Born in Blood Collection Volume 1 - Cora Reilly Page 0,27

by people I know even less, people who might still be the enemy. Of getting to know Luca and finding out he’s the monster I think he is. Of being without you and Lily and Fabiano.”

“We will come to visit as often as Father allows it. And about tonight.” Gianna’s voice turned hard. “He can’t force you.”

I let out a choked laugh. Sometimes I forgot that Gianna was younger than me. These were the moments that reminded me. “He can. He will.”

“Then you’ll fight him with all you’ve got.”

“Gianna,” I said in a whisper. “Luca is going to be Capo dei Capi. He’s a born fighter. He’ll laugh at me if I try to resist. Or my refusal will make him angry, and then he’ll really want to hurt me.” I paused. “Bibiana told me I should give him what he wants, that I should try to make him be good to me, try to make him love me.”

“Stupid Bibiana, what does she know?” Gianna glared at me. “Look at her, the way she cowers in front of that fat fool. How she lets him touch her with his sausage fingers. I’d rather die than lie under a man like that.”

“Do you think I can make Luca love me?”

Gianna shook her head. “Maybe you can make him respect you. I don’t think men like him have a heart to be capable of love.”

“Even the most cold-hearted bastards have a heart.”

“Well, then it’s as black as tar. Don’t waste your time on love, Aria. You won’t find it in our world.”

She was right, of course, but I couldn’t help hoping.

“Promise me you’ll be strong. Promise me you won’t let him treat you like a whore. You are his wife.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yeah—whores at least get to sleep with other men and don’t have to live in a golden cage. They are better off.”

I snorted. “You are impossible.”

Gianna shrugged. “It made you smile.” She turned and her expression darkened. “Luca sent his lapdog. Maybe he was worried you’d run.”

I followed her gaze to find Romero standing at the crest of the small hill overlooking the bay and the dock.

“We should have taken that yacht and run away,” Gianna said.

“Where could I run? He’d follow me to the end of the world.” I glanced at the elegant golden watch around my wrist. I didn’t know Luca, but I knew men of his kind. They were possessive. Once you belonged to them, there was no escaping. “We should go back. The wedding cake will be presented soon.”

We put our shoes back on and walked back toward the noise. I ignored Romero but Gianna scowled at him. “Does Luca need you for everything? Or can he at least take a piss on his own?”

“Luca is the groom and needs to attend to the guests,” Romero said simply, but of course it was a reprimand in my direction.

Luca’s eyes settled on me the moment I returned to the festivities. Many guests were already drunk, and some had moved up to where the pool was and were taking a swim fully clothed. Luca held his hand out, and I bridged the distance between us and took it. “Where were you?”

“I just needed a moment to myself.”

There was no time for further discussions as the cook rolled a table with our wedding cake toward the center. It was white, had six tiers and was decorated with peach flowers. Luca and I cut it under another round of applause, followed by “Bacio, Bacio,” and put the first piece onto our plate. Luca picked up a fork and fed me a bite as a sign that he’d provide for me, and I then fed him a piece as a sign that I’d take care of him as a good wife was supposed to.

It was close to midnight when the first shouts rang out that suggested Luca and I retire to the bedroom. “You wed her, now bed her!” Matteo shouted, throwing his arms up and bumping into a chair. He’d drunk his fair share of wine, whiskey, Grappa and whatever else he could get his hands on. Luca, on the other hand, was sober. The small inkling of hope I’d harbored that he’d be too drunk to consummate our marriage evaporated. Luca’s answering grin, all predator, all hunger, all want, made my heart pound in my chest. Soon most of the men and even many women joined in the chorus.

Luca rose from his chair and I did the same, even