I stand frozen, an unfamiliar tightness in my chest. This was exactly what I wanted. How convenient that it only took a few hours for her to learn her lesson well.
Too well.
Back at home, I head to my office and pour three fingers of scotch for me and my brothers. Adriano and Luca make themselves comfortable, loosening ties and unbuttoning collars now that the rehearsal dinner's formalities are behind us.
"To tomorrow." Luca raises his glass. "When the Dante empire grows stronger."
We drink in silence, the burn of alcohol doing little to ease the tension inside me.
"Your bride seems charming," Luca says, breaking the quiet. "Katerina likes her too. So why, exactly, are you being such a dick?"
I shoot him a warning glare. "Mind your own marriage."
"Alessandro secretly likes her." Adriano smirks, sprawling deeper into his chair. "That's why he's being a dick. Our brother doesn't know how to handle actual feelings."
"You can both fuck off," I mutter, refilling my glass.
Luca leans forward, his expression turning serious. "Look, Isabella is young?—"
"I don't need to be reminded of that," I snap.
"Getting sensitive about the age gap?" Adriano's grin widens. "Feeling old around her, Brother?"
"I'm thirty-three, not dead," I growl.
Luca shakes his head. "That's not my point. She's young, which means she's still forming loyalties. If you play this right, she could become a valuable asset against the Vitales."
I stare into my drink, considering his words. "It goes both ways. She could be Marco's eyes and ears in our operation."
"Except for the fact that Marco’s a shitty father,” Adriano counters.
Luca nods. “If you're a good husband, if you gain her trust and affection, she might share information that ensures the Vitales never get a foothold in our business."
"He's right. I've seen how she looks at you when you're not watching. There's potential there,” Adriano agrees.
"Potential for disaster," I mutter, but the certainty in my gut wavers.
The truth is, I've already proven I lose control around her. One night on that rooftop was all it took to make me crack. To lose control over my actions.
“Being an asshole isn’t the answer either,” Luca argues.
Adriano chuckles. "Freezing her out or making her frightened of you isn’t going to work on her, I don’t think. She’s made of stronger stuff. Just like Valentina.”
"I don't want her frightened," I balk.
"Then what do you want?" Luca asks.
That's the question, isn't it? The truth is I want to have lively conversations and to fuck her. But I can’t risk losing control of myself. Not with the family’s survival on the line.
I drain my glass instead of answering. "It's late. We should get some rest before tomorrow."
My brothers exchange a look that I ignore.
"Just a thought," Luca says, rising to his feet. "Maybe try not treating your wife like the enemy until she actually proves herself to be one."
"Or at least wait until after the honeymoon," Adriano adds with a wink.
“Get the fuck out of my office.”
