Page 29 of The Mafia's Bride

“You?” I seethe incredulously.

That gorgeous mouth is a full out grin, with bright white teeth shining back at me. He swirls the red wine slowly, gloved hand cupping the bottom. He’s daring me to react, to do something to fight him.

“Hello, little menace.”

My blood reaches a fever pitch. Forget that numbness, that sorrow, that grief at the loss of control.

All I can see is that damning smile that begs for me to do something to wipe it off.

Lifting the wine glass, I hurl it at his head.

12

SLOANE

The wine blends into the deep red of the painted walls. Glass falls like frozen rain, reflecting the roaring flames behind me. I can’t hear them fall, my whole body focused on Alessio’s smug face.

My chest heaves, rage and pain all mixing together into a violent storm. My hands shake, face flushed.

He tricked me. Lied to me.He’s my fiancé.

“Sloane!” Collins shouts, standing quickly. Hayes follows, large body seeming to barricade her from an unseen attack that doesn’t come.

I don’t look away from that cocky face, hands fisting at my sides, barely resisting the urge to smack it. He doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. He’s completely unruffled by my outburst even as the wine sprays across his sharp cheek. It drips from his chin, over his shirt and on to the napkin in his lap.

He swipes some from his cheek, leaving a smear before licking his finger clean.

It’s not fair how sensual he makes it look. Not when I’m trembling with rage and betrayal.

“Fuck no,” I bite out, teeth clenched. He smiles wider as if my outrage is what he wants. “Fuck this.Fuck you. I’m not marrying you.”

Marry the man who lied. Who tricked me. He knew who I was the minute he saw me at the bar and never stopped me. He knew who I was when he brought me to his office.

He’s seen me at my most vulnerable. He’s seen me wasted and low.

I gave Alessio power over me before I even knew who he was.

Like my father, he used my incompetence against me. He kept me in the dark to benefit his own ends.

He’s as terrible as Pops was—maybe worse. I showed him a side Pops never saw.

How do I break someone likehim?

Although the two other aunts seem appalled by my reaction, the matron stares, unflinchingly at me. Watching how this unfolds.

It’s unnerving.

“Sit down, Sloane,” my sister commands softly. She hasn’t moved from her seat, still holding her glass like a queen looking down on her subjects.

Maeve has seen my tantrums. She’s been a witness to every verbal fight I’ve had with my father. This isn’t new for her.

I don’t want to listen, but one quick look from Collins reminds me of where we are. Who she is. She’s not just our older sister, she’s our Captain, the leader of our family.

If I show disregard for her word, in front of outsiders, it’ll be a threat to her position.

I really don’t care about her power, but I care about my family. If she’s threatened, then we all are, and she’s the only line of defense between us and her enemies.

I plop into my chair, chest still heaving, hands clenching the table for support. Collins drops too, ignoring the glass, instead staring at me. She burns holes into my face, trying to read my reaction.