"You sure know how to ask a loaded question." I grin at her. "You know you look good, don't humiliate yourself by asking for my fucking opinion, Marzia."
She laughs.
The sound is like music to my ears. It's been a long time since I've heard her laugh like that. And as much as I want to hurt her, seeing her happy fills me with something warm, a feeling I'm not exactly used to.
"So what do I have to do tonight?" Marzia wonders.
"All eyes are on you," I remind her. "So make sure you're on your best behavior. As far as what you have to do... Keep the guests entertained and distracted."
"Hello, Bernardi."
We both turn around at the sound of the voice.
A man stands before me, tall, dark, and handsome, with tattoos peeking out from under his suit. He's part of another famiglia my family has ties with, the Lombardis.
But I don't like Nico one fucking bit, and I make sure to show it as I snarl a hello at him.
"Where is your bride?" Nico asks with a smirk. "This surely isn't her? Aren't you Marzia Da Costa?"
"Yes." Marzia nods.
"Yes?" Nico smirks. "You should teach your toy some fucking manners, Adrian. That's not how you address a man above you in stature."
"She doesn't need behavioral lessons, least of all from you," I seethe at the man. "Now, move along."
"Now, now, now, Adrian, what would your father think if he knew you were treating a business partner this way?" Nico scoffs. "I don't think he'd be pleased at all. You should show me some respect, both of you."
"I don't need lessons either," I spit out. "Move along if you don't want to cause a ruckus."
He gives me a crooked smile. "Relax, I'm just trying to find out more about this lovely lady. She isn't your fiancée, right?"
"No," I finally admit.
Marzia takes a step closer to me as Nico's wandering eyes drink in her body in that dress that I'm now finding much too tight for an occasion like this.
"So then, Marzia…" He winks at her. "You are available, aren't you?"
"Available for what?" Marzia asks.
Before Nico can reply, I step in front of Marzia, hiding her behind me. "I suggest you take a walk to cool off, Lombardi," I hiss. "She's not available in the slightest, and if I see you trying anything with her, you can kiss your fucking dick goodbye."
He laughs loudly. "Dio, no need to be so defensive, Bernardi. She's a beautiful girl. You can't blame a man for trying, can you? And since you're marrying Nicoletta Carlucci, you might as well share this little toy with the rest of your guests. It would be the only polite thing to do."
"She's not available," I growl.
"Says who?"
"Says me."
"And me."
We all look to find my father standing next to us.
Nico's behavior changes in a split second and he returns to being the kiss-ass I know him to be. "Ah, Signore Bernardi, how nice to see you," he rushes to say. "I was inquiring about this lovely young lady here... I can only imagine what a burden she is on your family and I was merely offering to take her off your hands—"
"She's not available," Father says calmly. "She's my son's property and I believe he's been plenty clear about not wanting to give her up."
"Of course." Nico smiles tersely. "But if you do ever change your mind... You know where to find me." His eyes drink in Marzia one last time.
I fight the urge to punch the smirk off his face. He walks away and I step aside, allowing Marzia more space.
She breathes a sigh of relief.
Father watches me with a thunderous expression. "What the fuck were you thinking?" he hisses. "The Lombardis are an important ally, you can't treat them that way. You're testing my patience, Adrian."
"He was treating Marzia like a piece of meat," I hiss. "All of these people are. They need to know she's off the fucking market."
"Maybe Marzia doesn't agree," Father muses. "And this might be the perfect opportunity to find her a husband and get her off our hands once and for all."
I grab Marzia's hand roughly and pull her against me while my eyes shoot daggers at Father. "How many times do I have to fucking say it? She's mine. No one else can have her. And if someone tries, I'm not responsible for my actions."
Father glares at me before groaning and running his fingers through his hair. "Fine, have it your way. But you can't keep her a captive forever. The girl deserves a life of her own." He walks off, leaving Marzia alone with me.
I realize my hand is still in hers and I pull it back, glaring at her as if all this is somehow her fault.
"You're very possessive today," she says with the hint of a smile.
"I just don't like those men looking at you like you're a piece of fucking meat."
"Oh, but you're allowed to do it?" Her eyes sparkle with amusement. She's not trying to rile me up, she's just messing with me.
It's actually kind of cute, and if I didn't have a raging hard on from seeing her in that sin of a dress, I might go along with it. But not now, not with everyone's eyes on us. "Dinner's starting. We better get to the table."
A large banquet room has been prepared for today's occasion. Marzia and I sit together, me at the head of the table with her to my right.
Father takes the other end of the table, with our guests sitting on either side.
I still see them watching her, devouring her with their hungry eyes, but I do my best not to pay the lecherous pricks any mind. She's mine and I've made that plenty clear.
We begin the dinner with course after course being brought out of the kitchens and artfully displayed on the dining table. But I'm too distracted by the sight of Marzia's tits nearly on full display to enjoy my food.
Somewhere around the third course, I toss a napkin at her, growling, "Cover up your tits. I don't want you exposed like this."
"Excuse me?" Her eyes shoot up.
I groan, covering them up myself. She looks ridiculous with that napkin on her dress but at least…all those perverts aren't staring at her exposed skin anymore.
"You going to treat Nicoletta like this too?" Marzia asks. "I don't think she'll like how jealous and possessive you're acting."
"It's not up to her, or you," I hiss. "This is my decision. And you're my property."
She continues eating without fighting back.
I smirk at the sight of a small smile playing on her lips.
We keep eating. The night stretches on and on, with some last minute wedding preparations peppered through it. There will be even more guests at the reception, today is just a preview. And I'm already dreading going through all this bullshit again, but with Nicoletta at my side instead of the woman I really want by me.
Once the clock strikes one a.m. I see Marzia yawning and pull her to the side. "I'm walking you to your room," I tell her firmly.
"I can go by myself."
"No." I pull on her forearm, forcing her to get up.
The entire party is looking at us as I force her out of her seat, up the stairs and down the hallway.
The moment we're alone, I stop holding back like I have been all fucking night long. I pull Marzia against me, her soft, feminine body helpless against my brawn. I put my lips on hers and kiss her in a way that says it all ‒ she's my property ‒ and she doesn't get to fucking argue.
She melts against my body.
I know she needs this too, as much as she tries to pretend she doesn't.
"Thank you for saving me from that man," she whispers against my lips. "I feel so safe with you."
I grumble something in response and let her into her bedroom. "Go to sleep."
"Will you come see me tonight?" Her words are filled with hope.
Her hopeful tone makes me feel like a goddamn villain. "I can't," I mutter.
"Why?"
"I have too much shit to deal with for the wedding."
She glares at me as if this isn't reason enough for me to stay away. "Fine." She closes the door.
I lock her in, leaning against t
he wood.
Truth of the matter is… I'd do any-fucking-thing to get to see her again. But I can't and shouldn't. My marriage with Nicoletta is inevitable. And unless I figure out a way to get out of this goddamn mess, my affair with Marzia will be forced to come to an end.
34
Marzia
I'm walking down the hallway the next morning when I overhear them. I can instantly tell they don't want anyone to overhear them. They're standing a little way off from a guard, quietly discussing some plan I shouldn't be privy to. My curiosity instantly peaks.
It's Bruno and Adrian, talking to each other in hushed tones.
Something tells me not to give myself away, so I hide behind a pillar in the hallway and motion for Eleanora to do the same. I can tell she doesn't want to, but she swallows her panic and does as she's told anyway. I give her a grateful nod. She isn't always able to help me, but I'm grateful she's trying today. I listen in to the conversation.
"Gustavo will know something's up when he comes to the wedding," Bruno hisses at his son. "He'll pick up the Marzia thing and then we're all fucked."
"It'll be fine," Adrian responds. "She'll be gone by then. We don't need to worry."
My stomach falls. Why are they talking about me as if I'm going to die before the wedding? Knitting my brows together, I motion for Eleanora to come out with me.
"Hello."
The two raise their eyes to me. There's worry etched all over their faces.
This only makes me doubt all this more. They really want me gone... and even though Bruno promised me he didn't want me dead anymore, I have no reason to trust him. He's already told me he's loyal to his family to a fault. He'll do anything he can to make Adrian's wedding with Nicoletta go by smoothly.
"Hello, Marzia," Bruno finally replies. "Heading to my office to work?"
"Yes. And you?" I stare at Adrian, hard.
"We're just discussing a private matter, nothing for you to worry about, bambina," Adrian tells me.
I glare at him, unable to discern his true feelings.
"Yes, I won't be working with you today," Bruno adds. "But they'll send up lunch for you, and you're free to work a bit later too, if you wish."
"Thanks." I nod curtly. "See you both later." I take a step toward the office.
Adrian's palm wraps over my forearm. "Something wrong, bambina?" he asks me cautiously.
I raise my eyes to his, my heartbeat fastening when I remember the conversation I just overheard. I force myself to paint a sweet smile on my face and say, "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" Ignoring them both, I head to Bruno's office, paying no mind to their stares that are glued to my back.
I get to work, trying to pretend I didn't overhear it. But I can't get anything done. My mind is spinning into overdrive. I take a look around the office. This is the second opportunity I have to dig up something to plan something for my escape. This time, I'm going to take it.
I don't have a choice.
If Adrian and Bruno's words are anything to go by, I might not even be around long enough for the wedding.
Making sure no one is watching and that there are no visible cameras in Bruno's office, I start going through his desk.
There are a bunch of documents and papers that mean nothing to me, but a number keeps coming up. 23, 4, 18. 23, 4, 18. Finally, I find a folder with the number marked on the front. I go through it, finding photos of a garage located at 23 Piazza Della Pinta. I see the garage is on the fourth floor of the parking building, the eighteenth unit. Once I see the photos of the inside of the garage, I know I've hit the jackpot.
I smirk and put everything back into place just as I found it. No one is going to suspect I caused this. How could they? I'm just an innocent bambina...
They all trust me.
But they fucking shouldn't.
Later that day, I prepare a letter for my brother, telling Eleanora this one is especially important. I tell him about the garage and what's inside it, explaining I think we can use it as a ruse during Adrian's wedding, which will be the perfect day for me to escape. Everyone will be preoccupied with Nicoletta. I will be able to get away.
I remember the punishment Adrian gave to Eleanora then, merely for leaving a door open the last time. I can't let that happen again. I can't let her get punished because of me.
In the letter to my brother, I add that I want Eleanora to come with me, too.
Once I'm done, I hand my maid the letter.
Smiling at me, she skims the words and awkwardly pulls me in for a hug. She's grateful.
At least I've made one true friend at the Bernardi Estate.
Once Eleanora is off with the letter, I sit impatiently in my bedroom, finally getting the time to digest what's happened.
I've set everything into motion now. But do I really want to run away from Adrian? Do I want to go back to Luigi and Vitto? I feel no connection to my fiancé... not like the one I share with Adrian.
Besides, fuck knows what Vitto is going to do when he finds out I've slept with Adrian. I know how jealous he is... I just know he'll take his anger out on Adrian.
Somehow, I've found myself in the middle of a war I hadn't meant to cause. Now I have to pick between taking Adrian's side, siding with the enemy... or going back to my loyal brother and the man, I don't love.
In reality, I don't have a choice. I heard them today. Either I run, or I won't be around for much longer.
With a heavy sigh, I force myself to get ready for bed. I bathe and change into silk pajamas before climbing between the sheets, feeling their comforting weight on my body.
I'm almost asleep when I hear the lock turning. Then, a warm body slips into bed next to mine. I'm not scared. I turn around to look deep into Adrian's eyes. "What are you doing here?" I mutter.
"Couldn't sleep." His eyes burn with dark intensity. "Needed to see you."
"Why?"
"Might not get the chance to do that so often from now on."
"Because of the wedding?" I ask.
"Because... yeah. That, too." He avoids my eyes.
My heart pounds even harder, knowing he's lying. He's getting rid of me. After everything we've been through together, Adrian's just going to toss me aside and marry Nicoletta. None of this meant anything to him.
Swallowing back tears, I force myself to smile. "How are you going to fuck me when you have to sleep in her bed every night?"
He avoids my answer, too. "Let's not worry about that. We have tonight, don't we?"
"Sure."
"I want to have you."
"Is that why you're here?" I ask. "To fuck me again?"
"No," he replies firmly. "I want more than fucking." He gets on top of me, his fingers gently gliding over my throat as he positions each knee on one side of my hips. Slowly, Adrian lowers his lips against mine. My fingers trace the elaborate inky patterns on his skin. I still don't know what all of his tattoos mean, but someday I'll find out.
Maybe...
Thinking about that is just a painful reminder of my reality. The fact that I'm running away from the one man I ever loved, because if I don't, he's going to have me killed.
Adrian kisses me deeply, his hands grabbing at the silk of my pajamas. He tears them off, revealing my bare skin underneath.
I try to hide myself, but it's no use. He can see right through me, and he's ripping my clothes off as if trying to get to the very center as fast as he can.
Once all my clothes are off, Adrian cages my wrists with his hands, taking a long, admiring look at my body. "So fucking beautiful," he mutters. "I can't get enough of you."
"Then don't marry someone else," I find myself saying.
"Watch that mouth."
I look away, and this time, it's impossible to hold back the tears. One slips down my cheek.
Adrian reaches up, wiping it away with his thumb. "Why are you crying?"
"I don't know what's going to happen," I whisper.
"It's going to be fine."
"How do you know
that? Everything is against us. Do you still want to be with me?"
Instead of answering me, Adrian kisses me, deeper still. His hands wander between my legs, pressing every one of my buttons so I'm a whimpering mess in under a minute.
"Why do you even ask?" he mutters in my ear. "It's always been you and you fucking know it, bambina. But don't worry about all that tonight. Just be mine. I promise you everything's going to be okay."
I don't believe him, but I go along with it anyway. I don't know when my escape is going to happen ‒ it could be tomorrow ‒ or not for months. Either way, I need to treat every second I spend with Adrian as if it's the last time we're together.
One of these days, it will be.
As he rocks his hips, gently pushing his cock inside me, I mewl, feeling him stretching me out.
He doesn't fuck me though, not tonight. It's more, just like he promised. Adrian Bernardi makes love to me while I hold back tears.
If he notices how upset I am, Adrian doesn't mention it. But he handles me with care, every movement careful as if I'm something valuable, breakable. He's never touched me like this before. Like I'm his everything. It makes it even more painful to know we're going to be forced apart soon.
He comes inside me and stays in my bed afterward. I know he won't be there when I wake up, so I lie awake for hours, willing sleep to leave me be, so I can keep thinking about my options.
I have no illusions about it ‒ once I'm back with Luigi and Vitto ‒ I won't see Adrian again. My brother and fiancé will do everything in their power to kill every one of the Bernardis. Especially Bruno and especially… Adrian.
Am I going to be able to live with myself if that happens? Will Adrian and Bruno's deaths make up for all the other losses I've suffered? Or am I fooling myself into thinking I'll be happier away from him? I need Adrian. Every thought revolves around him, every nerve ending on fire when he gives me his attention. I'm so eager to belong to him.
But that doesn't change the facts.
He doesn't want me.
Another tear slides down my cheek as I snuggle closer to his side.
He pulls me against his strong, tattooed body. He's so muscular, so perfect, so smart, so handsome...
Adrian's Vengeance: A Dark Mafia Romance Page 21