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Timidly, I stretch my hand out in his direction. He glances at it and nods. “Suits you.” Then he goes back to his phone and ignores me.
Just like that the ball of dread in my stomach becomes disgust. With him and myself. I feel quite sick with it. What have I become? I’ve spent all that money so carelessly, so thoughtlessly on stuff I don’t need or want. What would Thomas think? He would be horrified. That money could have been sent to Africa to feed starving children.
At that moment I make the decision to return everything.
Every last thing.
Chapter Nine
VALENTINO
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Barone. This is your Captain speaking. We have begun our descent to Venice, and we expect to land in ten minutes. The time in Venice is five twenty-five p.m., and the weather is cool and windy. I ask that you please remain in your seats as we prepare for landing. Thank you.”
As the Captain's announcement ends, I turn my phone off, look up, and catch Francesca’s gaze. She immediately looks away and turns her head to look out the window.
Francesca has been restless since morning, and I don’t know why. I am trying not to care because I’m furious with her, but everything about my new wife catches my attention, even the faintest of sighs. No woman has ever had so much control over my attention, and it bothers me a great deal.
“My family will be waiting for us at the house,” I say, causing her to glance at me.
“Okay.”
“When we get out there, we’re going to have to pretend we’re in love.”
Her blue eyes widen with shock. “What?”
A small smile plays on my lips, but I catch it before it blossoms. “No one knows that this is a transactional marriage, and we’re going to keep it that way, so sulk all you want when we are alone, but when we walk out of here you’re going to smile like you’re the happiest bride in the world.”
Francesca’s eyes flash stubbornly. “So the feared Godfather of the Barone clan is actually a coward,” she scoffs. “Too ashamed to tell his family he married a woman for a piece of land. You think you’re better than us, but you’re not. You need us to get your filthy hands on Terra de Barbiera.”
Anyone else would have been bleeding on my handmade, high-grade, full-grain leather shoes for daring to speak to me this way, but I only watch, my heart and cock stirring as my new bride verbally mauls me. She’s a fireball for sure, and I desperately crave to dominate and subdue her.
I want her crying and begging for my cock.
I want her to cry withneedfor me.
I want that mouth that scowls and growls at me to moan with pleasure as my body and hands teach her some manners.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” she snaps when I don’t respond.
I lean forward, staring into her lovely eyes. Her pupils dilate at my nearness, and I can tell that her bravado is only a facade. She’s afraid of me, and rightfully so. She should never forget who I am.
“I don’t know how much your grandfather told you, but you are a target, my dear wife. They want you because of Terra de Barbiera, the land you hate me for. But because of me, because of my protection, you are safe.”
Francesca sucks in a breath but says nothing. Our gazes remain locked to each other.
“You must pretend to people that this is a marriage of love; otherwise, they will come for you thinking I don’t love you.In the Cosa Nostra, family is everything, and they know that coming for the loved ones is a declaration of war. Especially for the wife of the Godfather himself. Let them think I love you so they’ll be too afraid to touch you.”
She nods obediently and it is the fucking hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I lean back, glad that my raging erection is hidden behind my fly.
I manage to calm myself down by turning away from her and thinking of how I will wipe the stupid smirk off Burim Boga’s ugly face. Eventually, the plane comes to a stop and I lead Francesca towards the exit. Outside the jet, my four cousins are lined up, waiting for my arrival. From the left to right are Roberto, Matteo, Federico, and Giuseppe. They are the sons ofZioMarco, my father’s older brother.
“Benvenuti,” they chorus in welcome as I descend the boarding stairs. “It’s so good to see you, Valentino. We’ve been waiting.”
I hug and kiss their cheeks before turning to Francesca, who is standing a few steps behind me. I meet her eyes, silently reminding her of our agreement on the jet. She winks at me suddenly, then smiles brightly, so brightly I am blinded. Sliding her small arm around my waist, she looks up at me with adoring eyes.
“Won’t you introduce me to your family,amore mio?”
Jesus, I married a fucking actress. I’m too bemused by the change in her to even respond.