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CHAPTER TEN

I closed the door behind me, leaned against it, and tried to calm my speeding pulse.

What the hell was wrong with this man?

First, he did everything to seduce me, then demanded I marry him, then convinced me of how we were a team and how he wanted me by his side, and now, he basically ignored me and acted borderline disgusted by my touch.

What the everloving fuck? I clenched my hands into fists at my sides and chuckled sarcastically.

I knew Vince Salvini was bad news from day one. I knew his mood swings were whiplash-inducing. But I didn’t think he really suffered from dissociative identity disorder on top of being an overbearing asshole.

Vince the Prince, who was warm and overly cuddly, possessive and protective, who promised a future and intimacy and even talked about starting a family. That Vince had pretended we were a team.

But that Vince wasn’t the person who was just in there .

This Vince was all business as he laid out his reasons for our wedding. This was the Mafia boss I’d read and heard about. The evil prince, the Anti-Christ, cold and calculating.

And here I was, idiot me, who stood up to my father and declared I wanted to marry him.

Well, now, I could start planning a wedding that suddenly was back to being a strategic move instead of a celebration…of what? Love? He’d never told me he loved me, though…so was it just me misinterpreting his words? Misinterpreting his actions?

Was it all just flattery to get me to have sex with him? If someone showed you who they were, believe them.

And wasn’t that the crux of the problem? Vince’s mixed messages?

What if all of his actions were just a cover for his true motive? Had all of his tenderness just been part of his master plan? Had I been just a pawn in his grand scheme?

Probably, very likely.

I exhaled, straightened, and walked away. Screw him.

My feet carried me aimlessly through the sprawling house, my mind replaying the events of the past few hours. The rooftop attack flashed before my inner eyes—the terror, the gunshots, the feeling of Vince’s arms around me as he shielded me from danger. The way he pushed me into the helicopter, the way he pulled me into his arms after landing the helicopter. The way he made love to me and how he let my father beat him up.

All of this really happened. And in all of these situations, he never pushed me away, never dodged my touch—to the contrary really .

It was as if the revelation about his father’s betrayal had flipped a switch in him. As if the shock of it made him revert back to the cold-hearted Mafia boss.

How could a parent put a hit out on their own child? I couldn’t even… Yes, they weren’t on good terms and possibly in a power struggle over who would be or remain the head of the Salvini family. But killing your own children—that was insane.

And now this—a rushed wedding, planned not for us but as a strategic move, a powerplay in this dangerous game.

It was almost comic. Even 72 hours ago, I was pissed at the mere thought of marriage. Then I made my peace with it, and now? I understood the reasoning, but the fact that it was just a ploy…it stung.

Was this what my life would be like as Vince Salvini’s wife? Always second to his business, his vendettas, his fight for power and control? Never sure which of his personalities would show up—if he even would come home.

I stopped in a quiet corner of the house and stared out a window at the manicured grounds of a rose garden. Everything here was so pristine, so perfect on the surface. But underneath, it was all secrets and lies—just like Vince, just like our relationship.

I leaned my forehead against the cool glass and closed my eyes. I was in over my head—that much was clear. Part of me wanted to run, to disappear like I’d planned to. But another part, a part that scared me with its intensity, knew I couldn’t leave Vince. Not in this situation, not now.

I was angry at him, yes. Terrified of the situation we were in, absolutely. But underneath it all, I was feeling a fierce protectiveness I couldn’t shake. Vince needed me, whether he realized it or not. And despite everything, I needed him, too.

I straightened and took a deep breath. I didn’t know how and where I would fit in all of this yet. Didn’t know how I could have my freedom, the life I wanted, and stay by his side, but I would figure it out. One thing was certain—I wasn’t going to let Vince push me aside.

If we were in this, we were in it together.

I sank into a nearby chair, suddenly exhausted. I’d known getting involved with and committing to Vince would be complicated, but I never imagined this. I needed someone to help me talk this through.

I found Iset—no Isa, not Iset—I needed to stop thinking about her like that—and Mira first, and they helped me track down Fee in one of the guest rooms.

I knocked, then entered with them in tow. I wanted their input, as well, since they knew their brother better than anyone.

Fee looked up as we entered, and her brows furrowed as soon as she saw me.

“What’s wrong?”

I sank onto the bed, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “I don’t know.” I chuckled, but it sounded hollow even to my own ears.

“What did my idiot brother do now?” Mira asked, and my love for her skyrocketed.

Fee sat beside me, her hand on my arm. “What happened?”

I explained the conversation in Vince’s office, how he’d laid out the wedding plans like a business strategy, barely acknowledging me. “He didn’t even let me touch him. It’s like he’s a completely different person,” I finished.

Isa was quiet for a moment, her eyes thoughtful. “He’s in protector mode.”

I blinked, surprised. “Protector mode?”

She nodded.

“He’s protecting people by pushing them away? That makes zero sense,” I said.

“He’s always been like that as long as I can remember. If he’s mean to you, you know he cares about you. And if he’s really pissed off and harsh, or distant, he’s truly worried,” Isa said.

“Honestly, I can probably count the times he hugged me on one hand,” Mira said. “But he barks at me or gives me that look of disappointment at least once every time we see each other. It’s just the way he is—doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”

Isa nodded. “I remember the first time Vince made me cry. I must’ve been eight or nine. I went missing, and when they finally found me again, Vince completely lost it.”

She had a faraway look in her eyes. “He was so mean, I broke out in tears and bawled like a baby. I was sure he hated me.” She smiled at the memory. “Dante followed me to my room and told me how Vince was so scared, and how frantically he looked for me, and how much he loves me.”

She shook her head. “The way he behaves has to do with something that happened when he was young. I don’t know the details, but ever since then, Vince has become an expert at hiding his feelings.”

Fee cocked her head. “Think about it. His own father just put a hit out on him. Everyone close to him is in danger now. Maybe he thinks distancing himself from you will keep you safer.”

I mulled over her words. Given Vince’s protective nature, it made sense, in a twisted kind of way. But still…

“So what do I do?” I asked. “Do I confront him about it? Or just accept it…and go along with it?”

Fee squeezed my hand. “That depends on what you want, Jemma. Are you ready to fight for this relationship? Or do you want out?”

I closed my eyes, picturing Vince’s face. Despite everything, the thought of walking away made my chest ache. “I don’t want out,” I admitted softly. But I wouldn’t just play along either.

I chewed my lip, weighing my options: Confront Vince about his sudden cold shoulder or play along—wait until things got better? Neither felt quite right. And neither felt like me. I was never one to hold back, to hide my true feelings. Maybe it was time for Vince to realize that you could be strong and show your feelings at the same time.

“You know what?” I said, sitting up straighter. “I’m not going to do either.”

Fee raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m going to take control of this situation my way. If Vince wants a big spectacle of a wedding, he’ll get one. But let’s be involved every step of the way.”

I looked at Fee, Isa, and Mira, and all three nodded.

“And let’s use this opportunity to gather as much information as we can.” I locked eyes with Isa, a silent understanding passing between us. Maybe Jemma and Isabella were stuck in this situation, but Iset and Nyx surely could do something. “ Maybe there’s a way to help in getting ahead of this situation. Something Vince and the others don’t know or think about.”

Isa nodded slightly, catching my drift. If we put our hacking skills to good use, maybe we could at least interfere with what their father was planning.

Fee glanced between Isa and me, her brows furrowed. “What are you two plotting?”

I gave her a small smile. “Nothing you need to worry about. Just know that I’m not going to sit idly by while Vince tries to protect me.” I put air quotes around the word protect.

“You’re good at organizing things; can you take over as my wedding planner?” I asked Fee, who nodded.

Isa stood up and stretched casually. “I think I’ll go see what the boys are up to. Maybe offer some suggestions for the guest list.” She gave me a meaningful look before leaving the room.

I nodded, understanding her silent message. We had work to do.

Starting with putting up a wedding worth the status of the future head of the Salvini family.