I sit without hesitation. Camilla is to my left. A safe and deliberate choice. I want to be fully present during this meeting, and Camilla poses no threat to my focus. I like looking at Sienna, I can’t help it, and if I’m sitting right next to her, I’ll be distracted.
My gaze drifts across the table, to Sienna. When I see Pietro take the seat closest to her, my chest tightens before I even register the thought properly.
No.
I don’t want him or anyone there.
The thought irritates me more than it should.
Fuck.
Massimo rises at the head of the table. His gaze moves across the gathering slowly, lingering on faces from both families.
“I appreciate everyone making the time to be here today,” he says. “As you all know, the Carusos and Gallos are entering a new chapter together. Alliances are not built on contracts alone. They are built on trust, respect, and the understanding that the success of one family strengthens the other.”
A few heads nod around the table. Massimo rests both hands on the head of his cane.
“For many years, our families operated in the same city while walking separate paths. Soon, that changes.”
His eyes flick briefly toward me.
“The marriage between my daughter and Alessandro will unite two powerful bloodlines, strengthen old relationships, and create new opportunities for both organizations.”
The old man says it like a business merger instead of a wedding. Then again, that’s exactly what it is.
“I expect everyone here to remember that moving forward. Whatever disagreements may exist, we sit at this table today as future family.”
His gaze sweeps across the men one final time before settling back into its usual coldness.
“Now.” He lowers himself into his chair. “Let’s eat.”
Forks move. Conversation starts in pieces—small talk, business edges, nothing important yet.
I should be listening properly but my attention keeps slipping back to Sienna. Even though I chose the chair far enough from her for this fucking reason. Thankfully, Pietro isn’t speaking to her, and I’m able to keep my cool.
She still isn’t looking at me and that should be fine.
But it isn’t.
My grip tightens on my cutlery, the metal biting into my palm. One more second of this and I’m going to fucking explode.
Despite the blinding annoyance roaring through me, my cock is rock-hard in my pants.
There are a thousand things I want to do to her right now, none of which are appropriate, but I’ve never deluded myself into thinking I was a gentleman.
Sienna stoked a fire in me the night she crossed my path in that mask, and the only way to put it out is to have her. I want her in every single way a man can possess a woman.
I want her on her fucking knees. I want those pretty, pink lips wrapped around my cock like she’s starving for me. I want to see her eyes turn glossy as I fuck her throat, my fist tangled deep in her silky hair as I guide her down my hard shaft.
She looks up then, and our gazes collide for the first time since lunch started.
There’s fire in her eyes—like a sleeping volcano, hot and unpredictable. I know she will burn me to ashes if I get too close.
Fuck. I want her so badly it hurts.
Just as quickly, she lowers her gaze again, breaking the connection. The rejection hits like a physical blow, and I have to fight the violent urge to vault across the table, grab her jaw in my hand, and force her to look at me.
I’m one second away from actually doing it when Pietro’s next words cause me to freeze.
