“Enough,” Luca says in a tone that speaks to no disagreements. “Everyone, into the living room.”
All of us, including my family and Luca’s other guests, go into the living room. It’s clear from everyone’s expression they’re confused about what’s going to happen.
He turns to me. “On your hands and knees. You will stay like that for the entire party.”
“You can’t do that to my daughter,” my mom cuts in.
Luca holds up a hand. “Maria, your daughter is my wife now. You know I can. And I am doing this for her own good. I don’t want her ending up like your other daughter.”
My mom flushes in embarrassment but she doesn’t object. Even she knows that Susanna is a problem. I used to be one myself.
And honestly, I still am in many ways.
I’m not getting out of this one so, with my head held high, I lower myself to my knees and then get into a table-top position.
“There,” Luca says, patting my head like I’m a dog. I have to bite my lip to keep from snapping at him. “You’ll stay right there. If anyone has a problem with this, they can leave.”
“I can’t believe you’re treating my sister like this,” Susanna says. I keep my eyes glued to the ground so I can’t make out her face but I’m sure it’s full of anger.
“I don’t want her acting like you,” Luca tells her calmly. “This is the only way.”
Before Susanna can object, the room goes quiet. With a frown, I lift my head up to see what’s happened.
That’s when I see Gabriel, the man who arrived at our wedding uninvited. The one Luca seemed to have a problem with. His enemy.
Inside our house.
And his eyes are right on me.
Chapter Eight
Luca
The moment I see Gabriel look at Nina, a pure rage consumes me. I’ve never been a passionate man. I believe in order and logic and doing what you have to do to make things better. But right in this moment, I can’t stand the idea of my enemy looking at my wife.
“Nina,” I murmur, “stand up.”
Slowly, she pushes herself to her feet and moves to stand behind me.
“What’s going on?” Susanna asks, looking back and forth between me and Gabriel.
“You think you can come into my house?” I growl, storming over to him. The man who has stolen money from me. Who has tried to kill me in the past. Who wants my empire I’ve built.
“You were hosting a party. I figured I could come.”
“You’re not invited. Leave.”
Gabriel chuckles. His eyes flick over to Nina once more. “You really do have such a pretty wife. Interesting that she was on her hands and knees like that. You like being kinky with your wife, I take it.”
I grab his shirt and draw him towards me. “Don’t talk about my wife.”
“Luca,” Alek warns. “Nina and Susanna are here. My wife is here. I don’t want any of them getting hurt. Let Gabriel go. Gabriel, you need to leave.”
“I’m just having fun,” he says in an innocent tone that I know is the opposite of innocent.
“Leave before I fucking kill you,” I threaten.
Gabriel huffs and backs away from me, fixing his shirt. “Fine.” He looks at Nina again and it takes everything inside of me not to fucking punch him. “I’ll be going. It was nice seeing you again, Luca’s wife.”
