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I feel a strange sense of unease as I button my vest. Alessandro and Savio are in the room with me. The leader of the Lombardi family drags on a cigar, watching me closely.
Unfortunately for Alessandro, I know exactly what's on his mind—or rather, who.
And he's not getting her, not at any cost and not any price.
I do my best to act polite around Alessandro, but aim most of the things I say at his half brother, Savio. The other man smirks as he begins to notice me snubbing him.
"You seem distant today, Alaric," Alessandro tells me sharply. "I hope this marriage won't affect the work you do for us. Remember, you have a weakness now."
I know he's talking about Monroe. My hands form fists at my sides as Savio claps me on my back, muttering in my ear, "Ignore him."
I give a barely perceptible nod, but Alessandro isn't done yet.
"You know I mean your future wife, don't you? I'm sure you don't want to see her hurt, Alaric. Not on her wedding day."
I pounce forward, but Savio steps between us before my fist makes contact with his brother's jaw. He turns to Alessandro, hissing, "You're drunk. Get out of here, go to one of your whores or something."
Alessandro smirks in response as he stumbles out of the room. I'm still rattled, so I appreciate the tumbler of whiskey Savio forces into my hand.
"Drink. You'll need nerves of steel for the day ahead of us."
I drink in deep, thirsty gulps.
"The party was a mistake," Savio mutters. "We never should've taken it as far as it went. We shouldn't have made you do that with Monroe."
I nod just as Alessandro appears back in the room. I tense up right away. I've seen him like this before, and I know full well the prick is just looking for trouble. But my hands are tied. Alessandro runs the Lombardi family, and by pissing him off, I don't just risk my job. I risk my life and Monroe's, too.
"Why are you telling him that bullshit?" He laughs. "We're like family, aren't we, Alaric?"
"Of course," I lie through gritted teeth. Either Alessandro is too drunk to sense my mocking tone or he just doesn't give a damn as he saunters forward, grinning at me.
"We're brothers, Alaric. My father brought you up just like he did Savio. Like one of us."
I nod, remembering the beginning of my career with the family. They did everything for me. Savio and Alessandro's father was a cruel man, but he showed me an unexpected kindness when he took me in as a sixteen-year-old kid with nowhere to go.
"But women..." Alessandro smiles. "They're nothing but whores. Whores to share and get rid of when they are all used up. Wouldn't you agree, Alaric?"
The smile I force onto my face takes every ounce of self-control I have left. "Of course, Alessandro."
This finally shuts him up, and he saunters out of the room while Savio tries to calm me down with only a few minutes remaining before the ceremony I'm already dreading. Not because of Monroe, fuck no. I'm dreading it because Alessandro will be there, and I just know he's poised to jump at my woman again.
I need to keep Monroe away from him, that's for sure. He's barely holding back today. If I leave it longer than this, he'll jump her bones, and I'm not letting that fucking happen. If I'm forced to choose between my life and saving Monroe from this prick, I'm afraid I'll pick the latter.
Vowing to myself to keep the two separated, I follow Savio out onto the mansion's terrace. There's a makeshift altar set up along with an arch of red roses. It looks pretty, if there was no ominous tension in the air. But the air is thick with anticipation, and my stomach sinks with dread. I have this inescapable feeling tonight won't end well.
There are only about ten men here, all part of the Lombardi family and their employees. My eyes scan the crowd.
Savio and Alessandro are half-brothers and heirs to the Lombardi family after the passing of their father, who started me in their twisted, dark world.
There are three guards whose names I don't know—tall, beefy guys who women fawn over... until they find out who they work for. I think two of them are twins, and the other is Savio's other half brother—not related to the Lombardis but taken in under their wing just like I was.
The other five are men who work for the Lombardis in various positions. I recognize one of them from the night of the party when I was forced to fuck Monroe in front of everyone.
I remember that night as my cock grows heavier. Maybe marrying Monroe isn't such a bad thing, after all. Maybe we can make this work for us. Maybe we won't make each other as miserable as I fear we will.
