His Ruthless Claim

Chapter Three-Dawn

CHAPTER THREE

Dawn arrived slowly over Sicily, as the sun found its way through the linen curtains and shone on Kathryn’s face.

Kathryn stirred beneath the silk sheets and for a moment she lay still, caught between sleep and memory.

Then the memories of last night returned. Alessandro’s voice, low and steady. His eyes, with the intensity of fire. His hands, strong but soothing. And his body, burning with passion.

The way he had looked at her, grabbed her from the table to his bedroom while they were both naked, the kiss that felt far too real for a marriage born out of contract.

Her cheeks warmed slightly as flashes of the evening replayed in her mind.

She turned her head towards the other side of the bed, and unfortunately he wasn’t on the bed anymore.

Kathryn frowned. He couldn’t even have the decency to wait till morning before leaving bed.

A strange feeling settled in her chest: disappointment…an emotion she wasn’t expecting to experience.

“This was an arranged marriage. A business alliance wrapped in vows and ceremony,” she said.

Alessandro was not a man who lingered in bedrooms because of one moment of softness.

Still… She sat up slowly, pushing the silk sheets aside.

She wasn’t going to bore herself with all the details of the room, rather she chose to lay back and live in her thoughts — thoughts of her wedding night.

Wrapped in a robe, she could feel his hands taking them off last night.

His soothing fingers against her n*****s, sliding down slowly through her abdomen, and the way he kissed her, showed years of constant practice and experience.

What was she expecting from a well-known playboy…

And when he finally slid in on her, she felt a rush of emotions she had never felt before. Not as painful as she was made to believe or was it because she loved him?

“Buongiorno, Signora Valenti.” She heard a voice from behind. Kathryn quickly turned. Embarrassment plastered on her face, hoping that she hadn’t moaned too loudly.

An older woman stood quietly by the door, holding a silver tray with coffee and pastries.

Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and her posture carried the quiet dignity of someone who had served this house for many years.

“Good morning,” Kathryn replied softly.

The woman stepped forward. “My name is Rosa. I manage the household.” She placed the tray on a small table beside the bed. “Signor Valentis asked that you be given breakfast when you wake up.”

Kathryn’s hands tightened against her silk robe.“Where is he?"

Rosa hesitated, then finally spoke, “He left before sunrise.”

Something about the way she said it made Kathryn uneasy, “Business?” she asked.

“In this house,” Rosa said carefully,” everything is business.”

Kathryn sat down slowly, lifting the porcelain coffee cup. The rich aroma filled the air, but her mind was racing.

If Alessandro had left so early, something must have happened. Something urgent or maybe something dangerous.

As if summoned by the thought, the distant growl of engines echoed from the long driveway below the estate. Kathryn quickly rushed out of bed hoping it was Alessandro.

But looking down from the balcony, a line of black SUVs rolled through the iron gates like a convoy of shadows. Men stepped out, all dressed in dark suits, carrying the quiet alertness of soldiers.

“This didn’t look like a normal morning,” she whispered.

Behind her, Rosa’s expression had gone tense. “That shouldn't be happening today,” she murmured.

Kathryn turned, “What do you mean?”

But before Rosa could answer, the heavy doors of the bedroom burst open. A huge masculine bodily man that she had never seen before, stepped inside.

And then it caught her attention…blood stained on his sleeve.

His eyes still on Kathryn. “Signora Valentis, he said urgently. “You need to come with me.”

Kathryn’s heart began to pound. “Where is my husband?” She managed to ask.

The man hesitated for a second, then delivered the words that turned the warm Sicilian morning cold.

“There’s been an attack on one of the Valentis ports near Palermo.”

Kathryn nodded slowly.“And Alessandro?”

“He instructed me to bring you to him,” he replied.

A chill slid through her spine. Because suddenly she remembered what Alessandro had said the night before.

“Someone wants you dead.” I guess the war has still found its way to her.

He continued, bringing her back from her thoughts. “You have to come with us, for your safety.”

At first, she wanted to turn them down but then realized that maybe being with Alessandro at the port would be better.