“That’s Romeo Mancini,” Rio murmurs. “Our families do business together.”
“Italian,” I murmur, the name ringing a bell. He has the same dangerous beauty as my cousin Andre and for a second I wonder if they know each other.
“Rio,” Romeo says as we approach. “Back so soon. Are you fighting again tonight?”
“Romeo,” Rio answers with a smile and shakes his hand. “I am.”
Romeo’s eyes land on me and he looks me up and down, not bothering to hide it, and then he smiles. I feel my cheeks go hot, which is humiliating because I know he’s doing it on purpose.
“This must be the famous new wife.” He takes the hand Rio isn’t holding and brings it to his lips before kissing.
“Principessa,” he says with a smirk. “Sei incredibilmente bella.”
I blush with even more embarrassment and feel Rio’s hand tighten around mine. I’m not sure what to say, so I go with, “Nice to meet you.” Unfortunately, it comes out in Italian and Rio’s hand grips mine so tightly I hiss out in pain.
“Enough,” Rio says, bringing Romeo’s attention back to him.
Romeo lifts his hands, acting innocent.
“Can’t blame me for admiring Italian beauty,” he says winking at me. “It’s too bad her uncle didn’t make a deal with my family instead. I might’ve been better off.”
His words stun me but I don’t say anything. Did he know my uncle? I study him as he speaks with Rio, wondering how much he really knows of my family and the arrangement my uncle made for me.
“Speaking of,” Rio says in an almost annoyed tone. “How is your arrangement going?”
Romeo sighs.
“The same. She loathes me, I loathe her, and our families pretend we will happily give them little baby heirs one day. Romance, it is not.” He glances at me, then back to Rio again. “Not as well as yours, it would seem.”
Rio stiffens a little like he’s waiting for me to say something horrible in front of everyone and he seems to loosen back up when he realizes I’m not going to speak. I know when to pick my battles and now is definitely not the time. I can practically feel the testosterone in the air right now.
“We have our moments,” he says vaguely as his hand squeezes mine again. This time it doesn’t hurt, but it is enough to remind me exactly who I belong to.
Romeo watches us both with amusement before changingthe conversation. They start talking business and that’s my cue to tune them out. I should probably pay attention but there’s way too much going on around us. I hear the crowd screaming as the fight is called and the large man stalks out of the cage looking enraged while the other man is crowned victor.
“Looks like I need to go check on him,” Romeo says, gesturing to the man who is exiting through a door behind the cage. “See you later, Rio. Principessa, it was a pleasure.”
I look up to see Rio scowling at Romeo as he walks away. He scans the room again, then looks down at me. Before I know it he has his hand around my throat and he’s tilting my face up toward his. He’s not grabbing me harshly but the motion confuses me all the same, especially because he doesn’t say a word. He just stares at me like he’s trying to put together the pieces to a puzzle. We’re interrupted by a tall blonde man who pushes through the crowd.
“Rio,” he says with a smile. “Thought I would come say hello before I missed you again.”
“Congratulations on your win tonight,” Rio says with a smile. “I didn’t expect you to still be in town.”
It clicks in my head that this is the man that was fighting in the cage earlier.
“I decided to stay for this event. It’s not often I get a chance to knock a Mancini soldier down a few pegs.” His eyes glint with an air of arrogance that makes me want to roll my eyes. He eyes me like he just noticed my presence, then offers his hand out. “Aaron Mikhailov. Exotic connoisseur, part-time champion by day and full-time heartbreaker by night. And you are…?”
‘Is this guy serious?’I think as I take his hand. He may very well rival Romeo and Rio with his cocky demeanor.
“Liana,” I say, taking his hand with a blank face.
He holds my hand a little longer than necessary, looking my body up and down, slow and exaggerated.
“Meet my wife,” Rio growls out before pulling me into his body and causing Aaron to drop my hand immediately.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” he replies with a laugh. Not five seconds later, he’s ignoring me completely and two scantily clad women are draping themselves on either side of him. I snort to myself in amusement as I watch them both fawn over him.
‘I wonder if this is how Rio used to be before I was forced into his life?’
