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The moment I got to my feet, I snatched her in my arms. I was dizzy with relief, which didn’t bode well for my reputation, but all I cared about was she didn’t hide behind her family.

“You’re bleeding.” She tentatively touched my brow.

“Don’t get it on you.”

Her eyes narrowed indignantly. “Why not? Are you still treating me like breakable glass?”

I couldn’t help it, so I ignored the question and muttered, “I’m damn happy you finally showed up.”

She glared at me before turning her displeasure on her family, reminding me we had an audience. “I’m very disappointed in all of you! Ganging up on my husband like that.”

My husband.Despite my throbbing face and the pain in my torso, the organ in my chest expanded with smug satisfaction.

“It’s our fucking right,” Matteo grunted, but a wariness tempered his declaration as if he was reassessing the situation. All the men in Bianca’s family had narrowed gazes, observing how she was interacting with me. I hoped it was clear as fuck that I didn’t mistreat her. I couldn’t say the same about the rest of my family. It probably explained why Bianca was wearing a sweater to hide the marks on her arms and wrists. Otherwise, the De Luccis would have had a kill-on-sight order on me.

“What? To defend my honor?”

Nobody answered.

“It’s okay,” I muttered. “I expected it.”

“Shut up, Sandro,” she snapped before staring up at me in irritation. “And what the hell was that? You think you can just waltz in here?”

“You left. You think I won’t come after you? I always will.”

“It’s my fault,” Divina announced. She approached with Tommy at her side.

“That’s not what I heard.” I squinted at Sloane, who appeared to be hiding behind them.

But my secondary concern was Tommy. “You okay, man?”

He nodded and gave a thumbs-up. His face was battered, but the fact that he was upright and walking, I couldn’t say that wasn’t a justified response, especially since we returned Renzdrugged, with a bullet through him, and flat on his back. And that didn’t even cover Bianca’s kidnapping and forced marriage.

“You’re not leaving with her.” Cesar stepped forward, menace etched on his face. There were rumors about Bianca’s father’s brutality beneath his expensive suits. That he’d been responsible for many disappearances of Rossi capos, including Raffa’s best friend.

“And you’re in no position to start a war with me.” It was one thing to show respect, and another to show I was intimidated. A new tightrope crystallized as I balanced my duties as boss and my commitment to a woman with an overprotective and powerful family.

“But I am.” Dom stood beside Cesar.

My arms tightened around Bianca. “You really wanna do this?”

“No,” Dom said. “I’m giving Tommy back in light of good faith to have Bianca spend time with her family.”

“The Rossis are her family too,” Tommy interjected.

“Seriously? You’re going to renege on negotiations?” Dom asked.

“What negotiations?” I roared and took a giant step back with Bianca, ready to get her out of here.

“I don’t like your phrasing,” Tommy told Dom. “Bianca considers herself a Rossi, too. She told you clearly and concisely.”

“She told him what?” Cesar turned on Dom.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one left out of said negotiations.

“Guys…” Bianca attempted to pull away from me, but I wouldn’t let her.

“Dad,” she started. “Dom, Tommy, and I agreed. I can stay overnight?—”