His temper gets the better of him when he launches forward. Before I can raise my gun—and put a bullet in the head of the idiot who dares to attack me in my own home—Caterina is standing in front of me.
“Leave,” she says in such a calm and collected voice it intrigues the hell out of me.
How does she manage to keep control of her feelings in this heated situation? Mattia glares at me for a few more breaths before Caterina and I are alone for the first time.
She slowly turns around to face me and I believe I’m now seeing the true Caterina. The way she doesn’t jab a finger against my chest—the way my sister would do whenever she gives me a piece of her mind—but actually curls her fingers into a fist to punch my shoulder, indicates I underestimated her.
“Out of line,” she grits through her teeth. “That boy has never touched me. I would never let any man other than my husband touch me. I was trained for this moment. To be your wife. Don’t diminish my intentions or values. And for sure as shit don’t twist Mattia’s protectiveness into something it’s not. He’s young, he’s a hot head, but he’s well trained and has been my friend for years since we grew up together. Fucking him would be against all my beliefs. Not to mention he’s three years younger than me and the mere thought is insane since he’s like a brother to me. And again, I was trained for this moment. If you think I’m a brainless bitch who will spread her legs for any man and has no value for herself, then I do hope you sleep with one eye open so you see me coming. Because I will kill your ignorant ass to rid this world of your stupidity.”
“There she is.” I can’t hold back the proud smirk.
I knew this woman was hiding her inner temperamental spitfire, and I’m man enough to acknowledge when I’ve found my match. Even if this is merely one reply, I know this woman’s soul is deep and unique. A puzzle I can unravel and I know for sure it’s something she won’t allow and will put up a fight if I tried. I just fucking know it.
“Spitting out threats to kill me is kind of ruining the surprise, don’t you think?” I slide my gun back in the holster, take a step closer, and lean in so we’re nose to nose. “I have to give you credit, you do know how to keep your mask firmly in place. Do you take it off when your pretty boy is around?”
Her eyes narrow. “Nothing goes off when my little, non-blood related, brother is around. You don’t know me, Clemente. You don’t have to because I am the woman chosen to be linked to you for life. My loyalty and trust will be proven since I live to serve my place in the mafia world I was raised in with my eyes wide open. Failure isn’t acceptable in any shape or form. I can withstand anything you throw at me but, spewing lies about the one person I trust isn’t something I tolerate. Even more when that person is protecting me with his actions. Actions I admit weren’t exactly tactful, but he’s young and still learning how to control his temper.”
Her words ignite a bright smile to slide in place. Oh, I do think my uncle picked the right woman for me. My life just became much more interesting.
CHAPTER TWO
Useful instead of the silent arm candy
— Caterina —
I truly wish I could knock that creepy smile off his face. Self-satisfied asshole. I knew the man I needed to wed was going to be an asshole. Men in the mafia world rarely are nice human beings. And it’s only logical they are ruthless, savage beasts who go after each other’s throat on a regular basis. It’s a rough, hard world where they follow killer instinct to survive.
Other women are raised to be the pristine wife and eye candy to serve their husband between the sheets and to look good on their arm, turning a blind eye to all the ruthlessness and blood everything is painted with. I was raised to be more than that.
My father believed I needed to be the woman my mother once was before she died. She taught herself how to handle weapons and fight like a man. She wasn’t blind to everything. And when they planned to kill my father, it was she who saved him.
My mother, Aurora, was my hero in many ways and I love her more because I am the strong woman I am today because of her. Along with my father, who has always supported me. I worked hard each day to train, to learn, to be the best in any field that would allow me to support and protect the man who will give me the same honor in return.
Though in this moment? I would really like to use my skills to knock his ego down a few notches. But, first and foremost, I was brought up to be a lady. I take a deep breath to calm myself and step back.
“I hope this will clear up any doubts. Thank you for understanding, and of course I will respect your wishes to stay in your bedroom. I will always follow your choices without—”
“Cut the fucking mindless complying slave routine. We both know it’s fake. A fucking lie, and I hate liars.” The snap in his words make me cringe.
Shit. I never cringe, not for anyone and surely not for a man I just went head to head with. Also, something I never do. It’s him. He has a way to set me off and react rather than think.
“Fine,” I snap, catching my bottom lip between my teeth and biting down in an effort not to snap again and somehow calm down.
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Better. Now is the perfect time to set some ground rules between us. First, and foremost, when we’re alone together I expect you to be yourself. And if this consists of biting my head off frequently, so be it. This house? Yours as well as mine. If you leave the premises, I expect you to take one of my guards with you. And Mattia isn’t one of mine, understood?”
“Fine,” I snap again.
I’m not completely blind and mindless. I know very well Mattia developed feelings for me, more than sisterly love. But it is one-sided and it has never been acted upon. I wasn’t lying when I told him neither of us disrespect the Famiglia in any way.
“Anything else?” I ask, because I can tell by the look in his eyes, he needs to kick me down a few more notches to make it clear he’s in charge.
“No pets, no jobs. We’re getting married in exactly two weeks. You’re going to be in my bed tonight and every other night until you die. I won’t tolerate any man coming near what’s mine. Virgin pussy or not, the second you walked into my presence you became my property, and I don’t share.”
I roll my eyes. I can’t help it, he’s so freaking frustrating. Wait. He did say I was free to speak my mind. And if we’re discussing ground rules, I might as well try to see where I stand if he’s mentioning the whole property element.
“If I’m your property, does that mean you’re mine with the same ‘no sharing’ element? Or are you free to stick your dick in every woman who spreads her legs for you?” Shit. Manners. It seems I left them in Italy since this man is driving me nuts at every turn.
“I’m the head of the Famiglia, Rina. I barely have time to plant my ass on a couch and watch TV. If I have a wife at home, I expect her to give me what I want when I want it and I’ll give equal pleasure in return. If that’s not what you want, I can fuck a nameless cunt if you—”
“No,” I instantly cut him off before he can finish his sentence. “I will serve my husband’s every need. With what you just mentioned we agree to complete monogamy.”