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I chanced a glance at Bianca. Her forehead was plastered to the window and she had fallen asleep.

An ache tugged at my chest.

My bride.

Warmth grew in the ache. She trusted me enough to fall asleep.

Chapter

Six

Bianca

I startled awake to see the SUV driving down a narrow road…no, a driveway surrounded by trees. An involuntary yawn escaped while I straightened in my seat, casting Sandro a glance. “How long was I asleep?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

I couldn’t believe I fell asleep like that. But for two days I’d been keeping vigil over Renz. Afraid he’d take a turn for the worst. Afraid that they would separate us. It was the kind of sleep where I wasn’t sure if I was unconscious or awake, like I’d been hopped up on caffeine, where my mind was awake and my body was jittery. At the wedding ceremony, adrenaline fueled my every move, and now I wanted to crash and sleep for a year.

“You were out of it,” Sandro added.

“Where are we?”

“One of my properties.”

That wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, but I was too exhausted to argue. I needed my wits about me when I wassparring with Sandro. I took in the area. We were outside the city for sure.

Before Sandro pulled into the garage, I made out a modest colonial-style house with shutters and siding. Gray metal cabinets lined the garage and there was a covered vehicle in the corner. It was too wide to be a motorcycle, too small to be another car. Maybe an ATV.

“I’ll come get you.”

Before I could say anything, Sandro had already exited the SUV. Stubbornly, I shoved my door open. He caught it before it hit his face and glared at me like I’d done the most childish thing.

“You’re not carrying me over the threshold.” I slid down from my seat and planted my feet on the ground. “Let’s not take this farce too far. Lead the way.”

“Smart-ass.”

“You love my smart mouth.”

All I heard was an exasperated sigh, but he just had to have the last word by putting his hand on my lower back. He pushed open the door leading into the house, but before I went through, he held me back and whispered in my ear, “And the things I can do to it.”

Shocked because that was the first time he’d reciprocated any of my baits with sexual innuendo, I refused to budge another step.

I turned to him at the same time he crowded me into the house. “What game are you playing at?” The question came out in a croaked whisper, but I was blaming it on my lack of sleep.

He clasped my shoulders so we were face to face. “You’re my wife now.”

The way he saidmy wifewas like a switch and the expression I saw on his face was nothing like the gentle possessiveness I’ddaydreamed about. No, this was fierce in its intensity, like a brand of total ownership.

“I thought…”

“You have no idea.”

He guided me further into the house as if hurrying us along. “Aren’t you going to show me around?” I asked sarcastically.

“Later. There’s shit I have to do.”

“Really?” We were going up the staircase when I said, “On our wedding night? Oh, I forgot, the family comes first, not your wife.”