up to you. I’ll have to protect your honor and keep you in school.”
I closed my eyes. This day got only worse.
We parked in front of the abandoned casino that harbored the private Falcone gym. Only the Falcones would use something this extra to work out.
“Come on,” Diego urged.
“You want me to come with you?”
“You bet.”
I dragged myself out of the car then trudged after Diego. I didn’t want to see Savio again, especially not after what Will had said.
“Gemma, get a move on,” Diego said, and I sped up, not wanting him to reprimand me again, especially not in earshot of Savio. We entered the huge gaming area of the casino where a boxing ring, a cage, and other workout equipment were spread out.
Savio was pummeling a boxing bag while Nino and Remo were sparring in the boxing ring. The Camorra Enforcer Fabiano was doing burpees. He gave Diego and me a curt nod before he proceeded his workout.
I tried to hide my nerves. This would be embarrassing.
Diego pulled me straight toward Savio who stopped and regarded us with cocked eyebrows. Only seeing him filled my stomach with butterflies. I tried not to check out the display of muscles that glistened with a fine sheen of sweat, or the tattoo that peeked out from his low waistband, the horns of the stupid bull that every girl seemed to have seen except for me.
Diego finally released me to step up close to Savio who narrowed his eyes at my brother.
Remo and Nino stopped fighting and looked over to us as well. I could already feel embarrassment crawling up my neck.
“Make it official,” Diego demanded. “An engagement announcement that’ll show everyone that my sister is yours, that she’s under your protection.”
My eyes widened. That had been an order. Diego and Savio were friends, but Savio was also a Falcone.
Savio took a step toward my brother. “I’m not taking orders from you, Diego.” Then his eyes slid to me and my bruised hand that I still cradled against my stomach. Something in his face shifted. “What the fuck happened with your hand?”
I shrugged. I wouldn’t mention Will, much less Noemi, or any of the things they’d said to me.
“Will Reynolds called my sister, an honorable Italian woman, your future wife, a Falcone whore,” Diego growled. So much for keeping things to myself.
Remo swung himself out of the ring and Nino climbed out a moment later. Even Fabiano stopped what he had been doing to watch the freakshow. Savio only stared at me. “That bastard suggested that your brother as Capo would…fu…” Diego glanced at me. “…would take my sister and that you’d watch. That you two would share her at the same time.”
Oh God. Why couldn’t the ground swallow me? Expulsion would have been less horrific than this mortification.
“That’s what he said?” Remo asked with a twisted smile that raised the little hairs on my neck. “Remind me again, Nino, what is it called? Ius?”
Nino shook his head with a frown. “Ius primae nocti.”
I’d had enough Latin to know what that meant, and my expression slipped a moment. Remo Falcone’s name stirred fears in most people. Even a wife and beautiful children hadn’t changed that.
Diego lost his shit. “This isn’t a fucking joke. My sister is an honorable woman, and nobody should suggest that anyone but her husband touches her!” My heart skipped a beat. He had screamed not just at Savio but also at Nino and Remo.
Remo’s smile slipped off, and Diego fell silent. He took a deep breath. “I meant no disrespect, Capo, but I must protect my sister’s honor no matter the price.”
Savio seemed to pierce me with his eyes. “We will make the engagement official, and I will make it clear that Gemma is only mine. Nobody will touch her, not a single fucker, and most definitely not any of my brothers.”
He strode toward me and took my hand, regarding my knuckles closely. “This will have to heal before you can wear my engagement ring.” His voice was pure possession and sucked the air clean out of my lungs, making me feel light-headed. Then he looked up at me and the arrogant mischief was back. “I already know exactly what kind of ring to get you.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“She needs treatment for her knuckles,” Diego butted in, stepping up beside us, and eyeing Savio’s hand on mine critically. I could tell he wanted to shove him away. As if even hand-holding was too much before we were married.