His Bride,Their Prey

Chapter 8

The doctor finished wrapping my ankle before standing.

"There."

He smiled kindly.

"Stay off it for at least a few days."

"I'll leave some pain medication with Sophia."

Sophia nodded.

"I'll make sure she takes it."

"I don't need medicine."

The doctor chuckled.

"That's usually what stubborn patients say."

I folded my arms.

"I'm not stubborn."

Lucien didn't even look at me.

"You jumped off a second floor balcony."

Sophia chucked.

"I stand corrected."

The doctor coughed awkwardly.

"I'll... excuse myself."

After he left...

Silence settled over the study.

Sophia carefully gathered the bloodstained bandages.

"Would you like me to prepare breakfast, Mr. Moretti?"

Lucien nodded once.

"And something for Miss Rossi."

"I'm not hungry."

Sophia smiled knowingly.

"I'll prepare it anyway."

She quietly excused herself, leaving only Marco, Lucien and me.

Marco checked his watch.

"I'll supervise the patrol changes."

Lucien nodded.

"Report back in an hour."

"Yes, sir."

The moment Marco left...

The room became painfully quiet.

I looked everywhere except at Lucien.

The bookshelves.

The fireplace.

The security monitors.

Anywhere but him.

Finally...

His voice broke the silence.

"Sit properly."

I frowned.

"I am sitting properly."

"No."

He nodded toward my injured foot.

"You're putting pressure on your ankle."

"I'll survive."

"So will the ankle."

"...Eventually."

I rolled my eyes.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

"Then why call a doctor?"

Lucien finally looked up from the document in front of him.

"Because I don't tolerate unnecessary problems."

I blinked.

"...I'm a problem?"

"Currently."

My mouth fell open.

"You know..."

"I've only known you for one day..."

"...and you're already the most annoying man I've ever met."

His expression remained unchanged.

"I've heard worse."

"I'm sure you have."

He returned to reading.

That somehow annoyed me even more.

"You really don't know how to have a normal conversation, do you?"

"What would you like to discuss?"

I thought for a moment.

"...Your hobbies...?"

"I work."

"That's not a hobby."

"It is now."

I groaned dramatically.

"You are impossible."

"And yet..."

He signed another document.

"...you're still talking."

I opened my mouth.

Closed it again.

Then muttered,

"I hate you."

Without missing a beat

"I know."

I threw my hands into the air.

"Do you have any other response?!"

"Several."

"Then use one!"

Lucien calmly closed the file.

His full attention settled on me.

"You've said you hate me..."

"...nine times."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You've called me arrogant..."

"...four times."

My eyes widened.

"You've threatened to escape..."

"...twice."

"..."

"And you've slapped me..."

"...once."

He leaned back in his chair.

"So."

His lips curved ever so slightly.

"I've been paying attention."

I stared at him.

Completely speechless.

He...

Counted?

"You actually counted?"

"I remember details."

"...That's creepy."

"It's efficient."

I looked away, muttering under my breath.

"Definitely creepy..."

For the first time...

A faint chuckle escaped him.

It was so quiet...

I almost thought I'd imagined it.

My head snapped toward him.

"...Did you just laugh?"

His face immediately returned to its usual cold expression.

"No."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"I heard it!"

"You imagined it."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"...Liar."

Before either of us could say another word

A knock echoed through the study door.

Sophia entered carrying a breakfast tray.

She looked between us.

Then smiled to herself.

"...I see you're getting acquainted."

Both Lucien and I answered at the exact same time.

"We're not."

Sophia blinked.

Then laughed softly.

"Oh..."

"...this house is about to become very interesting."

Sophia carefully placed the breakfast tray on the coffee table.

The aroma of freshly baked bread, eggs, fruit and coffee filled the study.

She looked at me with a gentle smile.

"Come now, dear."

"You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

Sophia folded her arms.

"That's exactly what you said last night."

"And this morning."

"And I'm beginning to suspect you'll say it tomorrow too."

"I will."

Sophia sighed dramatically.

"Oh, Lord..."

"She's just as stubborn as he is."

Lucien didn't even glance up from the document in his hands.

"I heard that."

"I wanted you to."

Sophia replied without missing a beat.

I couldn't help it.

A tiny laugh escaped me.

Sophia caught it immediately.

"There she is."

My smile disappeared.

"There who is?"

"The young woman who smiled."

"I was beginning to think she'd disappeared forever."

I quickly looked away.

"I wasn't smiling."

"Mhm."

Sophia wasn't convinced.

She picked up a slice of toast and held it toward me.

"Eat."

I shook my head.

"No."

She held it closer.

"Miss Rossi."

"No."

She moved it even closer.

"I said..."

Before I could finish...

Lucien spoke without lifting his eyes.

"You're wasting your time."

Sophia looked at him.

"Oh?"

"She'll refuse."

"I know."

Sophia smiled knowingly.

"Which is exactly why..."

She suddenly placed the plate directly into my hands.

"...I'm not asking anymore."

I stared at it.

Then at her.

"...You're bossy."

"I've raised three Moretti boys."

She smiled proudly.

"You'll have to try harder than that."

I blinked.

Three?

Lucien slowly looked up.

"You weren't supposed to tell her that."

Sophia shrugged innocently.

"Too late."

My curiosity instantly took over.

"...Three?"

Sophia nodded.

"I practically raised Mr. Lucien."

"My goodness..."

"He was impossible as a child."

Lucien sighed.

"Sophia."

"What?"

"You were."

She looked at me conspiratorially.

"He hardly smiled."

"He refused vegetables."

"He once climbed onto the roof because his father grounded him."

I turned toward Lucien.

"...You climbed onto the roof?"

"I was eight."

Sophia laughed.

"And Don Alessandro nearly had a heart attack."

I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face.

For the first time...

Lucien actually looked...

Human.

Not a mafia heir.

Not a cold businessman.

Just...

A little boy who once got into trouble.

Lucien noticed my expression.

"What?"

I quickly looked away.

"Nothing."

"You smiled again."

"I did not."

"You did."

"I absolutely didn't."

Sophia chuckled.

"Perhaps this marriage won't be as miserable as I feared."

Both of us looked at her.

"Don't push it."

We said in unison.

Sophia burst into laughter.

"My..."

"...you two are already finishing each other's sentences."

Lucien pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I regret bringing her here."

I gasped dramatically.

"You hear that, Sophia?"

"He regrets me already."

"I regret the noise."

"You wound me."

"You'll recover."

I pointed accusingly at him.

"You're impossible."

"And you're loud."

"I am NOT loud!"

At that exact moment

Another voice echoed from the doorway.

"Mr. Moretti."

Marco stood there.

His expression was serious again.

"The security footage is ready."

"The faces aren't clear..."

"...but I think you'll want to see this."

Lucien's expression changed immediately.

The teasing vanished.

He rose from his chair.

"I'll be back."

Without another word, he followed Marco out of the study.

The door closed behind them.

Silence settled over the room once more.

Sophia looked at me.

Then at the untouched breakfast.

She sighed.

"...Now..."

She slid the plate closer again.

"While the scary man is gone..."

"...eat."

Somewhere Else...

The soft clink of ice echoed through the silent room.

Damiano Moretti swirled the amber whiskey inside his crystal glass before taking a slow sip.

Rain tapped gently against the large windows behind him.

The office was dimly lit.

Elegant.

Cold.

Exactly the way he liked it.

A hurried knock broke the silence.

"Come in."

The door flew open.

One of his guards stepped inside, slightly out of breath.

"Sir."

"The Moretti estate has been attacked."

Damiano paused.

His brows lifted ever so slightly.

"...Interesting."

The guard blinked.

"Sir?"

Damiano set the whiskey glass down.

"The attack..."

"...wasn't yours?"

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Of course not."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Don't forget..."

A dangerous smile spread across his face.

"...that bastard has enemies..."

"... and he'll have more after his wedding..."

The guard lowered his head.

"My apologies, sir."

Damiano waved a dismissive hand.

"Leave."

The guard bowed.

"As you wish."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Silence returned.

Damiano reached for the black envelope resting on his desk.

He slid a thick ivory invitation from inside.

His eyes settled on the elegant gold lettering.

Lucien Moretti

&

Elena Rossi...

His thumb slowly brushed across the woman's name.

"...Elena Rossi."

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Interesting..."

He picked up his whiskey once more.

"I never expected my dear stepbrother to find himself a fiancée."

His smile slowly faded.

Replacing it...

Was something far darker.

He stared at Elena's name for several long seconds.

Then whispered

"Let's see..."

"...whether you're his greatest strength..."

He folded the invitation shut.

His eyes darkened.

"...or the easiest way to destroy him."