Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles 5)

Savio gripped my hips and turned me around to him. “Won’t you congratulate me? After all, I won you.”

You had me all along.

I stared stubbornly at his naked chest, at the display of muscle there, at the blood and sweat making him look like a warrior straight out of my darkest fantasies.

Savio nudged my chin up. My cheeks were burning because, damn him, I could have jumped him right then. Our eyes met and he let out a harsh breath. He bent down, his expression so full of possessiveness that I shivered again. Savio shook his head. “If you keep looking at me like that, waiting until marriage isn’t going to happen, Gem.”

I licked my dry lips, and his eyes became even darker. He cupped the side of my head. “I know you want your first kiss to happen in church,” he rasped, his lips brushing my cheek then the corner of my mouth before he moved down to my throat and pressed a firm kiss to my skin. My body leaned into the touch, unable to resist. His words registered, but their importance was momentarily lost on me, feeling him so close, his lips against my skin. It wasn’t me who pulled away.

Savio straightened, shaking his head as if he was trying to get rid of a spell. “Kitty, you make sweet sixteen very difficult to resist.”

I should have said something, anything, but I was tongue-tied.

Gemma was frozen, lips parted. Diego always complained that she never stopped talking until she got her will, but with me, her stubborn streak rarely came out. Her head was still slightly tilted, her smooth neck exposed like her shoulder. Both spots beckoned to be kissed. I had already done both, however, when I should really stay away.

Like my brothers I wasn’t a rule player. What did I care about laws or traditions? Yet, Gemma’s frozen state showed how overwhelmed she was, how young and inexperienced. When I’d been sixteen, I had been a far cry from innocent. I’d slept with women far older, and they definitely hadn’t taken advantage of me.

Scruples hit me rarely. They weren’t really ingrained in my family’s DNA, but making a move on Gemma, knowing that she might let me go further because she was too overwhelmed, would have felt wrong.

Now that I knew she’d be mine, was mine, I felt entitled to protect her.

“Come on. I should return you to your father. Don’t want to start on the wrong foot with my future father-in-law.”

A smile bloomed on her face. “When’s our engagement going to be?”

Touching her back, I led her toward the bar. “We’ll see.” I had no intention of celebrating a big engagement party any time soon. Now that I had secured Gemma, there really was no rush. I didn’t want word to get out that I was taken. It would lead to more unpleasant discussions with the girls I fucked, and I really didn’t need that.

Gemma’s smile dropped and she didn’t say anything. Diego stood off to the side with his father and Nonna, a pissed as fuck expression on his face. I led her that way and smiled.

Nonna didn’t crack a smile. She was eyeing me like Lucifer personified. I had to stifle laughter. She’d liked me all right until now. I’d get her back on my side with my charm soon enough.

Diego and Daniele would be harder nuts to crack, no doubt. They were getting their bad cop act on.

“Remo said you and him would come over tomorrow to discuss the details of our family’s union,” Daniele said.

“That’s right.” Remo didn’t like to invite people into the mansion, even loyal followers, even future family.

Gemma glanced between her father and me.

Daniele gave a terse nod. “We expect you for dinner at six.” He motioned Gemma over. “Come on, we need to go.”

“I’m staying. I need to talk to Savio,” Diego said. Gemma sent him a warning look, but he ignored her. She didn’t have to worry. Diego couldn’t intimidate me.

Gemma followed her nonna and father out of the Arena, frowning.

“I need to shower and change,” I said, turned and headed toward the changing room. Diego fell into step beside me. “Dad mentioned you don’t want to announce the engagement to Gemma this year. What’s that about?”

“Why the hurry? She’s mine. We will marry. I think it’s unnecessary to get engaged to a sixteen-year-old. I’d prefer to wait until she’s a bit older.”

“What’s a bit older to you?” Diego muttered.

I had no intention of telling him that the engagement would have to wait until Gemma was of age at least, and the marriage even longer. Tonight was for partying, not arguing.

I pushed into the locker room, Diego hot on my heels.

Mick was still inside, talking to his brother and father. Diego let out a low curse. I only nodded a greeting. Mick probably still needed time to cool off, which I got. If I’d lost a girl like Gemma, I’d have been pissed too.