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Emilia stayed beside me, and I wanted to pull her close, but I didn’t. The Yama was a nest of vipers, full of the kind of men who could become an enemy at any time. It was never wise to show dangerous people your weakness. To the world, she was my fiancée, a Donato, an arranged bride whom I should have zero attachment to. But to anyone who dared look closely, Emilia was a soft spot.
We cut through the club, winding through barely clothed waitresses and dancers. I knew the second Emilia spotted Sergio and his companion sitting in the booth at the back because she slammed to a halt, heels digging in before she stumbled backward.
“Emilia—”
“You’re giving me to them?” She sounded so hurt, so betrayed, so fucking scared.
For a moment, I forgot all about pretenses and weakness, cupping her face in both hands, right there in the middle of the club where anyone could see. “No, piccola. This is a business meeting. I brought you because it’s not safe right now, and I want you with me.”
I didn’t elaborate on the fact that she might be in more danger with me. It was selfish, but at least I could think clearly while I could see her. A rat had made it to my upper ranks. I wanted to trust my men, but the simple fact was, no one would protect her like I would.
“Then why is Matteo here?” Her gaze darted around as though she were looking for an escape. She was in full flight mode.
“I don’t know who—”
“Please don’t let them take me, Gio.” Terror flickered through those murky-green eyes, and I swept my thumb over her cheekbone.
“Piccola, you know I’ll keep you forever if you let me.”
“Please.” She trembled slightly, and I wanted to turn around and get her far away from these men, this so-called family who would do this to her. But I needed to speak to Sergio, and I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.
When I had what I wanted, I would kill Sergio Donato for no other reason than he’d done something to scare her. She didn’t need to know the lengths I would go to keep her, though. For a second, I didn’t even care about our deal or the threat of her uncle that I was using as leverage.
“You’re mine, Emilia. He won’t touch you. I promise.”
She blinked until the glassy sheen of tears in her eyes retreated. I glanced over to where Sergio watched us with rapt interest. The man beside him, however, was glaring like I’d just taken a shit in his cornflakes.
Emilia finally nodded, and I dropped my hands from her face and threaded my fingers with hers.
“Come. This won’t take long.”
Her grip on my hand tightened as we approached the table, expression shuttering into something totally unreadable. Emilia was guarded, but I could always see each and every emotion playing out on her face. She was passionate and volatile and even vulnerable at times, but I barely recognized the version she presented to her uncle now. The wild creature I had captured was nowhere to be seen, and she was every bit the stoic mafia princess. She didn’t want them to witness her fear. Good girl. I squeezed her hand.
The man seated beside Donato was younger, perhaps my age, but with the same slimy air around him that said he’d kill his own grandmother if it served him. He dragged a hand over buzzed, dark hair, gaze raking over Emilia in a way that made my fingers twitch for my gun.
“Ah, Guerra.” Sergio pushed to his feet when we approached, and I shook his offered hand when I’d rather cut off his fingers. “And you brought my niece. What a pleasant surprise.” His beady eyes bounced between Emilia and me. “This is Matteo Romano, my consigliere.”
I shook the other man’s hand before Sergio pulled Emilia forward and kissed both her cheeks. She made no attempt to touch him, her entire body rigid in his embrace. He tried to kill her. I took a deep breath to calm myself, pulling Emilia back to my side. When Romano moved toward her, she pressed into me, recoiling against my body. The man smirked slightly, enjoying her reaction. It took every ounce of willpower not to slam his face into the table right then and there. But violence was not tolerated here in the club, and I wanted this meeting over with already.
Emilia sat beside me, but I knew she wanted to bolt.
“You look well, Emilia,” Sergio said. “Wouldn’t you agree, Matteo?”
The other man’s gaze slipped over her, and she stared back at him cooly. “Yes, you’ve always been the shining gem of the Donato family, Emi.”
She stiffened, and my arm slipped along the back of the booth, fingers trailing over her shoulder.
