I widened my eyes.
When Gianni spoke, his voice was smooth and low, but there was an underlying edge to it that sent a goddamn earthquake of shivers through me.
It was the venomous snake's murderous hiss before attack.
It was the rumbling growl from a wild animal getting ready to rip apart its prey and devour.
“Vito.” The single word dripped with quiet menace. Gianni didn’t need to raise his voice—the promise of violence was already there, simmering beneath the surface. “Keep touching her, and I’ll make you wish for death.”
Chapter six
Bound to Him
The moment Gianni’s command left his lips, Vito let go of me so fast, it was as if I had burned him.
Vito even took a hasty step back, putting a cautious foot between us as though distance could shield him from whatever storm was about to descend.
O-kay.
My heart pounded as I watched my brother and was shocked by the sudden change in his demeanor. Vito, who had been the main psychotic brute of this evening, was now cowering like a child caught in a naughty act.
My stepfather cleared his throat, his voice coming out strained as he spoke to Gianni. “Bella had a performance today, which is why we are late, and she is wearing. . .thisattire.”
Gianni bared his teeth in a snarl that made my blood run cold. “What did you do? Pull her right off the fucking stage?”
Oh damn. That’s right. Fucking explain yourself to the Devil!
My stepfather’s voice faltered. “You asked us not to be late—”
“But I also assumed you would have common sense and not be idiots.” Gianni’s voice dripped with venom.
A few of the male guests snickered, telling me that they must have belonged to his crew.
Meanwhile, I was absolutely stunned.
No one had ever dared speak to my stepfather like that. In all my life, I had known him to be the one who held power over everyone around him.
His word had been law in this brutal city.
But here was Gianni, cutting him down with nothing more than a few well-placed words.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut—the tables had truly turned since I’d been gone. The man who had ruled with an iron fist for so long was now subject to the will of another—someone far more dangerous.
And I was marrying this dangerous person. . .
Gianni prowled toward me, and each step sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over me.
Oh God. What is he going to do?
I wanted to step back, to put distance between us, but I was frozen in place, unable to move.
When he got less than a foot away towering over me. . .I felt so damn small.
Insignificant.
Like a lamb being led to slaughter.
This close, Gianni assessed me even more.
