Page 35 of Diary of a Mafia Princess

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes. I’d seen this act a million times. This show of power. Like we weren’t worth his time.

He focused on Nyah first, his gaze turning hot and drifting down her body.

The urge to step in front of her so he couldn’t see her surprised me. I beat it down, even though my fingers twitched to wrap around her wrist again. This time protecting her, rather than just getting her attention.

To Nyah’s credit, the rapid pulse flickering in her neck was the only thing that gave away she was nervous, and I could only see that because I was so close to her.

My father was too busy ogling her tits to notice or care if she was uncomfortable.

He eventually dragged his gaze up to her face and smiled. “Nyah Matish.”

“Carlos Guerra,” she shot back, without any of the charm he’d started the conversation with.

I flinched, knowing my father wouldn’t like it.

And I was right. Something ticked in his jaw, but he continued, like her addressing him as anything other than Mr. Guerra didn’t bother him. “Your father tells me your mother has taken ill and so you’ll be staying with us until the wedding. Is that correct?”

That was the first I’d heard of it.

But Nyah just nodded, clearly trying to pull herself back into line. “Yes. Her diagnosis is her business, but I didn’t want to become ill before our nuptials.”

I squinted at her. “Your wedding date isn’t for ages.”

She swiveled to stare at me. “Are you suggesting my health isn’t of importance? I’m sure your father doesn’t agree.”

We both stared at him.

He frowned in my direction. “Of course her health is my concern. Come here, fiancée. Let me look at you more closely and inspect how healthy you are.”

I was sure I wasn’t imagining the way Nyah went stiff beside me. But then she relaxed so quickly I thought maybe I’d imagined it.

What I didn’t imagine was Enzo’s gaze narrowing and following her as she made her way around the desk to stand in front of my father.

I didn’t miss the way my father’s greedy gaze ate her up either. He sat back and crossed one leg over the other. Then held a finger up, moving it in a slow circle, indicating for her to turn around for him.

She obliged, turning slowly, showing off the dress she’d worn, with its low back and ties around her neck that kept the whole thing in place.

My father groaned at the sight of her naked back; in much the same way I had wanted to when I’d seen her on the top of the stairs.

My molars ground against each other, loud enough Lynx glanced over at me.

I unclenched my jaw, forcing them to stop.

“Your father didn’t lie when he said you were a beauty. It will be no hardship seeing your pretty face around my house each day.”

Nyah smiled at him, all charm now he was complimenting her. “Thank you, Mr. Guerra.”

Gag me with a spoon. Did I really need to be here for this?

Except I couldn’t just walk out and leave her here with a roomful of men, most of whom would eat her alive in that dress if given half the chance. My uncle in particular stared at her in a way I didn’t like. Half leer. Half anger.

Why the fuck was he even here? He lived across the other side of the country, last I’d heard.

The anger on his face only intensified when my father reached out a hand to Nyah, trailing it from her upper thigh, over her hip, and then to the small of her naked back.

She sucked in a sharp breath at his touch, and my father chuckled like it amused him. He drew her in, and she took little, uncertain steps in his direction, teetering on heels that were too tall to easily walk in.

My father took care of that problem and pulled her down so she was sitting on his lap.