I place my hand possessively on her lower back, noting how every man in the room watches her with barely concealed lust. It takes every ounce of restraint I have not to pull out my gun and start shooting these fuckers for daring to look at what's mine.
I lead Vittoria to our table where Lorenzo waits and note the name cards. On my right will be Lorenzo, seated beside Johann "Der Wolf" Krieger, head of the Albanian Mafia in Germany.
As we approach, Lorenzo's eyes widen slightly at the sight of Vittoria. He quickly masks his surprise, standing to greet us.
"Father, Vittoria," he says, nodding respectfully. "You both look wonderful this evening."
"Thank you, Lorenzo," I reply, pulling out Vittoria's chair before taking my own seat. "Everything in order?"
Lorenzo nods, expression serious. "Yes, Father. All security measures are in place, and our... special guests have arrived safely."
I nod, satisfied. Tonight isn't just about maintaining appearances. There are deals to be made, alliances to strengthen. And having Vittoria by my side, young and beautiful, is a powerful statement.
"Ah, Cesare!" Johann's loud voice cuts through the noise as he approaches our table. "And this must be your lovely new bride."
I stand to greet him, shaking his hand firmly. "Johann. Yes, this is my wife, Vittoria."
Vittoria rises gracefully, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Krieger."
Johann takes her hand, bringing it to his lips. "The pleasure is all mine, my dear. Please, call me Johann."
I notice how his eyes linger on Vittoria, and a surge of possessive anger hits me. I place my hand on her lower back; a subtle reminder of who she belongs to.
"Vittoria, why don't you get us drinks?" I suggest, my tone making it clear it's not really a request.
She nods, understanding the dismissal. "Of course. Excuse me, gentlemen."
As Vittoria walks away, Johann watches her go, an appreciative gleam in his eye. "She's exquisite, Cesare," he says, voice low. "You're a lucky man."
I force a smile, pushing down the urge to punch him. "Indeed. Now, shall we discuss business?"
As Johann and I dive into discussions about territory and trade routes, I keep one eye on Vittoria. She's at the bar waiting for our drinks when I notice Zhang Longwei approach her.
The man heads the Triad. He’s someone the Syndicate has wanted to do business with for some time. Killing him won't go over well with the other families.
I watch as Zhang engages Vittoria in conversation, his body language clearly flirtatious. To her credit, she maintains a polite but distant demeanor, her posture rigid. But I can see how Zhang's eyes roam her body, the predatory gleam in his gaze.
"Excuse me," I say to Johann, cutting our conversation short. "I need to check on something."
I make my way across the room, jaw clenched in fury. As I approach, I notice Vittoria speaking to Zhang in Mandarin. They both turn as I get closer.
Impressive. And useful.
"You're a very lucky man, Cesare," Zhang tells me.
I slide my arm possessively around Vittoria's waist. "That I am," I say, my voice dangerously calm.
Zhang's face splits into a smile. "Cesare," he says, overly friendly. "I was just getting acquainted with your lovely wife. You're fortunate indeed. She's fluent in Mandarin. Perhaps the Boston Elite Syndicate is finally moving in the right direction. Why don't you set up a meeting after this tedious event?"
"I'll have my son make arrangements. Lorenzo is my second in command."
Zhang's smile widens. "Keeping it in the family," he says approvingly. "I approve. Have Lorenzo call me. You have my number. Mrs. Mariano, it was wonderful meeting you. Thank you for the conversation."
As we walk back toward our table, I lean close to Vittoria's ear. "What did he want?" I ask, voice low and hard.
"Nothing important," she replies, tone carefully neutral. "Just idle chatter."
I tighten my grip on her waist. "Don't fucking lie to me, Vittoria. I saw how he was looking at you."
