“Mrs Gallagher,” my Father says once the dinner is finished, and I watch as she bows her head, “thank you for a wonderful dinner.”
The woman gets to her feet, “It was a pleasure to have you.” She practically curtsies as she walks backward to exit the room.
“Seamus, I ensure that everything will be ready for the wedding in three days.” The harshness to my father’s tone has the Gallagher men’s hands twitching for their guns.
“Matteo,” Seamus glares at him. “What do you take me for?”
“And her…” my father continues, not knowing when to shut his fucking mouth. “She’s pure?”
Makenna smirks, not what I’d expect from her. Most woman in our life are untouched, when men talk about sex, they blush and bow their heads with embarrassment. Not Makenna, she smirks and her eyes twinkle. “I’m Catholic,” is her response, her accent is thick and full of sarcasm.
“That means nothing,” my father says in outrage.
Makenna shrugs, the hatred she has for him is making her be disrespectful. She needs to be careful. I reach over and grip her arm, her gaze snaps to me, eyes narrowed, but she raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
“Watch your mouth,” I say through clenched teeth. “Respect.”
She glares at me for a moment before smiling and I know that whatever is going to come out of her mouth isn’t going to be good. “I’m sorry,” she snarls. “Don’t worry, Dante here will be the only one to defile me.” My grip on her arm tightens, does she really believe that I’d do that to her?
My father nods, pleased with her answer. “And I see that she’s drinking.” His tone is reproachful.
Makenna reaches for the glass of wine that’s in front of her and downs it in one swallow. Romero’s eyes flash with humor, but his face is void of emotion. Alessio on the other hand, is unable to stop his lips twitching with amusement.
“I’m Irish,” Makenna drawls with a smile and her brothers laugh.
“We can handle our drink, Matteo.” Seamus grins. “Have no fear, Makenna can and will drink you and your Italian boys under the table anytime she likes.”
Why do I think there’s a double meaning to this?
Father gets to his feet and my brothers and I do the same. “Seamus,” he says as a way of saying goodbye.
I lean down so that my mouth is level with Makenna’s ear. “Soon, Makenna,” I whisper and enjoy the tiny shudder she has. “Three days and then you’re mine.”
She gets to her feet, her expression blank. “Oh, Dante,” she whispers. “You’re in for a surprise.”
“No, darling,” I return. “You are. You’ve lived sheltered for so long. When we go home, you’re going to find out what it’s like to be in our world. Not to mention what it’s like to have my cock inside of you.”
The sharp intake of breath is all I needed. I walk away from her before I do something stupid like kiss her.
Once we’re outside, my father turns to me. “When you wed her, make sure you teach her manners,” he sneers and I glare at the fucking bastard. “Damn bitch,” he mutters. “I’ve got a meeting. Pauly is with me,” he says talking about his consigliere. “The sooner this wedding is over, the fucking better.”
I don’t rise to his bait. He’s trying to get a rise out of me, wondering if Makenna has gotten to me. My father believes that a woman is a man’s downfall. That all they’re good for is fucking and baring our children. While my father is a monster to his women, I on the other hand won’t hurt my wife; although I do agree that love is for fools.
“Good,” he says, whatever he saw on my face or didn’t satisfied him. “You’ve three days, Dante. Three days before you take that fucking bitch to become your wife.” He turns and goes to his car. I stay where I am and watch him leave.
“Bro…” Romero says. “I’ll fucking take him out.”
“Anytime, anywhere,” Alessio agrees.
I shake my head. “Not now.” But our time will come.
“What the hell is with him and Makenna? I’ve never seen someone affect him as she does. He wants to rip her head off.” Alessio asks and it’s what I’ve been wondering too.
“I don’t know, I saw the way they acted. Something has happened and I’m going to find out what.” I make my way to our car, needing to get the hell away from the Gallagher’s. Makenna is making me lose my damn fucking mind and I’m not even married to her yet.
“What I want to know is what the hell her mom did to her? I’ve never seen a woman look at their mom with such hatred.” Romero chuckles, “That woman should sleep with one eye open from now on.”
I frown, “If Makenna was going to kill her mom, I think she’d have done it by now.” I slide into the driver’s side and wait for Romero and Alessio to climb in. As soon as they do, I drive, needing some distance between me and Makenna.
That just makes Romero chuckle louder. “Oh, dear brother,” he tuts. “I wasn’t talking about Makenna, I doubt she can hurt anyone. I’m talking about you. When you find out what happened, you’re going to go on a rampage.”
I glare at the asshole. Why does he have to be so astute? “Fuck you.”
Both he and Alessio laugh, “Who’d have thought that Dante ‘Ice’ Bianchi is being led by a woman. One that he’s not yet fucked.”
My hands tighten around the steering wheel.
“I wonder what it’ll be like to fuck her. Will she fight? Or lay there and take it like a good girl?” Romero laughs.
I slant him a look, one that has him shutting the fuck up. My knuckles are white from the grip I have on the wheel. “One more word about my fiancée and I’ll gut you where you sit.”
“Fuck,” Alessio whispers.
Yeah, I’m deadly serious about gutting my brother, we’ve all made threats before but never meant it. Until now.
“Makenna is mine.”
Romero grins but keeps his damn mouth shut. Both he and Alessio have knowing smiles on their faces and if they continue, I’m going to wipe it off their faces.
“We’ve got your back bro,” Alessio says after a couple of minutes. “We won’t let dad get to her.”
Damn fucking straight we won’t. I know what that asshole is capable of.
“Where are we going?” Romero asks.
I grin, “I’ve a Russian to find.” My mind is filled with the images of the bruise on Makenna’s creamy skin. Some bastard put hands on her and for that he’s going to pay.
Three
Makenna
“Makenna…” The gentleness of my mother's voice has the hair on the back of my neck standing up. She’s being nice, that can only mean she wants something.
“What, Ma?” I’m tired of this bullshit, the sooner I’m away from her the sooner I’ll be able to relax. I glance in the mirror and look back at myself. The scar on my neck shining like a beacon against my tanned skin and white robe; it’s a reminder that I’m nothing more than a victim in this world of monsters.