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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, my body delightfully sore from last night’s activities. If this was a preview of how our marriage would be, I was very much looking forward to the rest of my life.

A smile crept onto my face. Vince and I had spent the whole night switching between tender touches, talking, and passionate lovemaking.

I touched the side next to me, but it was cold and empty.

I was not looking forward to waking up alone, though. After I got up and got dressed, I stared at the bed one last time. I couldn’t believe the things he’d said to me, the things he’d done. The way he could determine from my immediate reactions if I liked something or not. But most of all, I couldn’t believe what a perfect match we’d turned out to be.

At this rate, I needed to thank Dad for almost finding the perfect husband for me. I chuckled and let my eyes linger on the bed .

Holy shit. I was really looking forward to this world Vince wanted to introduce me to. Couldn’t wait to experience all those things we talked about. With him by my side, I could be bold—without feeling awkward or needing to force myself. With him holding my hand, there was nothing I didn’t want to try.

I shook my head—enough of this. Right now, I had to face the day. There were a lot of people in Vince’s house.

No, not Vince’s house—our house.

I made my way downstairs and turned toward the breakfast room. The smell of fresh coffee, eggs, freshly squeezed juice, and pastries filled the air, making my stomach growl.

Marianna was really a miracle worker. Not only did she manage to plan the perfect wedding, she and her staff did all this while taking care of at least twenty people for the past couple of days.

I entered the room and was greeted by the knowing smirks of Matt and Alex.

I felt my cheeks flush. Shit. “What?” I said and narrowed my brows, daring Matt or Alex to say a word.

They both remained silent—good for them.

I turned, grabbed a croissant from the exquisite breakfast buffet—again. I needed to talk to Vince about giving Marianna a raise, and everyone else on staff a huge bonus, then joined Fee, Mira, and Iset at the huge table by taking my usual place next to Fee.

Isa, not Iset. I needed to stop thinking about her that way.

“Well, well, look who’s up early,” Fee teased, raising an eyebrow .

I avoided their gazes. What? Did everyone have to comment on my wedding night? “Good morning to you, too,” I mumbled and waited until the server placed the glass of freshly squeezed orange juice next to my plate and filled my cup of coffee.

Isa leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, how was your wedding night? Did Vince live up to his reputation?”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “I…uh…what reputation?”

Mira giggled. “Oh, come on. We’ve heard all the stories about our big brother.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, my face burning hotter by the second.

Fee reached over and patted my hand. “Sweetie, you’re practically glowing. And those marks on your neck tell quite a story.”

My hand flew to my neck, and I groaned in embarrassment. “Oh God, it’s that obvious?”

The girls burst out laughing. I stared at them for a beat, then shrugged and joined in. They were family; they weren’t mean, so why was I so stiff? It felt good to have this moment of normalcy amidst all the chaos of the past few days. It was great to have these women around me and to enjoy that easy camaraderie with them.

“Seriously though,” Iset said, her tone softening. “Are you happy?”

I paused, considering her question. Despite the whirlwind of events that led to this moment, I found myself smiling genuinely. “Yeah, I really am. ”

“I bet,” Fee said, “the way Vince ordered everyone out of the room, last night.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Dom said it was hot.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Dom thought it was hot?” So Dom thought dominant Vince was hot? Wait, there was for sure more going on between those two friends—more than just sharing women.

“At least he has his priorities straight,” Mira said and winked at me.

I groaned. I didn’t really think about it yesterday, but not only did he send his men away, no, but he also took me bent over the conference table and stuck his thumb in my ass while doing it.

Holy shit. Just thinking about it made me feel all hot and bothered.

I hid my face and racked my brain for a change of topic. “The wedding went off without a hitch. Thanks to all of you.” I paused and looked at the three women. “You really were the perfect bridesmaids, thank you.”

I smiled at them and reached for my glass of orange juice. I really counted myself lucky to not only have Fee with me, but Mira and Iset already felt like sisters to me. “I couldn’t have survived the day without you.”

Before I could take a sip, Fee playfully snatched my glass and took a drink. “That’s payment enough, Mrs. Salvini. Now answer Mira’s question,” she teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief while she placed the glass back on the table.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. I lifted my plate— “Do you want a bite of my croissant, as well? ”

Fee shook her head.

Mira leaned in, her usually shy demeanor replaced by curiosity. “Is he…as intense as his reputation?”

I felt my cheeks flush again. “Intense?” I said and feigned ignorance by taking a bite.

“He has quite the reputation for being into the lifestyle,” Iset deadpanned.

And I almost choked while all three women stared at me and waited. “I’m not discussing our sex life with you,” I said.

Mira grinned. “So he is kinky. I knew it.”

Fee stared at me, then looked down at her plate. “It must be in their DNA,” she murmured under her breath.

My gaze snapped to hers. In their DNA? Was she talking from experience? Did she mean Alex and Gabe, or was she talking about Vince’s brothers? But how would she know…apart from Matt? Alex and Fee were really close with Matt. “DNA?”

Fee shrugged.

“He’s definitely intense,” I admitted, fiddling with my napkin. “But he’s also surprisingly gentle and considerate.”

Isa nodded approvingly. “That’s good to hear. You just need to stand your ground; otherwise, he will steamroll you.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered, thinking back to our first encounters. “But he’s different now. Or maybe, I just understand him better. We’re a team.” I took the glass of OJ, ready to hide the sudden outburst of feelings behind taking a sip.

Fee cocked her head, a soft smile on her face. “It’s nice to see you happy. After everything that’s happened, you truly deserve it. We all do. ”

“Thanks. It’s all still a bit surreal, isn’t it? A week ago, we couldn’t even be in the same room without almost killing each other. And now…”

“Now you’re the queen of the Salvini empire,” Iset finished with a dramatic flourish.

I snorted. “Hardly. I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in all of?—”

Fee’s sudden coughing startled me mid-sentence. I turned to look at her, expecting to see her recover quickly, but instead, her face contorted in pain. She gasped for air, her hands clawing at her throat.

“Fee?” I put my glass down, reached out, and touched her arm. “Are you okay? Did something go down the wrong pipe?”

She shook her head, but her eyes widened in panic, unfocused and glassy. She tried to speak, but only strangled sounds escaped her lips.

Adrenaline shot through my system, and I jumped up as I watched her struggle to breathe.

“She’s choking,” Mira screamed, looking around wildly. “Somebody help!”

Fee’s body began to shake violently, her limbs jerking uncontrollably. She slipped from her chair, and I grabbed her but couldn’t prevent her from hitting the floor with a sickening thud.

I dropped to my knees beside her, unsure of what to do. What the hell was happening?

Footsteps thundered across the room. Someone pushed me aside. Alex and Matt pulled her out from under the table. “ What happened?” Alex barked while kneeling beside Fee’s convulsing body.

I shook my head, unable to form words.

Alex’s hands hovered uselessly over Fee, afraid to touch her but desperate to help. He pushed her to the side and made sure she wasn’t choking on her own tongue.

Matt pulled out his phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed. “We need Max, and start the helicopter, now!” he barked into the device.

I watched in horror as Fee’s eyes rolled back in her head, her body still seizing. This couldn’t be happening. Not Fee. Not now.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, but I sat there, on the floor, paralyzed by fear and shock.

Hawk, followed by Max, burst into the room. His eyes scanned the scene quickly before he dropped to his knees beside Fee’s convulsing body.

“Everybody move back,” Hawk ordered, his voice steady. “Give us some space.”

Iset and Mira moved aside, and despite the fear in his eyes, Alex did the same.

I scooted back mechanically, my eyes never leaving Fee’s face. The room spun around me, voices blending into a cacophony of panic and confusion. I felt like I was underwater, everything sounding muffled and distorted.

“What’s happening to her?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“What happened?” Max demanded, his hands already moving to check her vitals .

I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. I stared at the glass of orange juice still between us on the table, a stark reminder of our lighthearted conversation just moments ago.

Max’s brow furrowed as he examined Fee. “This looks like poisoning,” he muttered, his voice tight with concern. He looked up, his gaze sweeping across all of us. “Did she eat or drink something?”

My heart stopped. The orange juice. My orange juice. She’d taken a sip from my juice.

My fingers tightened into a fist as guilt and horror washed over me.

I got up, moved to the table. “She…she drank from my orange juice,” I managed to choke out, picking up the glass with a shaking hand.

The room erupted into chaos. People shouted orders, and footsteps thundered as everyone moved at once. Someone mentioned my name, but it all felt distant like I was underwater.

“We need to move her now!” Max’s voice cut through the noise. “Every second counts!”

I stood there, numb and unmoving, as chaos erupted around me.

Suddenly, Vince was there. I hadn’t even seen him enter, but his presence filled the room instantly. His eyes met mine for a brief moment before he turned to the others, his voice calm and authoritative.

“Matt, you go with Alex, Max, and Fee in the helicopter. Matt, call ahead to the hospital; make sure they’re prepared. Hawk, I want a full security sweep of the property. Now. ”

A chill ran down my spine. Gone was the tender, passionate man from last night. In his place stood a different person entirely—cold, composed, and utterly in control.

His gaze swept the room, taking in every detail as he issued rapid-fire commands.

I was still holding the glass with a trembling hand. My fingers clenched around it. It felt like a dead weight, a damning piece of evidence in my hand, and for some strange reason, I couldn’t let go.

Without a word, Vince was by my side and gently pried the glass from my fingers. “Did you drink it, as well?” he asked.

I shook my head, detached, as he barked orders to someone nearby. “Get this into a sealed container. Make sure a sample goes with Fee to the hospital. Move it!”

I watched, frozen in place, as they lifted Fee onto a stretcher. Her body had stopped seizing, but she lay frighteningly still as she was carried out of the room. Where did they get the stretcher?

“I want every security camera checked. No one leaves this property without my say-so. Understood?” Vince barked. His voice was sharp, cutting through my panic like a laser through steel.

People scrambled to obey his orders without question. This was Vince in his element, the feared Mafia boss I’d first met.

While my thoughts went in circles, completely muddled.

How did this happen to her? Why Fee? She didn’t deserve this. Please let her survive this.

Oh my God. How? Why ?

I took a deep breath, trying to get my fear under control. But my body was completely non-functioning. I tried to move, to do something, anything to help, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. I was frozen, useless, while everyone around me moved with purpose.

The contrast between Vince’s composed efficiency and my own paralysis was stark.

But what could I do?

As if sensing my distress, Vince’s eyes met mine for a brief moment. There was a flicker of something—concern, perhaps?—before the mask of control slipped back into place.

He turned away, continued to orchestrate the response to this crisis with ruthless precision.

And I stood there, feeling small and helpless, and guilty.

The tightness in my chest increased with every second ticking by.

I rubbed my wrist, pressed my trembling hands together. Please, God, let Fee be okay .

I focused back on Vince. Was I truly able to live this kind of life, to survive in his world?

A world where life and death decisions were made in the blink of an eye, and where danger lurked behind every corner and even in something as harmless as a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

I never realized how much our father had shielded us from all the dangers of this world.

A dangerous and cruel world Fee and I had been a part of since birth, without ever truly experiencing it.

A world I would irrevocably remain a part of now.