Meet the characters:
Dante is the brother that works on logic and data. Nostra Casa and his brothers are everything to him. Dante walks away from the girl he wants to keep peace, thinking she was the one. Then Elena bravely rushes in to save her father and Reno, and he makes the decision to make Elena his. Beauty and intelligence are enough, until he wants her heart too.
Elena is a dutiful daughter of a retired soldier and although she knows her fate is to be married to a man of her family’s choosing, she never expected it to be Dante Viale. Elena is fun-loving and a complete opposite to her husband. How can this possibly work?
Dante will give his life for her brothers, Nostra Casa and his wife. The enemy is coming, and Dante is fighting to keep them all safe.
Feel the passion:
“I don’t want to hear a fucking word out of your mouth,” I warn Sebastian. He raises his hands in front of him, warding me off in jest.
That stopped Sebastian, but Reno had plenty to say. “You declare your need to have Elena as your wife, then for the next few hours, you’re as silent as a mime. Did someone cut out your tongue? What the fuck was that in there?”
Unfortunately, I’m trapped in a car with both of them and there’s nowhere to go. I keep my eyes peeled out the window instead.
“Answer me,” Reno insists. Brother or not, you do not ignore your capo.
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey, Dario, your daughter’s fucking hot, and I’m going to fuck her whether you like it or not’?” Even as I hear the words come out of my mouth, I know this isn’t me. I’m a ruthless killer and make no apologies for it, but I am not a dog. I’ve bedded many women, and it’s always been mutually beneficial. Never did I make promises I would not keep, nor have I ever led anyone on to believe we were more than fuck buddies. Did they get clingy? Yeah. That’s when I knew I had to end it.
“You want to fuck her, go right ahead. Don’t need to marry her for that. Then she can move on to a man who will marry her, regardless of her dalliance with the capo’s consigliere. Might even make her more desirable to some,” Sebastian says with a shrug.
The thought of Elena with another man is like a punch in the gut. Someone else touching her creamy white skin, watching her lips part as she comes hard, and calling another man’s name instead of mine makes me sick to my stomach.
“Fuck that. She’s mine!”
Reno turns in his seat and stares me down. “You don’t come back from this. Once I say the word to Dario, it’s done. Think long and hard on this, brother. This is our way. I will not look weak and go back on my word. Dario’s been a loyal soldier. Elio and Zano would lay down their lives for Nostra Casa. I will not shame their family with broken promises.”
“I know what I want,” I bite back.
“I love you, brother. You and Sebastian, our family, are everything to me. You have the night to gather your thoughts. Marriage is forever. There’s no way out until death in our world. I knew Anna was mine the moment I saw her photo. You have to be certain,” Reno advises.
“It was the same for me and Olivia. I just knew I couldn’t let anyone else get near her,” Sebastian adds.
“I’m sure,” I say with feeling.
“Take the night. If you still believe Elena’s the one you want, then you meet us at Luna Bella, and we’ll speak to Dario.” Reno turns back to face the road without another word spoken. But every so often, Sebastian looks into the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with concern.
Leaves you wanting more:
As I push open the door, all eyes turn to me, but the only ones that matter are Dante’s. He looks me up and down, not leering, but deliberately, like he doesn’t believe what he sees.
“Good evening. I’m sorry if I’ve kept you all waiting for dinner.” I rush out the words. My palms are clammy, and my mouth is dry. Thankfully, Anna, Reno’s wife, comes to greet me, taking my hands in hers, and places a kiss on both cheeks.
Before she backs away, she whispers in my ear, “You look amazing. Dante’s a very lucky man.” When she pulls back to look me in the eyes, she beams a reassuring smile at me, and I manage to return a small one. She then tugs my hand and steps closer to Olivia. “This is my sister-in-law, Olivia, Sebastian’s better half.” Anna looks over her shoulder and gives her brother-in-law a teasing look.
“You wound me.” Sebastian puts a hand over his heart.
“You’ll get over it,” his wife replies. Olivia extends her hand for me to take, and I do. “It’s a pleasure, Elena. I hope we’ll get to know each other well. We’ve created quite a family and are excited to have you and your family join in the revelry.”
“Thank you.” They’re both very sweet and not at all what I expected. After the cattiness of the women I’ve had the displeasure of meeting, Anna and Olivia seem genuinely happy to meet me.
“The dining room is set, and dinner is ready. Shall we make our way to the table?” my mother asks.
“I’d like a moment with Elena before we dine,” Dante says.
Anna and Olivia file out. Papa shuffles Elio and Zano out the door, then gives Mamma a little nudge toward the exit. “We’ll wait in the dining room,” Papa tells Dante, who is still hanging in the doorway.
Reno locks eyes with his brother. There’s complete silence, and yet I know they’re having a conversation that’s all their own. In the end, Dante nods, and Reno makes his way to the door, motioning for Sebastian to precede him. When they reach the door, he says, “Elena is perfectly safe, Dario.” Papa lingers a moment longer, then files out behind them. The door clicks shut, and Dante and I are alone.
The space between us closes in, and suddenly, Dante is standing before me. He’s so tall that I need to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. I swallow deeply, not trusting myself to speak.
“You know why I’m here?”
“I believe so.” My tone is quiet and my voice shaky.
“Do you have any objections to this union?” he asks, but it sounds more like a dare. And I want to scream from the top of my lungs YES! What on earth makes him think I’d fit into the life he has?
Speak now, or forever I will wonder. I clear my throat, choosing my words carefully. “I’m a proud daughter of a soldier, born and raised to know how our world works. I knew one day, my father would present a match for me, and I always hoped this man I would marry would be kind and patient. But I’ve also seen how I’m treated by the other underbosses’ families, and it’s not a pleasant experience.” His eyes become dark when I say this, and I can see that he wants to speak, but I keep going. “It’s not that I can’t hold my own, but why would you want someone by your side who your people won’t respect?”
He watches me for a moment, then with his thumb, he gently caresses the apple of my cheek. “I can be kind and patient. I can also be cruel and deadly. What traits I exhibit depends on how they treat me and my family. I require a wife who knows who she is. You’re proud, educated, loyal, and selfless. What others think doesn’t matter. And if I see anyone disrespecting my wife, I have no qualms about setting them straight. Does this allay your fears?”
“I’m not afraid.” Liar, I yell internally.
“Then why does your heart beat so fast?” He takes my hand and feels my pulse. “Perhaps the prospect of marrying me isn’t quite so bad.”
“No,” I say breathlessly, and just like that, with one touch, I’m lost in his eyes, watching his mouth form a grin.
He lifts his hand, palm upward. I place mine in his, and he slips the teardrop diamond ring on my finger. “Our fate is sealed, fragolina.” He bends his head, and his lips touch the corner of my mouth, right where my beauty mark is. “I’d better take you to the others before I’m tempted to do more than kiss you.”
