Page 74 of Stolen Vows

“What if we run into—”

“Fuck everyone else,amore mio.I don’t care what they think and neither should you.We have more power and money than everyone except a select few in New York—the state, not the city—and I’ll happily crush anyone who upsets you.Capisci?”

I nod.

The pep talk helps.His arm wrapped around my shoulders is even better.

We walk into the upscale jewelry store dressed in jeans and t-shirts.Being dressed for comfort instead of to impress others goes against everything my father taught me.Everything he drilled into my head.Everything he forced me to learn so he could use me for his own gain.

I straighten my spine and glide around the store as though I have every right.

Mario is right.With the portfolio he gave me, I could outspend everyone except the founding mafia families and a few business tycoons and still live comfortably for the rest of my life.That’s not including all the properties and business assets now in my name.

The changes in my life over the last few days have been wild.

None of the rings in the store hold my interest.

“We could order one-of-a-kind designs,” Mario suggests.

The ladies working the counters give us skeptical looks.My skin crawls, but my husband tucks his finger under my chin and directs my attention to his face.

He quirks a brow.

I sigh.

“Are we in a hurry?Do we have to decide today?”I ask.

“No we’re not and we don’t,” Mario says.

I sigh again and wrap my arms around him.

“I kind of want to try the one-of-a-kind design experience, just not for rings,” I say.

He chuckles and runs his hands through my hair.

The other patrons look at us like we have extra heads.Ignoring them is easy with the amusement and adoration shining from Mario’s gaze.

“We can do that.In fact, we can do it at every jewelry store in the city.Make it our calling card.All these chumps will bow when we walk in the door.We’ll be the couple obsessed with collecting all the best diamonds from all the top designers in the world.”

A giggle escapes me.

Memories from my childhood rise.We had such a strong bond from the beginning.Our love was innocent and pure back then.A mafia princess and her protective uncle.My father stole ten years from us.We hated and cursed each other.

Now I can’t go a day without him.He’s my best friend.Mio marito.My lover.

Mine.

I rise onto tiptoe and kiss his chin.He grins and spans his long fingers around my waist.

“Be careful with those eyes,amore mio, or I’ll toss you over my shoulder and fuck you in the car,” he growls.

Liquid desire pools in my core.

He proposed last night.I stopped bleeding yesterday afternoon, but we didn’t have sex.We pleasured each other in other ways.It was intimate and intense, but the pounding in my clit and the wetness in my panties says my body yearns for his claiming.

He snarls and ravages my mouth.We both pant when he lifts his head.

“Fuck this.We’ll come back another day,” he growls.