A Vow of Love and Vengeance

Luca might have helped her one time, but he hadn’t once tried to contact her or me since she’d been with me. If that were my sister in the same situation, I’d have moved heaven and Earth to stop her from being married against her will. And if I’d failed, I would have done everything in my power to save her from her captivity. Luca cared within the boundaries of not openly defying Sergio. That told me all I needed to know.

“Come here, piccola.”

For once, Emilia did as she was told without fighting. Rather than just getting into bed, she climbed into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. It was such a rare show of vulnerability from her, and my chest ached, knowing how much it must have taken her to show it.

I pulled her close, inhaling the scent of my body wash that clung to her skin.

“He looked at me like he hated me,” she whispered, tucking her head beneath my chin.

“He doesn’t hate you, Emilia. He hates me. He thinks—” I cut off, realizing that my next words may not have the desired effect.

“He thinks you killed his father.”

I let out a sigh. “Yes.”

“So even if he doesn’t hate me for marrying the man he thinks killed his father, he will when he realizes it was me who pulled the trigger.”

I cupped her jaw, bringing her gaze to mine. “He will never find out. I killed Roberto, okay? That’s it. End of story.”

Her gaze softened, fingertips brushing over my lips.

“Okay?”

She nodded.

“Good. You will get to speak to him. I’m having him taken to the house tomorrow. But first, I want twenty-four hours.”

Her brows pulled together. “You know we can fuck at the house. Or anytime. We’re married, Gio.”

I laughed. swiping a strand of damp hair away from her cheek. “Oh, don’t worry. We will be doing plenty of that, but first, I have a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise?”

“The surprise kind of surprise.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Fine, but I don’t like surprises.”

“Have you ever had one?”

“Other than ‘surprise, you’re being sold to Giovanni Guerra,’ I don’t think so.”

I tugged her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. “And look how that turned out for you.”

A pang of sadness burrowed into my chest at how sheltered, how deprived her life had truly been. I would change that, give her every experience and savor every smile she gave me in return.

I would make her happy.

* * *

I fucked Emilia in the shower this morning, but the second she stepped into the kitchen, my dick hardened again. She wore a dress and knee-high boots that were downright indecent. I didn’t know whether to fire the personal shopper who bought Emilia’s wardrobe or give her a raise. Maybe I’d just shoot Tommy again for accepting the clothes.

Emilia tugged on a leather jacket as she approached me, and my gaze dropped to the bruises beginning to blossom around her throat. That definitely didn’t help my situation, and I adjusted myself before taking a sip of coffee.

“Is this okay?” she asked, gesturing down the length of her body. “It would help if you just told me where we’re going.”

I leaned forward on the barstool and grabbed her hips, pulling her between my legs. “Well, I can’t leave right now and take you on a honeymoon, so we have a day. But like I said, it’s a surprise.”

I pushed her onto a barstool and slid a plate in front of her with an omelet on it. “Now eat, piccola. All of it.” I pushed to my feet. “And drink the water.”

I headed to the bedroom while listening to her grumble about what a controlling asshole I was. She liked it really.

I’d just plucked a jacket from a hangar when my phone rang. If it were anyone else, I would have ignored it, but Jackson knew I was busy. He wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important.

I answered. “Yeah?”

“Got a problem.” He let out a sigh. “The Outfit found the dockside warehouse.” The warehouse we were keeping Luca in.

“Fuck. Did they get Luca?”

“No, but Gio, they never tried to free him. They tried to kill him.”

“What?” I stood there in my closet, staring at the wall, trying to piece everything together. Why would they do that?

“How many guys were there?”

“Just four. Only one made it to Luca, clipped him in the arm, but my guys got there before he could finish the job.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Why would Sergio try to kill his own nephew? His loyal nephew… it made no sense. Unless he realized what we were trying to do. If Luca and Renzo sided with me, who was now family by marriage, swaying the capos to their side would be easy. Sergio’s days were already numbered, so he was trying to eliminate his successor.