Page 18 of A Touch of Fate

Her eyes were glassy when she took Emma’s place. She hadn’t always been this emotional in public, and she was still mostly a very controlled woman, but since losing my twin sister, she seemed to savor every moment she got to celebrate with Sofia and me all the more.

She gave me a half-embarrassed smile. “You two look really sweet together. I hope the photographer took many photos of you.”

“I’m sure she did. You’ll have plenty of images to fawn over.”

Mom gave me a reproachful look. I gave her the smile that always appeased her. She squeezed my shoulder. “Are you happy?”

“This marriage was never meant to make me happy. It was a business deal,” I said.

Mom briefly looked at where Sofia stood talking to Anna and Luisa.

Sofia definitely didn’t look happy about her marriage to Danilo, which was another thing that had dampened my mood in the past few days.

“I know, but I want you to be happy. I want you to at least try to be happy and not forbid yourself from it because of a past mistake.”

“A mistake doesn’t kill three of your friends. But I’ll try to be happy, Mom.”

Mom’s eyes drifted to Emma who still swayed to the music with Danilo. “She deserves happiness too.”

“Playing the guilt card?” I asked with a hint of amusement. Mom didn’t use it very often, but when she did, she was good at it.

“If it ensures you finally stop living in the past and be the boy I raised.”

“I’m still him, just older and more jaded. That boy wouldn’t survive long as an Underboss.”

She hit my shoulder. I kissed her cheek. “Time to switch partners.”

I handed her over to Dante and started dancing with Valentina. With her heels, she was almost my height, which was an impressive feat.

“You look relieved to be dancing with me.”

I smirked. “Sometimes mothers can get a bit overbearing.”

“Well, I’m one myself, so yes. Don’t be angry with her. For a mother seeing a child suffer is the worst thing possible.”

“Do I look like I suffer?” I asked sarcastically. The last thing I needed was to appear weak in public.

“No, you are as controlled as Dante where your emotions are concerned.”

I didn’t comment on that. Dante was my Capo, that he was also my uncle was completely irrelevant, so I definitely wouldn’t judge his emotional state. As his wife, Valentina could say whatever she wanted.

Luckily, Valentina didn’t try to talk about feelings after that.

Eventually, I could escape the dance floor.

Emma was in conversation with Sofia, Anna, and a red-headed girl I didn’t know at our table, so I went over to the bar to grab a drink.

Danilo joined me soon after, ordering a drink for himself.

“I appreciate that you gave Emma the dance she deserves.”

I nodded, sensing that this wasn’t all he had to say.

“About tonight—”

I cut him off before he could piss me off.

His bringing up the subject of our wedding night was definitely nothing I would tolerate, even if I’d previously entertained the thought.

“Listen, if this is about what happens behind closed doors tonight, then keep it to yourself. Emma is my wife, and she and I can figure things out without your involvement. Or do you want to discuss why Sofia looks like she swallowed a bitter pill?”

Danilo narrowed his eyes, but then he nodded. He obviously wasn’t very keen on having someone shove their nose in his marriage either. Mom had told me that Sofia had assured her that Danilo treated her right. She probably wished for a loving marriage like most women did. Like Emma did.

Renato joined us, carrying two glasses filled generously with red wine. “Negroamaro,” he said as he handed one glass to me.

Danilo raised an eyebrow. “You can refill your glasses. You don’t need to fill them to the brim.”

Renato took a hefty gulp from his wine, emptying it by half. “Thanks for the tip.”

I took a few gulps from my wine as well. The effects of the spirit in my flask had already faded, and I hadn’t found time to get it out again yet. “That busty redhead makes me dream about a tit job,” Renato muttered, his eyes on the curvy girl talking to Emma, Anna, and Sofia.

I sent him a look that said shut up .

Danilo scowled. “That is Emma’s best friend Giorgia.”

“She promised?” Renato asked.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Danilo drawled.

I emptied my glass. “I don’t think telling her you want a tit fuck is going to make her swoon.”

“If you married her, Emma would have her best friend in Minneapolis. That would be a good thing,” Danilo said.

I shook my head. “Always the matchmaker.”

Danilo sent me a warning look. “This isn’t something we should discuss here.” He was worried Emma would find out about our deal. I wasn’t too keen on having the info spread either.

“What isn’t?” Emma asked suddenly. She was a couple of arm’s lengths away from us, and Giorgia was with her.

Emma glanced curiously between Danilo and me.

“Business,” Danilo said with a tight smile. He went over to Emma and squeezed her shoulder before he took off toward my sister Sofia, who looked less than enthused about his approach.

“I’d like to introduce my best friend Giorgia Farina.”

I dipped my head in greeting, trying not to stare at her low neckline. If Renato hadn’t spewed the nonsense about the tit fuck, that wouldn’t have been a problem. “Nice to meet you. You’re always welcome to visit Minneapolis. My family and I will make sure you’re safe.”

Giorgia smiled brightly, but the smile dulled when she noticed Renato’s less-than-proper leer.

He was practically glued to her chest. I nudged his side.

“Please meet my friend Renato.” He tore his gaze up to nod at Emma before he smiled his most charming smile at Giorgia.

I hoped he didn’t think he could ruin my wedding by making advances on this girl.

“Pleasure,” he said in a way that made me want to kick his stupid ass.

Giorgia made a face as if she got a whiff of something nasty.

Emma blinked, then gave me an uncertain look. “Uh, nice to meet you, Renato.” She met Giorgia’s gaze, and something passed between them that I had no clue about.

“We should head back to Anna and Sofia,” Emma said and gave me a questioning look.

“So much for making a good first impression,” I muttered.

“Giorgia liked what she saw.”

“I’m talking about Emma. You’re my best friend. It would be nice if my wife didn’t hate you.”

Renato scoffed. “She’s your wife. She has to accept whoever you’re friends with, Samuel. You make the rules.”

“I need another drink.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. Come on. I have a bottle of bourbon in my jacket.”

After a couple of shots of bourbon, I felt much more relaxed. I knew I couldn’t get drunk at my wedding, but it took a lot of alcohol for me to show actual signs of intoxication.

I was glad for my ability to hold my liquor when Dante, Valentina, and my parents joined me after Renato and I had almost emptied the bottle. Renato quickly excused himself, as he definitely showed signs of having drunk too much.

“Where’s your lovely wife?” Valentina asked with a smile.

Dante had a hand on her lower back and regarded her with obvious appreciation.

My father had an arm around Mom’s waist. Despite their arranged marriages, both couples obviously loved each other, but I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that happened with most pairings.

They were lucky. Considering fate’s way of screwing me over in the past, I doubted luck would be on my side with my marriage to Emma.

I searched the room until I found Emma in conversation with Giorgia near the bar.

She was drinking a glass of white wine. “She’s busy with her friend. ”

“Maybe you should go over to her now,” Mom suggested.

“Ines,” Dad said in a low voice. “I’m sure Emma and Samuel can handle their marriage.”

Dante exchanged a mildly amused look with me. I felt half tempted to ask him how he had built a solid marriage with Valentina, considering he was as emotionally withdrawn as me.

“She’s on her own now,” Mom said.

My gaze locked on Emma, who was moving toward the doors and went out of the room unaccompanied.

I considered following her, but I didn’t want her to feel watched.

She could handle herself. I didn’t want her to think I considered her not capable.

“She’s probably heading to the bathroom. I doubt she wants my company there.”

Mom sent me a reproachful look, but I was immune to it by now.

When Emma hadn’t returned fifteen minutes later, I got a bad feeling. I kept glancing at the doors.

“Why don’t you go to your wife? Dante and I will chat some more with your parents,” Valentina said with a knowing smile.

Dante gave a curt nod. “Tonight is only about you and your wife.”

I gave them a tight smile and headed for the doors.

I couldn’t explain it, but I just felt particularly protective of Emma.

Maybe it was because she seemed more vulnerable in her wheelchair.

Any kind of weakness always drew in the worst characters of our world, and plenty of horrid people were at this gathering today.

I followed my instinct and went toward the restrooms in the adjoining hallway. The moment I turned the corner, I spotted Emma, and she wasn’t alone.

One of the guests, a distant relative whose name I’d never bothered to keep in my mind, stood in front of her. His wide stance and the way he bent over with his hand pressed against the wall right over Emma’s head pissed me off right away. My pulse began pounding.

“Maybe you need help…” he said, and I hesitated, wondering if I let my irrational overprotectiveness get the better of me, but he leaned farther down as if he was about to lift her despite Emma shaking her head.

What the fuck? He was definitely not being helpful. The asshole was making a move on her, on my wife. I got a glimpse of Emma’s face. Her face turned red, and she looked uncomfortable.

I stalked toward them, now absolutely furious.

He straightened a second before I reached him, but I didn’t give him time to turn.

I grabbed his throat, my fingers digging in and squeezing.

I punched him in his kidney with my free hand.

He sank on one knee and stared up at me with watering eyes.

I didn’t loosen my hold on his throat. “You owe my wife an apology.”

Emma’s wide eyes darted from me to him. She held his gaze.

I released him so he could speak. “I’m sorry,” he got out, sounding only distantly honest, but Emma nodded and gave me an encouraging look.

I met his gaze. “I think it’s time for you to go home now. The party’s over for you.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried away, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what had happened.

I gritted my teeth against a new wave of anger and tried to stop myself from chasing him down and killing him.

If Emma hadn’t been there and if this wasn’t our wedding, I definitely wouldn’t have reacted as restrained.

Maybe I would request his presence at some point and fake an accident.

I stepped closer to Emma. She was smoothing out her beautiful dress, her cheeks still flushed. She looked as if she wanted to disappear.

“Do people often disrespect you?” I asked in a moderately calm voice.

Emma shrugged, peering up at me through her long lashes.

She looked gorgeous with her big doe-like eyes.

“It happens on occasion. Some men seem to think I’m easy prey because of the wheelchair.

” Some of her embarrassment was replaced by fierce frustration.

Her brows pulled together as she regarded the ring around her finger.

“It won’t happen again,” I muttered.

Emma raised her brows curiously. “You won’t always be around. I need to learn to speak my mind instead of sitting there like a mouse in a trap.”

“Once people realize I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior, they’ll stop.” I moved closer and motioned toward the door of the accessible toilet.

She quickly shook her head. “I was on my way back to the party when he came along.”

I touched her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

She chuckled and nodded. “Absolutely sure. Don’t worry. You came before it got really bad.”

We moved back toward the party together, and after that, I stayed close to her side. I didn’t want another idiot to ruin this day for Emma.