I Dare You
Ikept hold of Arianna’s hand even as Piero dived at her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight. I almost felt sorry for the old man. He looked sick with worry, like he was close to a heart attack or aneurysm. But then I remembered Damiano, and my sympathy bled dry.
I let them have their dramatic reunion while Piero checked her over for any physical injuries she clearly didn’t have. Meanwhile, my gaze zeroed in on the asshole storming towards us. He was flanked by hired bodyguards, scowling at me with all the righteous fury of a deranged kitten. I couldn’t help but allow a slow, smug smile of satisfaction to carve itself onto my face.
Then he ripped his gaze away from me and pinned it on Aria, and just like that, my smile evaporated. I clicked my neck, rolling my shoulders to keep the rage contained, because the urge to break my promise and snap his neck… was becoming a problem.
“This has gone too far, Buccini,” Piero growled, trying to shield Aria with his body as if that could stop me. He still didn’t get it. I tugged Aria’s hand, forcing her back to my side where she belonged. “You’ll leave my daughter alone. She has nothing to do with any of this.”
I rolled my lips and tilted my head in a cocky gesture. “That’s going to be difficult,” I said calmly, “Considering she’s my wife.”
The silence. The shock. The collective facial paralysis was delicious.
Piero’s gaze snapped to Aria. “This can’t be true. Aria?”
“Papi,” she whispered, guilt making her voice tremble and her eyes well with tears. When I saw a lone tear of fury escape her during the ceremony, it damn near killed me. Yeah, I may have crossed a few boundaries today—maybe more than a few—but I did it for her safety. Until we figured out who Callum D'Ardenzi was and what he had hanging over Piero’s head, Aria wasn’t safe anywhere near the man. And I couldn’t trust her father to keep her safe while he was sucking D'Ardenzi’s dick. So I fixed it. Permanently. Marrying her and giving her the security of my name and my reputation was the surest way to keep her protected,because she was mine to protect.
“You forced her to marry you against her will?” Callum snarled at me as if he’d just discovered some sacred moral high ground and intended to preach on it. “That’s low, even for you, Buccini.”
“As low as hiring a dirty Leone soldier toprotecther?”
Callum’s blue eyes flared, and his fists clenched at his sides. “I didn’t know shit about that. How would I?”
“That’s a good fucking question. And one I intend to find out. You’ve put yourself at the very top of my shit list, D'Ardenzi. First, Damiano, then trying to marry my woman. I hope you’re prepared, because that’s two strikes already. No one sees three.”
He glared at me but held his tongue.
“Aria, what have you done? Come here,” Piero softly coaxed her, trying to get her to leave my side. “The police are on their way. Just come with me.”
I squeezed her hand, part warning, part reassurance, and part reminder to play her role.
“No,” she rushed. “Call them off,Papi, please.”
“Aria!”
“Please, I… he didn’t force me,” she choked. Her gaze moved to Callum, apology in her eyes, and my calmness nearly shattered. “I’m sorry, Callum. I changed my mind. I couldn’t marry you. I… I—”
“She wants me.”
“Bullshit,” Callum snapped, stepping closer to her. I blocked his path, shoulders squared. Who the fuck did this boring prick think he was? God, this was torture. So many punches I wasn’t throwing. Why had I promised not to touch the fucker? His bodyguards huddled around us while my men watched from the edges, knowing I wouldn’t call on them. “He’s blackmailing you, but you don’t have to listen. Come with me, and I’ll protect you from him.”
“You can’t protect her from shit. Clearly,” I said, my lethal smile telling him he’d failed miserably. He’d done a piss-poor job of keeping us apart and an even worse one of marrying her.
“Aria, please,” Piero begged, on the verge of passing out. “He’s a murderer. You’re not safe with him. He’s using you against me.”
That was fucking it.
“Mayor Caruso,” I addressed him, with about as much warmth as a fucking iceberg. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brother hovering, a silent warning not to let this escalate in public. “I don’t want anything from you except your blessing. So either give it or get the fuck out of my hotel.”
“My blessing?” he spat. “Never in this lifetime, Buccini. I will destroy you for this.”
“Looking forward to it. But a friendly reminder that whatever you do to me now affects your daughter and her reputation, as well as yours.”
“The faster I get you behind bars and away from her, the better!”
I shrugged. “When you come to your senses, Piero, you know where to find me.” A beat. “In your daughter’s bed.”
“You piece of—”
