I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “Carmela, I...”
But before I can continue, a commotion at the entrance of the ballroom draws our attention. Raised voices, the sound of a scuffle. I instinctively pull Carmela closer, shielding her with my body.
The commotion at the ballroom entrance escalates, drawing the entire room’s attention. I keep Carmela close, grabbing her hand and moving toward it to find out what is going on.
As we push through the crowd, I see my brother Fed locked in a scuffle with none other than Maximo Moretti, the young heir from our rival family.
What the hell is he doing here?
“What’s going on here?” I demand.
Fed glances at me, his face flushed with anger. “This bastard was hitting on Isabella! I caught him trying to put his hands on her.”
Maximo sneers, straightening his suit jacket. “I was being friendly, De Luca. No need to get your panties in a twist.”
My blood boils at his disrespect. I step forward, getting in Maximo’s face. “You have no business being here, Moretti. This is a private event.”
Maximo smirks, his eyes flick to Carmela behind me. “I heard there was a party. Thought I’d come see what all the fuss was about. And I must say, your sister is looking particularly delectable tonight.”
Fed lunges at him, but I hold him back. “Watch your mouth,” I growl. “You’re not welcome here. Leave now, before I make you regret ever setting foot in this ballroom.”
Maximo holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I can take a hint. But mark my words, De Luca, this isn’t over. Your family won’t be on top forever.”
With that, he turns and stalks out of the ballroom, pushing past the shocked onlookers. I turn to Fed, my jaw tight. “What the hell was that about?”
Fed runs a hand through his hair, looking shaken. “I saw him getting handsy with Isabella, and I lost it. You know how protective I am of her.”
The Morettis have been a thorn in our side for years, but they’ve never been bold enough to crash one of our events before. Something’s changed. And I have a feeling it’s going to mean trouble for all of us.
I turn to Carmela, taking her hand in mine. “Are you alright,bella?”
She nods. “Are we in danger?”
I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. But we need to be careful. The Morettis are up to something, and we need to find out what it is before it’s too late.”
I watch as Isabella rolls her eyes at Fed, her annoyance palpable. “You were being an idiot, Fed,” she scolds him. “I could have handled Maximo myself. He’s harmless.”
Fed scowls, clearly not convinced. “Harmless? The guy’s a creep, Iz. I saw the way he was looking at you.”
Isabella shakes her head. “He was just being friendly. You know how the Morettis are, especially Maximo. They love to push our buttons. But that doesn’t mean he was a threat.”
I place a hand on Fed’s shoulder. “Isabella’s right, Fed. Maximo may be an arrogant prick, but he’s not stupid enough to try anything here. Not with all of us around.”
Fed doesn’t look happy about it, but he nods grudgingly. “Fine. But I don’t like it. The Morettis are up to something, I can feel it.”
I turn to Carmela, who has been watching the exchange. “Do you want to leave?” I ask her.
She shrugs, but I detect the tension in her shoulders. “I don’t like all this talk of danger and rivalry. I thought we were here to have a good time.”
I yank her against me, kissing her temple. “We are. And we will. I won’t let anything ruin this night for us.”
I turn back to Fed and Isabella, my expression serious. “We’ll keep an eye out for any more trouble, but for now, let’s try to enjoy the party. We’re here to celebrate, not start a war.”
They both nod, and I lead Carmela back onto the dance floor. As we sway to the music, I can’t shake the feeling that somethingbig is brewing. The Morettis have always been a problem, but crashing our event like this? It’s a bold move, even for them.
I hold Carmela tighter, breathing in her scent. No matter what happens, I’ll keep her safe. She’s mine now, and I protect what’s mine. Even if it means going to war with the Morettis, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my family out of harm’s way.
23
