He uses his free hand to call off his men and then nods at me, his eyes glazed with pain.
“I’m glad we are of like minds on that,” I say. “As for the comment concerning Carina? If you ever mention my soon-to-be wife’s cunt or say anything disparaging about her in my presence or hers again, Iwillfucking kill you.” Then I smile wide, picking up the basket of biscotti and offering it to Nardone. “Would you like some?”
He and I both know that I’m not really offering him bread; I’m offering a challenge, as well as a threat. I’m indirectly asking him if he wants to get fucked up for continuing to treat Carina disrespectfully. And me smiling at him is to let Nardone know I’d be more than happy to murder him.
The older man studies me a moment more and then gives me a curt nod. “Let me know what Tristano says.”
He knows Carina is mine and if he wants to live he’ll mind his business and watch his fucking tongue. And just like that, it’s over between us.
But it’sfarfrom over between me and this Ugo motherfucker. It doesn’t take much deliberation to connect the dots. Starting with Carina’s strange behavior the first night I met her, which immediately made me suspicious of there being trauma in her past. Then there’s the way she said that some people don’t consider her a virgin, as if that made any fucking sense. But now it’s starting to. There were a number of other signs that pointed to her being assaulted, yet I hadn’t wanted to ask until I knew for sure.
The look on Carina’s face when Nardone mentioned that cocksucker was enough evidence for me. As soon as we walk out of this house I’ll text Danny so he can locate Ugo because he and I need to have a heart-to-heart.
Reluctantly, I withdraw the knife from Nardone’s hand. He’s quick to wrap a napkin around the wound, which isn’t really that bad, all things considered. He’s lucky I stabbed his hand, not his face.
The feel of Carina’s hand on my thigh pulls my attention away from her father. Her touch is light, almost as if she doesn’t know how to approach me. I take hold of her fingers and bring them to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. When her gaze meets mine over the ridge of her hand, the hazel in her eyes so bright it’s almost golden.
I’ve never seen her look at me this way.
When I rescued her, Carina didn’t have the expression of wonder and gratefulness she does now. I find it impacts me greatly, bringing out a need to not only protect her but avenge her.
I settle our clasped hands in my lap. The staff clears off the table and brings the main course of the dinner, but all the while I’m aware of two things more than anything else in the room. The first is Carina and how she steals glances at her sister when her father isn’t looking. The second is Violetta’s reaction. Or should I say, lack thereof. The younger woman simply meets Carina’s gaze with a blank expression.
“Your cousin Roberto is getting married this weekend,” Nardone says to Carina. “Now that you two are engaged, it’s impertinent you make an appearance. It’s a matter of respect, which I’m sure I don’t have to remind you.”
She clears her throat and her voice comes out steady. “I will attend, but I can’t speak for Rafael.” Carina looks up at me. “I would love it if you would accompany me.”
“Of course,” I say with a cheerful tone. “Who doesn’t love a wedding?”
Carina
I’ve despised my father my entire life and it’s never occurred to me that I could hate him more than I did when I was living under his room.
But after seeing Violetta?
I’d happily sacrifice my life, if it meant I could take his.
“I’ve never dated before or met a girl’s parents, but I’d venture to say that went quite well.” Rafael grins at me. “I think they really like me.”
My mouth falls open. “Are you seriously comparing that dinner to what I assume is a normal situation between a boyfriend and a set of parents? You stabbed my father, for fuck’s sake!” I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re insane, you know that right?”
He winks at me. “Yup, I’m crazy about you.”
This has my eyes rolling.
And my heart fluttering.
But none of that compares to my admiration of him. What he did to my father, by stabbing him for speaking about me in such a negative way? I’ll always hold Rafael in the highest regard. That might’ve been one of the highlights of my life so far.
“I’m sure.” After a minute I turn to face him fully. “Are you really going to attend my cousin’s wedding with me?”
Rafael nods, and then his brows snap together. “Unless you don’t want me to?”
Please don’t come.
“I had no idea my father would expect us to go to a wedding I wasn’t even aware of, but it doesn’t surprise me. I think it’s his way of asserting control or it could be to smooth over the image of our family, seeing as I was exiled. Nobody seems to know about my…faux paswith Ugo,” I say his name with a wince and Rafael’s gaze narrows. “And I’m sure my father wants to keep it that way.”
“It could be all those things, plus give him a chance to show off his new alliance with my family,.” He pulls the car into the parking garage and then cuts off the engine. “I am quite the catch, you know.”
