, pulling me flush against his hard body I could feel the unmistakable ridge of his arousal pressing against my stomach.

What the hell was going on?.

“Rossi…” My voice cracked.

“Shh.” He nipped at my earlobe, sending a jolt straight between my legs.

Damnit Kiara don't lose control, just because you have been craving and having wet dreams for......

“I can smell how much you want me, little virgin,your body is already preparing itself for its owner,aching,ready to be filled.”

A soft whimper escaped me before I could stop it.

He chuckled darkly. “Good girl. Let me hear those pretty sounds. Soon I’ll have you on your back, legs spread wide while I teach you exactly how a Don claims his wife. I’ll ruin this tight little cunt until you’re sobbing my name and begging for more.”

His hand slipped lower, bunching the fabric of my dress as his fingers teased the edge of my thigh.

“Tell me to stop, Kiara,” he murmured against my neck, voice thick with dark hunger. “Tell me you don’t want my fingers inside you right now, feeling how soaked you are for the man who’s going to own you.”

I bit my lip hard, fighting the overwhelming urge to press closer,but before I could answer, a sharp crack split the night, the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.

Rossi’s body instantly shielded mine, pushing me down behind the balustrade as chaos erupted inside the ballroom.

“Stay down!” he growled, gun already in his hand.

Shouts and screams filled the air. More shots rang out.

Enemies,they had come for us,Rossi’s eyes met mine, dark with fury and something fiercely protective.

“Looks like our wedding just got more interesting, *cara*.”

He pressed a hard, possessive kiss to my lips,brief but searing,before rising to face the threat.

“Stay here,If anyone but me comes for you, scream my name.”