Chapter Ten
Giulia
As I sit in the library, I hear someone approach, but I don’t turn to see who it could be. No one enters the Cammareri compound without being thoroughly vetted, much less the house. I continue to read my book and sip on my tea.
But the cold steel pressed against my throat has my adrenaline spiking. This is the one place where I am supposed to be safe when clearly that’s not true. Slowly, I place my book and tea on the table beside me and wait.
“Get out of the chair. Salvador wants what belongs to him,” a rough voice says in my ear.
I don’t know who this man is or how he got into the house, but I do know that if I leave with him, I will probably end up dead. I slowly lift myself from my seat and do as he says. I need to remain calm so I can figure out a way to get out of this mess.
We move along the corridor toward the front of the house. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rosa talking on her cell phone in the far corner of the formal sitting room. I don’t look too long, in fear of giving her away, but I do slow my steps. The man behind me grips my hair and pulls. A whimper slips from my lips.
“Don’t fuck with me, girl,” he says with a growl. “Move.”
He shoves me forward, the knife cutting into my flesh. Not enough to cause serious damage but enough for me to feel the blood trickling into my shirt. As we reach the door, it bursts open. Alceu is a vision of crazy determination as he stands there with the sun setting behind him. His gaze zeroes in on the blade against my neck before his expression goes blank.
“Where are you off to, wife?” he asks casually.
I stare at him with wide eyes. What kind of crazy question is that? The blade at my neck presses even closer, and I do my best not to whimper again.
“Just out for a drink, husband,” I reply softly.
“Oh, sorry to interrupt.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I thought we had dinner plans tonight.”
Is he fucking insane? This is the weirdest conversation I have ever had in my entire existence.
“Maybe we could reschedule? My friend is adamant about having a drink today.”
Before Alceu can say another word, the knife is ripped away from my neck. The grip on my hair loosens, and my knees give out. Alceu manages to catch me just before I hit the ground, lifting me into his arms and cradling me against his chest. My gaze moves toward the man who had me in his grasp, but he is already dead. Severu has snapped his neck and is pulling him out of the house.
Alceu walks up the stairs while still holding me toward his chest. He carries me into the bathroom before setting me down on the counter. Then he turns his back on me and starts to fill the massive tub. When he seems satisfied, he turns back to me.
“Take a bath. You will feel better.”
And with that, he leaves.
****
Alceu
My blood is boiling. I have never felt pure rage like I felt the moment I saw that man with his hands on Giulia. Who the fuck does Salvador think he is? Sending someone into my home to steal my wife? I will kill him with my bare fucking hands.
When I reach my office, all three of my brothers are already there waiting for me.
“Is she okay?” Severu asks.
I watch him closely for long moments. “She will be fine. But I am glad to see she is growing on you,” I reply.
“She is your wife,” he says. “It’s my job to protect her.”
Mancuso snorts beside him. “It’s okay to like her. She is kinda kickass.”
“Whatever,” Severu says before pouring himself a drink.
“Any idea who he was?” I ask.
“He has the Salvador family crest tattooed on his chest, so I’m assuming he was one of his,” Stefano says while taking a seat. “We need to increase security, especially around Giulia.”
“Yes, we do,” I say while rubbing at my temple. “It was the first thing I promised her when she agreed to this.”
“What?” Mancuso asks.
“That I would keep her safe.” Not even married a month and already a broken promise. How the hell do normal people do this shit?
“Don’t worry, brother,” Severu says, drawing me from my thoughts. “No one will get to her again. And I will work with her, teach her how to defend herself.”
“Thank you, brother,” I reply as they all leave.