Alceu

Chapter Seventeen

Giulia

Four days after my proclamation, I wake to a smiling husband. He looks giddy as he sucks my nipple into his mouth.

“Morning, wife.” He smiles widely after releasing my nipple with a pop.

“Morning, love.” I smile back.

We are still waiting for Salvador to make his decision, and it has been quite tense around the house, so seeing him smile like this has my heart overflowing.

“And what has you smiling like a mad man this morning?” I ask while running my fingers through his onyx hair.

“Salvador left the country this morning.” His smile widens. “His men have been slowly trickling in, trying to find a place for themselves in the new landscape.”

Throwing my head back, I laugh freely. “Well damn. I didn’t think he would give up that easily.”

“Well, you were very convincing, some may even say a little scary,” he goads while tickling my sides.

“Only a little,” I joke in return.

The joking quickly turns to moaning as Alceu slides into my body and rocks me to an orgasm with words of love spilling from his lips.

****

To celebrate the fact that Salvador has left the country, Alceu wants to throw a party. He has been on the phone and delegating to anyone he lays eyes on. I have already spoken to Andrea to join me in dress shopping. I haven’t been able to spend any time with her since I moved in with Alceu, and every time I invite her over, my parents think up some excuse. So instead, I have told her to lie about going to a friend’s house and I will pick her up there.

Even though Salvador has fled the country, Alceu and his brothers are still overprotective. I can’t leave the house without a bodyguard and one of them in tow. Which is how I end up with Stefano and a bodyguard named Antonio accompanying me. We drive in silence toward the home of Andrea’s friend and pick her up outside. She is giddy with excitement, and I feel myself smile as she gets into the car.

“I’m so happy to finally spend time with you,” Andrea says after hugging me tightly. “I can’t believe Mom and Dad won’t let me see you.”

“It’s okay, Andrea. Alceu has said that he will talk to Dad,” I say gently. “How has it been at home?”

Andrea looks toward the front where Antonio and Stefano are seated. Her questioning gaze moves back to me. Understanding settles into me.

“It’s okay, Andrea. Stefano is Alceu’s youngest brother and will find out what you tell me eventually. And as my bodyguard, Antonio is sworn to secrecy,” I tell her.

She sighs loudly. “It’s been bad. After we saw you the last time, he beat Mom so badly she couldn’t walk for a week. I thought she was going to die.” Tears fill her eyes as she speaks. “And when I asked him if I could visit you last week, he slapped me. I fell and hit my head and had to go to the ER to get stitches.”

I should have tried harder to get her out of that godforsaken house. I know my father has a short fuse, and with me gone, he doesn’t have anyone to take his temper out on. He never hurt us where anyone could see, not wanting to have to deal with the inevitable fallout, but getting slapped was a common occurrence growing up. Andrea is also a much softer soul than I am, and his mental torture would have been so much worse for her.

Stefano’s posture goes rigid as a growl leaves his lips. All the Cammareri brothers are highly protective of women. I have come to see that they cherish women. I asked Alceu why they were so different from other men. He smiled and simply told me that the right woman could fix even the weakest and most broken man. That a strong woman was a better asset than a broken one. It brought tears to my eyes, especially thinking of my mother and what her life could have been if she had ended up with a man like Alceu instead of my father.

“Oh, Andrea. I am so sorry,” I say, holding her to my chest as she softly cries. “Alceu will sort this all out. Don’t worry about any of that this weekend. This is our time, you and me, having some fun together. How does that sound?” I ask, wiping her tears from her cheeks.

She nods before giving me a watery smile. Antonio pulls up to the curb, but there isn’t any parking so Andrea, Stefano, and I hop out.

“I will find some parking in the alley,” Antonio says. “And meet you inside.”

“Good,” Stefano says as he holds the door to the boutique open and ushers us in.

Five minutes later, Antonio joins us inside. Andrea and I try on dress after dress, laughing and talking just like we used to. Stefano sits on a chair that looks to be very uncomfortable for his large frame, but he doesn’t complain. Antonio watches the door closely while Stefano watches us.

When we finally settle on dresses we both like, we pay at the register and exit out the back to where the car has been parked. I wasn’t expecting it, so when I hear the shot go off, I freeze, and Andrea screams. Turning back, I see Stefano slump on the stairs, his back against the door.

Antonio raises the gun and points it directly at me.

“Now, unless you want me to shoot your sister, get in the car,” he snarls with malice.

My gaze strays to Stefano, his gaze pleading with me not to get in the car. Andrea is holding his head in her lap, tears already streaming down her face again. His face has already turned ashen. Knowing I have no other choice, I get into the passenger side of the car without any argument. I need to get Antonio away from them as soon as possible so Andrea can call for help. She needs to call Alceu before Stefano bleeds out in some back alley.

Antonio turns to me with disgust painted clearly across his features. I see the butt of the gun flying toward my face, but I don’t have enough time to do anything to stop it.

It hurts like a bitch, and I feel my forehead split. But it’s the second hit that has the blackness taking me under.