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“I’m fine,” I snapped. “Anyway, I thought you would be happy to see me suffering.” He gave me a strange look.
I really didn’t want to talk about last night right now. I had given away my honor before my wedding day. Even though it had been to the man I had signed a contract with, I knew it was wrong and unjustifiable that I had broken this unwritten rule.
I hadn’t obeyed the rules of our world, and I hadn’t done my duty. My family would be horrified if they found out. They and the rest of the Società would call me a slut, and they would whisper that I wasuna donna svergognata—a shameless woman.
Approaching slowly, Marco gripped my hand and tugged me over to the full-length mirror. I let him pull me along, my body not knowing how to oppose his body and its underlying threat.
He stood me in front of the mirror, towering behind me, watching our reflections. He moved my hair over one bare shoulder. I flinched as I felt his cool fingers connect with my neck.
“Easy,” he breathed. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
He slowly removed the diamond pendant I had put on with the dress. It was the necklace I had worn on my first wedding day, the necklace that had been a gift from my parents on my eighteenth birthday.
I watched as he reached into his tuxedo jacket and withdrew a long narrow velvet box. He opened it, revealing a new necklace which he took out and draped around my neck. His touch was gentle, somehow incongruous with his large brutal hands.
He placed the chain along my throat, moving his hands slowly while his eyes were locked on mine.
I felt the cold metal of the chain come in contact with my skin. I held my breath as he fastened the clasp at the nape of my neck, his fingers in that sensitive place sending a shock through my whole body.
He then reached around, adjusting where the stone fell at the top of my breasts, letting his hand linger there, burning his touch into my skin. The stone was a shimmering pale blue stone.
“A rare sapphire, as blue and clear as your eyes. Perfect, just like you,” he declared in a voice full of foreboding.
CHAPTER 25
JULIANA
The necklace was beautiful, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Instead, I just looked back at Marco’s eyes through the reflection of the mirror, noting their intense and determined gaze. When I didn’t say any more, Marco took my hand and led me down the stairs.
The narrow skirt of my dress constrained my legs, making it difficult to walk and impossible to escape—maybe that was why he had chosen it. Marco and I traveled together in his car. He was obviously not going to let me out of his sight.
Today we would be getting married at a hotel in Chicago owned by the Fratellanza. Marco told me its location and setup would provide for better security than a church. To be honest, I didn’t care whether this wedding was in a hotel or a church. Neither would seem real to me. Although it might seem real when Marco claimed his marital rights again tonight.
When the car pulled up at the hotel, I could see that Marco’s soldiers were everywhere, looking serious and alert. Although I could see no weapons, I knew that every man’s suit jacket concealed a gun and knife holster. Who was I kidding? Even the groom would have a gun or two tucked under his wedding tuxedo.
The drive had been my first trip out of the Marchiano estate since my kidnap. I had been desperate to get off the estate, but now I would do anything to be back there in the safety of Marco’s bedroom.
We had passed through the center of the city, but I was too distracted to take in the view, nor did it seem like Marco was in the mood to be my tour guide and point out the sights.
Before getting out of the car, Marco faced me and leaned across, caging me in with his arms on either side of my lap. He bent his head toward me, and his lips brushed my ear. “You will behave today. Or there’ll be consequences. Understand?”
I didn’t reply, I couldn’t. I dropped my gaze, not being able to look into his intense gaze.
He pulled my chin up with rough fingers. “Answer me,” he demanded in a foreboding tone.
I gave the smallest nod, not being able to force any words past my dry lips.
He got out of the car and came around to my door, opening it and holding out his hand to me.
When I did not make a move to leave the car, he narrowed his eyes. “Come, Juliana.”
It was as if his voice startled me out of my daze. I automatically registered his authoritative tone, my brain submitting to his words and my body moving. He put his hand under my elbow and helped me as I exited the car. I didn’t push him away—I wasn’t capable of even that right now.
Some guests were milling around the entrance of the hotel, waiting to catch a glimpse of us. Alessio approached Marco and they discussed a few security details between themselves as I was ushered inside. I noticed admiring glances coming from some of the guests, but nothing could make me feel special today. It felt as though I was walking to my execution.
I felt Marco put his hand at the small of my back, making a shudder run through my body. He led me forward into the foyer to meet some of his Underbosses and their wives. The wives cooed at my dress and said how gorgeous it was while their husbands discussed business with Marco. Everything was about business in our world—business and power.
