Page 32 of Savage Vows

“Oh heavens no! I’m happy to share.”

“Don Raffaele will be happy to hear that,” Bella says.

“He has a sweet tooth.” Gina rolls her eyes. “I wish he’d eat better, but I sometimes catch him having cookies or pie for breakfast.”

The information humanizes him in a way I can’t really comprehend. A man whose name strikes fear into the hearts of mortals sneaks cookies for breakfast?

“Shall we?” Gina asks.

Carrying the goodies, we rejoin the men.

Matteo pours a cup of coffee for me while Gina plates the cake and the tiramisu.

I’m sticking my fork into my slice of cake when Bella looks at Matteo. “I’d love to take Alessia for lunch and show her the sites, maybe do a little shopping so she feels more comfortable in Houston.”

He goes still.

“What day works best with your schedule, Matteo?” She smiles as if she expects no argument from him. “Tuesday is good for me. I can pick Alessia up and have her back home before you get off work. You’ll never even know she was gone.”

With a scowl, he glances at me. Then he looks back at Bella. “Don’t you have a full-time job?”

“My boss is understanding.” She smiles. “Besides, he knows how beneficial positive PR is.”

Nico shoots his wife a quizzical look while Don Raffaele sits back in his chair, contemplating. His ring—with a shape I can’t quite make out—radiates beneath the chandelier.

Hiding a smile, Gina looks down into her coffee shop.

Clearly there are things at play here that I know nothing about.

“Bella is right,” the don says. “As long as the press is considered.”

A few heartbeats later, Matteo nods. “Tuesday is fine.”

I exhale a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Is he really going to let me out of his sight?

“I know the perfect place for lunch.” Bella is grinning. “I’ll make reservations if that’s okay, Alessia?”

“Thank you.” It will be my first opportunity to spend time away from Matteo since he kidnapped me. And maybe I can learn a few things about Matteo and his family that will help my plans. “Sounds wonderful.”

I finally take a bite of my cake. “This is spectacular,” I tell Gina. Maybe it’s even sweeter because I know I’ll be getting a taste of freedom in a couple of days. “You could own a bakery. I’ve honestly never had anything this good.”

She beams. “Baking is one of my pleasures.”

The doorbell rings, and a soldier moves past the dining room to answer it.

With a rush of energy, a man strides in. With his similarity in looks to Matteo, I’m guessing this is Dante Moretti. He’s wearing a slightly rumpled suit, and his tie is loose. A dark lock of hair has fallen over his forehead.

He greets his father with a respectful nod. Then he casually drops a kiss on his mother’s cheek, and she adjusts his jacket.

The man is beyond dangerous, cloaked in an air of menace and barely leashed restraint. He’s not someone I want to spend a single moment with.

“So this is the runaway bride,” Dante says, his smile sharp as he drops into the chair across from mine. “Finally decided to grace us with your presence?”

“Dante!”Gina’s tone is fierce, and her scowl is even more intimidating. “I’ll have none of that under my roof. We’re all together now, and that’s all that matters.”

“When’s the wedding?” he asks, ignoring the coffee and reaching for the wine.

“Within three months,” Matteo responds.