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“Thank you,” I say gratefully, ignoring the sound of annoyance Nico makes behind me. I don’t even look his way, but Pietro winks at me, so I imagine that last part was definitely to annoy him.
First he introduces me to Alessio, who kisses the back of my hand charmingly. “Lovely to meet you,dolcezza,” he says, still holding my hand in his. I blush, because wow, the genes in the Caruso family are indeed strong, and when he smiles at me, it’s startling. “I look forward to getting to know you as well while I’m here.”
“I, ah, okay, thank you,” I stammer out, which only makes his eyes glitter with amusement. I step back and turn to his other brothers, who do much of the same, and leave me blushing mess. God, how does Sofia view these men as her brothers, because damn, they are hot. I can’t even look at Nico because I can feel his eyes boring into me.
“And this is Aurelio, Sofia’s father, and my head of security,” Pietro tells me as we turn back toward the Cattaneo family and introduces me to Sofia’s family.
“Pleasure to meet you,cara,” Aurelio says with a wide smile as he shakes my hand. He’s so large he towers over me, but his handshake is gentle. “Sofia will give you my number, and I expect you to use it if you ever need it. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. And I hope that you’re helping to keep my little girl in line,” he adds with a wink.
I chuckle, and see Sofia roll her eyes out of the corner of my eyes. “I think it’s more the other way around, but I’ll try my best,” I assure him.
One of her brothers snorts at that, then winks at me. He looks the most like his father, but he has a scar along his temple that none of the others have. He’s got a kind smile, much like his father, but there is no mistaking the danger that lies underneath. “No need to spare our feelings,bella.” He shakes my hand gently and adds, “I am Lazaro, the eldest of this band of idiots. So if you want strong and handsome, you come to me.”
There is a round of scoffs. “As if,” another one of the brothers says. I look at him as he steps forward and gives me a charming smile. He has almost a boyish looking charm, and I can’t help but smile back at him. “I’m Alonzo, and if you really want to make sure you’re talking to someone with brains, you come and find me.”
“But if you want actual brains, you come and find me. It’s my job,” the final brother, Urso, tells me with a wink, also shaking my hand and introducing himself.
“Nice to meet you all,” I say warmly.
“Gia,” Nico says, and the warning in his voice, has me finally looking at him, and I can’t stop the grin that pulls across my lips at the clear annoyance on his face; not to mention the jealousy in his eyes. Though it softens when he sees my grin. “Come here,topolina,” he instructs, crooking his fingers at me. “We have some things to discuss.”
Ah, yes, nothing more sobering than the mention of marriage. I lose my grin but walk toward him. But before I can reach him, Pietro stops me by saying, “Myself and Alessio will speak to her alone, Nico.” There is a hardness in his voice, and I look back at him in surprise. Though his gaze isn’t on me, but on Nico, who is now looking positively thunderous.
“No,” he grits out between clenched teeth.
“It’s not a request,” Pietro informs him, and the look on his face makes me nervous. He’s full don right now, and despite Nico being one also, we all know he outranks him. And I don’t miss the smirks on the other mens’ faces, because they know it too.
Nico’s eyes fire with anger at that statement and from my vantage point, I can see him clenching his fists on his thighs. Before he can explode, though, I say quickly, “I’m fine, Nico. I don’t mind speaking with him.”
“I am not leaving you alone,” Nico tells me, his gaze moving to mine.
“If Alessio stays, then Dante can stay as well, it’s only right that one of your men do too, right?” I look at Pietro and give him a slightly pleading look. The last thing I need is Nico going all caveman and this whole thing turning into a bloody mess.
Pietro eyes me for a moment and then confirms, “He can stay.”
I look back at Nico and see him watching me with eyes so dark and stormy my heart starts to pound. I give him a reassuring smile, hoping that will help, but instead, it only makes his gaze on me more intense. It takes a long moment, before he finally looks at Dante and nods, before coming around the desk. I expect him to walk right out, but instead, he hauls me up and takes my mouth in a bruising kiss. There is no denying it for exactly what it is, and it both thrills and scares me how quickly and easily I respond to him before he pulls away and murmurs, “I’ll be right outside,topolina. If you need me, you only need to say so and I’ll be right back in.” I nod mutely because I don’t think I’m capable of speaking. Then he does something he’s never done. He kisses my forehead, sets me down, and walks to the door. But he stops and pins Pietro with a hard glare. “If you upset her, guest and don or not, you will answer to me.” Then he throws open the door and stalks out, the others following behind him, though I see their grins and smirks.
Finally, the door closes, and it’s only myself, Pietro, Alessio, and Dante left in the room. Dante positions himself behind me, leaning against the wall.
Pietro and Alessio share a look, but then both look back at me and Pietro says, “Do not worry,cara mia, we mean you no harm.” He gives me a reassuring smile. “But Nico has informed us he brought you here under not-so-very-normal circumstances.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Alessio chuckles. He gives me a reassuring smile. “And we want to make sure that you’re alright and you actually want to stay here.” He gives Dante a cold, lethal smile. “Because if you want to leave, say the word and this guy won’t be a problem anymore, and we’ll get you out so fast your head will spin.”
“Good luck with that,” Dante drawls, completely unfazed.
“Ah, no, no, you don’t need to do anything,” I rush to interject. I look at Alessio and give him a sad smile. “I hope my brother didn’t promise you anything else that will cause you any problems.”
He gives me a reassuring smile. “Dolcezza,you don’t need to worry about any of that. My concern right now is you are here because you want to be, not because you are forced. Though, by that little display, I think you’ve already answered that question.” I blush furiously and try not to squirm.
“Do not embarrass the girl, Alessio,” Pietro scolds, but he turns a smile back to me. “We are just concerned you are doing this because you feel you have to stay,cara mia. I want you to know you have choices. I’m now seeing you haven’t had a lot of those until now. Including coming here,” he adds pointedly, with a look toward Dante. “We want you to know that you have the choice to come with us when we leave.”
“And you’ll let her live without marrying your son?” Dante asks lightly.
Neither man look at him and only focus on me. “There will be no one forcing you to marry anyone,” Pietro assures me. “Though, I would be happy to welcome you into the family should that happen, but I already know that is not where your heart lies.”
“But is marriage going to be the only way to make sure people don’t try to kidnap me?” I ask.
None of them speak, but I see the sideways glance they give each other. “You are in an…interesting position,cara mia,” Pietro says carefully. “You are the only daughter of a family that wants to use you for their own gain. You have been promised twice already that we know of, by both your uncle and brother. Perhaps your other brothers, or father, or even cousins, have also promised you to other families. When you only have one woman and many options, people will do things that they feel will benefit them the most with no care for your wellbeing.” Alessio nods his head in agreement.
