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Father takes the other end of the table, with our guests sitting on either side.
I still see them watching her, devouring her with their hungry eyes, but I do my best not to pay the lecherous pricks any mind. She's mine and I've made that plenty clear.
We begin the dinner with course after course being brought out of the kitchens and artfully displayed on the dining table. But I'm too distracted by the sight of Marzia's tits nearly on full display to enjoy my food.
Somewhere around the third course, I toss a napkin at her, growling, "Cover up your tits. I don't want you exposed like this."
"Excuse me?" Her eyes shoot up.
I groan, covering them up myself. She looks ridiculous with that napkin on her dress but at least…all those perverts aren't staring at her exposed skin anymore.
"You going to treat Nicoletta like this too?" Marzia asks. "I don't think she'll like how jealous and possessive you're acting."
"It's not up to her, or you," I hiss. "This is my decision. And you're my property."
She continues eating without fighting back.
I smirk at the sight of a small smile playing on her lips.
We keep eating. The night stretches on and on, with some last minute wedding preparations peppered through it. There will be even more guests at the reception, today is just a preview. And I'm already dreading going through all this bullshit again, but with Nicoletta at my side instead of the woman I really want by me.
Once the clock strikes one a.m. I see Marzia yawning and pull her to the side. "I'm walking you to your room," I tell her firmly.
"I can go by myself."
"No." I pull on her forearm, forcing her to get up.
The entire party is looking at us as I force her out of her seat, up the stairs and down the hallway.
The moment we're alone, I stop holding back like I have been all fucking night long. I pull Marzia against me, her soft, feminine body helpless against my brawn. I put my lips on hers and kiss her in a way that says it all ? she's my property ? and she doesn't get to fucking argue.
She melts against my body.
I know she needs this too, as much as she tries to pretend she doesn't.
"Thank you for saving me from that man," she whispers against my lips. "I feel so safe with you."
I grumble something in response and let her into her bedroom. "Go to sleep."
"Will you come see me tonight?" Her words are filled with hope.
Her hopeful tone makes me feel like a goddamn villain. "I can't," I mutter.
"Why?"
"I have too much shit to deal with for the wedding."
She glares at me as if this isn't reason enough for me to stay away. "Fine." She closes the door.
I lock her in, leaning against the wood.
Truth of the matter is… I'd do any-fucking-thing to get to see her again. But I can't and shouldn't. My marriage with Nicoletta is inevitable. And unless I figure out a way to get out of this goddamn mess, my affair with Marzia will be forced to come to an end.
34
Marzia
I'm walking down the hallway the next morning when I overhear them. I can instantly tell they don't want anyone to overhear them. They're standing a little way off from a guard, quietly discussing some plan I shouldn't be privy to. My curiosity instantly peaks.
It's Bruno and Adrian, talking to each other in hushed tones.
Something tells me not to give myself away, so I hide behind a pillar in the hallway and motion for Eleanora to do the same. I can tell she doesn't want to, but she swallows her panic and does as she's told anyway. I give her a grateful nod. She isn't always able to help me, but I'm grateful she's trying today. I listen in to the conversation.
"Gustavo will know something's up when he comes to the wedding," Bruno hisses at his son. "He'll pick up the Marzia thing and then we're all fucked."
"It'll be fine," Adrian responds. "She'll be gone by then. We don't need to worry."
My stomach falls. Why are they talking about me as if I'm going to die before the wedding? Knitting my brows together, I motion for Eleanora to come out with me.
"Hello."
The two raise their eyes to me. There's worry etched all over their faces.
This only makes me doubt all this more. They really want me gone... and even though Bruno promised me he didn't want me dead anymore, I have no reason to trust him. He's already told me he's loyal to his family to a fault. He'll do anything he can to make Adrian's wedding with Nicoletta go by smoothly.
"Hello, Marzia," Bruno finally replies. "Heading to my office to work?"
"Yes. And you?" I stare at Adrian, hard.
"We're just discussing a private matter, nothing for you to worry about, bambina," Adrian tells me.
