To her and everything that she is.
“I’m scared, Rafael.”
Her whisper is nothing more than a tiny breeze and the sound barely reaches my ears, despite our proximity. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” I say.
She lifts her eyelids and stares at me. Her gaze searches mine and I let her see my intent to look after her, to keep her safe. The honey-color in her eyes takes on a glow and I know it’s because she believes me.
Carina drops her forehead to rest it against mine and exhales quietly. “Thank you.” When she lifts her head, the majority of the apprehension from before is gone. “My father will say things to provoke you. It could be anything from a backhanded compliment, to an outright insult. I just want you to be prepared.”
“I am.”
She doesn’t have to remind me that Nardone is a piece of shit. I distinctly remember my interaction with him the night I met Carina, and my opinion of him hasn’t improved. It’s only gotten worse after any subsequent interactions I’ve had with him. I really hope I get the chance to kill him for what he’s done to Carina.
But I doubt it’ll be today. Which sucks.
I press a kiss to her forehead and retract my arm in order to grip the steering wheel. Then I pull back onto the road. Neither of us speaks for the duration of the trip, but I place my hand on Carina’s thigh in a show of support. She surprises me by weaving my fingers through hers and holding on firmly.
Twenty minutes later I’m handing my keys to a member of Nardone’s staff and ushering Carina inside her former home. Her spine is stiff and her expression is void of any emotion, yet her body trembles slightly. The tiny tremors skate along my fingertips resting on her lower back and my murderous thoughts from before return.
“Rafael Silvestri, I’m pleased to have you as a guest this evening,” Nardone says, stepping into the grand foyer. His mansion is more extravagant, but in my opinion, once you’ve seen one mansion, you’ve seen them all. “Welcome home, Carina. It’s good to see you as well.”
I dip my head in acknowledgement. “Thank you for the invitation, Nardone. Carina and I are pleased to dine with you.”
He waves a hand in dismissal. “She is my daughter and you are soon to be my son by marriage. Of course you must come.” He turns his attention to Carina and her body goes even more rigid with tension. When he places a chaste kiss on each of her cheeks, I have to suppress the urge to strike him.
“You look beautiful,principessa,” he says with subtle emphasis. “Your mother will be happy to see you.”
“I’m eager to see her as well.”
Nardone’s broad smile never lessens, and the scrutiny in his gaze increases. He sweeps his eyes over Carina and then me, but I maintain my neutral expression. This asshole isn’t getting a rise out of me.
However, for calling my fiancée by that demoralizing nickname, I’d happily slit his throat. I’d bet my left nut he knows it disturbs her.
“Follow me,” he says.
I slide my arm around her waist and pull her into my side. The instant her body makes contact with mine, some of the tension leaves her. I don’t have time to dwell on her reaction to me and the satisfaction it gives. We are in hostile territory and surrounded by men who would kill us at the snap of Nardone’s fingers. I meant what I said to Carina about keeping her safe, but I’m not bulletproof. However, if I thought Nardone’s intent was to murder us, I wouldn’t have brought her.
He’s an evil son of a bitch, but we’re valuable to him. I just need to figure out why he thinks so.
A middle-aged woman greets us just in front of the entrance to the dining room and she’s the spitting image of Carina, with some minor differences other than age. Her eyes are blue instead of the alluring hazel Carina has and her hair is a dark shade of brown, unlike her daughter’s lighter strands. The most obvious contrast between the two women is the lack of spirit in the older woman.
Maybe she had it at some point, but it’s gone.
“Mother,” Carina says, her tone formal and stiff. “It’s good to see you.”
Mrs. Nardone approaches and takes her daughter’s cheeks between her hands. “I’ve missed you,bellissima. Welcome home.” She kisses Carina’s forehead and then releases her to take a step back and lock eyes with me. “Buona sera, Signor Silvestri.”
“Buona sera, signora,” I reply with a slight nod. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
“My pleasure. Shall we?”
I splay my hand on the small of Carina’s back and usher her into the dining room. If her behavior thus far is any indication, she’s ready to bolt. I know she won’t go through with it because there’s too much at stake. However, my fiancée has run from me a couple times and I’m aware that’s what instinct drives her to do.
We take our indicated seats, predetermined by the placeholders set on the fine china. Carina sits to my right with Nardone on my left at the head of the table. I keep my expression neutral when his wife occupies her seat, leaving the one between herself and her husband vacant. Did he plan this to humiliate her?
Or are we missing someone?
“Violetta,” Nardone says, “come here,bambina.”
