to do every-fucking-thing in my power to bring Marzia back home where she belongs.
I growl her name as I bring my cock closer and closer to an inevitable orgasm. I'm not going to stop until my load has spilled over my fingers. The only thing that will bring me relief right now isn't here, so I'll just have to fucking take care of it myself.
I grunt as I unload. Rope after rope of cum shoots ahead of me, on the hardwood floor. I pull my shirt off and toss it on the mess, falling back on my bed.
So much shit has happened. Ryder interrupting the wedding, Marzia disappearing.
But she didn't disappear, I remind myself. She left because she wanted to. She escaped.
No matter what I want from her, she doesn't want the same. She'd rather be with Vitto fucking Donatti than me. That's why she left, after all. She couldn't bear the thought of staying here and being mine.
It hurts. Knowing she chose to leave is hurting, cutting deeper than I ever thought it would.
How did I allow this to happen? How could I let myself develop fucking feelings for a woman like her? She isn't just a childhood obsession, not anymore. My heart beats for her, my body wants her, and she's fucked with my head enough to have me obsessing over her after just a few short months. And it's not fixable. I can only fix it if I bring her back.
Getting up, I head into the shower where the ice-cold water beats down my back. Every pelt of the water on me feels like a slap jolting me fucking awake. I can't allow myself to stop hoping now, to think I'm not going to get her back. I have to get her back.
There is no other option.
Two weeks later
Today, Father will break off my engagement with Nicoletta.
I've been looking forward to the day and something tells me my ex-fiancée isn't too sad about it either.
Still, she seems worried when Gustavo arrives, merely smiling nervously as he greets her.
We all sit down in the sun room where we have some tea. No one mentions Marzia ‒ Gustavo doesn't know she's missing ‒ and it doesn't fucking concern him.
"I hope I'm here so you can tell me you've officially gotten married," Gustavo muses as we all sit down.
Ryder wanted to be here, but Father wouldn't allow it, knowing Gustavo would lose his shit around him, since he was the one who stopped the wedding.
As grateful as I am for that, I'm not letting him take the fall this time.
"Unfortunately not," Father begins, clearing his throat.
I interrupt him with a raised hand. "Let me, Father." I focus my attention back on Gustavo. "Signore Carlucci, I admire you very much. You know that."
He merely smirks, not replying.
"I want you to know I have the utmost respect for your daughter," I go on. "I have never touched her inappropriately. I have always been honest with her. And I hope both you and she will understand... that I can't go through with this marriage."
Gustavo is on his feet the next second. "Are you fucking kidding me, you cazzo?"
Bruno jumps up too, and guards pull out their weapons.
"Calm down," I hiss. "Not in front of the girl."
Reluctantly, everyone puts away the weapons. I notice Nicoletta is shivering, but don't offer to comfort her. That's not my job anymore.
"I'm sorry, Gustavo, but I love someone else," I mutter. "I can't disappoint your daughter by not giving her everything she deserves."
Gustavo is seething with anger. "This is not the deal we made. You will pay dearly for this."
"I'm sorry," Father cuts in. "Perhaps she could marry a cousin..."
"A cousin?" Gustavo spits out before rubbing his chin. "You have other sons, don't you?"
"Yes," Father mutters. "I have four others."
"Well then," Gustavo smirks, looking too pleased with himself for my fucking liking. "What about your prick of a son who stopped the wedding in the first place? If he hadn't done that, none of this would be happening right now."
"Ryder?" Father repeats, glancing at me.
"I like him," Nicoletta chirps, flushing before looking at her hands.
"We know," Gustavo hisses, making her hide her face in her hands. "So, what do you say, Bernardi? Do we have another potential on our hands?"
I watch Nicoletta closely. How can she just be okay with this? She's being passed around like a piece of meat. One brother doesn't want her? That's fine, she'll just go to the next one in fucking line. I'm