“Fantastic.”
“Your father was growing impatient.”
“I’ve been doing my father’s bidding, Bibi. Shall I describe that to you?” I drawl, giving her a chilling smile to send her running. When I was a little boy and she was my father's new bride, I thought she was there to replace my mother. Bibi quickly cured me of that delusion when my father wasn't around and once her own children started arriving.
I resume my journey to my section of the house, hoping no one will disturb me there. Naturally, Uncle Enzo and my cousin Rocco happen upon me to ruin that hope. They give me a wary look but don’t cower like my stepmother.
My uncle, the fat fuck with his bushy mustache, is the Underboss of Reno. He lacks my father’s boldness, but he more than makes up for it in his ability to schmooze politicians and their set. His son, Rocco is a slimy little shit, half his father’s size and with none of his cunning. He was closer in age to Sil, Jr. and they shared similar tastes when it came to women and torture.
“You’re finally home, Alessio. I met your bride-to-be an hour ago,” Enzo informs me. “I should think you’d be eager to see her.”
“Later,” I tell him as I keep walking.
“She’s quite a tasty little morsel if you can get past the hair,” Rocco adds.
Like lightning streaking through my veins, my fury wakes with Rocco’s tone, and my steps come to a halt. “What does she look like?” He’s too stupid to hear the warning in my voice.
“Nice, tight dress. A doll’s face with small tits but a sweet, full ass. Scared shitless being here though. She’ll be fun to break. If you don’t mind sharing in the revenge, I wouldn’t mind. She’s got three holes to fill and-”
I’m on him before he can finish the sentence, my knife to his throat and my bloodlust screaming for his tongue and eyes to be removed.
“Easy, Alessio. We’re family,” Enzo pants behind me, his hand resting on the butt of his piece. I could probably cut his son’s throat and his before he even worked it free of his waistband. Definitely the first part. “Rocco forgets himself. What with her brother’s actions, we all have reason to loathe the Morelli Family, but she’s to be your bride, and we don’t want any blood spilled on such a momentous day. Apologize to your cousin, Rocco.”
My cousin’s eyes look ready to pop, and he’s afraid to swallow with the way my knife is pressed against his jugular. He squeaks out an apology, the cowardly pussy. “My bride,” I say in warning as I lower the knife, “is mine to do with as I please. If taking revenge on her for my brother pleases me, that will be mine alone to enjoy. Remember that.”
He exhales and nods before they both walk away backwards, afraid to turn their backs on me. As they should be.
Opening my bedroom door at last, I slam it shut behind me and strip out of my blood-stained clothes, leaving only the holster with my spare piece strapped to my calf as I start toward the shower when a quiet, in-drawn breath from across the room has me spinning and pulling the gun. This time there’s a squeak coming from my closet door, the closet door that’s not properly closed. Stark naked but always ready for blood, I rasp, “Step out of there slowly right now or I start firing.”
Another squeak but the door opens and out steps a girl with the biggest brown eyes, longest, lushest black hair and the most hideous bangs I’ve ever seen. Slack-jawed, she stares at my nakedness, and I stare right back at her in that tight dress.
I know that face. I’ve seen her picture, and I’ve daydreamed about carving a smile into the throat of her brother more than once - Caterina Morelli, my little bride-to-be.
I should hate her simply because Nico loves her.
Instead, a thundering possessiveness fills me. Rocco wasn’t lying about her looking like a tasty morsel. It makes me furious that he laid eyes on her before I did. My bride. Mine.
Her mouth opens and closes as she searches for words, and I’m reminded of that brother of hers again. What the hell is she doing in my room? What’s she doing up here at all? This is nowhere near our guest quarters. Little sneak is probably as treacherous as Nico. I’ll wind up poisoned on our wedding day if I give her half a chance.
But, that’s two years away. Two years and then my father expects to have our revenge through her.
I lower my gun and stalk closer, enjoying her virginal distress as I do. I’d bet every dollar in Vegas she’s never seen a cock until now. And, mine is the only cock she’ll ever know. “Did you wish to get a head start on the wedding night, darling?”
4
Caterina
“Did you wish to get a head start on the wedding night, darling?”
My entire face explodes with heat like a furnace door being opened at what Alessio suggests. Not to mention his nakedness.
His body is hard muscle and sinew, liberally covered with scars and tattoos. His toned arms, broad chest and chiseled abs speak of years of training and fighting. He’s tall, imposing, a killing machine. A smattering of dark hair covers his chest. A denser patch starts below his navel and trails downward to where his penis hangs heavily between his muscular thighs. It’s scarily long to my innocent eyes and, from what I know of anatomy, it’s not even erect. Good God, he’s going to shove that thing inside of me on our wedding night and make me bleed and every man in our world will say it is his right.
And yet, I am not as repulsed by him as I expected. His hair is light brown and just a bit shaggy. His eyes are the deepest blue, like pools I’m meant to drown in. His face is angular andstern but undeniably attractive. Why do I find it so? Aren’t the monsters meant to look like monsters? From the three-headed wolf tattoo across his throat, to his body piercings that make me want to curl up and whimper, he’s nothing like the gallant knights in those fairytales I’ve read.
What of the blood-soaked clothes on the floor and his blood-stained hands?
Yes, I noticed those when he walked in after I’d foolishly sought refuge here, his bedroom it seems, of all places. Stupid Curious Cat marching right into danger. How many men has he murdered? How many women?Reaper.
