Chapter Six
Aria had never been one for city life. The hustle and bustle of the crowds, the constant challenge of not getting pushed and shoved, didn’t appeal to her. It was rare for her father to offer a shopping trip. Usually, her mother brought her back clothes or whatever she needed. If not on those shopping trips, she got gifts at Christmas and birthdays.
Dante drove them out to the city, where he’d first taken her to his penthouse suite apartment.
It was exactly how she imagined Dante’s penthouse to be. Lots of white and black furniture. Everything seeming to be crisp and clean. Nothing out of place, and yet, almost sterile as well.
He didn’t have a spare bedroom, so he’d already dropped the bombshell they would be sharing a room. This was news to her. Aria hadn’t shared a room with anyone, not even her sister, growing up. She always had her own room.
Not long after he told her of their new sleeping arrangements, he led them out onto the street. Multiple guards surrounded them, and she liked it. No one was able to get close to push them around. Dante grabbed her arm and placed it through his. At first, she couldn’t help but tense up at this new contact, but then she began to calm down.
They were a married couple, and had been for eight months. The only difference was they were going to act like it, which was cool. She hoped it worked for them, and they were invited to a party or somethin g— one where her father would be present.
She couldn’t help but glance around and wonder if people were watching them. She expected someone to be staring, whispering, knowing exactly what they were trying to do, but when she did look up, no one was paying them any attention.
There were one or two people who’d look at them and their entourage, but no one even paid more than a brief glance their way. It was nice, refreshing, and so much better than all the experiences she’d had in the past eight months. Even their brief engagement had been filled with speculation. No one could imagine why Dante Gallo would marry her. She was nothing.
Again, she couldn’t help but wonder why her father had insisted on finding someone to marry her. Now, she knew he’d blackmailed him to do this.
Aria would never admit it to him, but it hurt that in order to get anyone to be with her, her father had to result to trickery and blackmail.
“Ah, here we are.”
She couldn’t help but frown as they stepped into a well-known boutique. Her mother was always raving about the place, as were a few other women.
“Why are we here?”
“I think it’s only fair I take my wife shopping, don’t you?”
They’d never gone shopping. The clothes she wore were the ones she was able to afford before her parents took away her allowance.
She didn’t intend for them to stay married long. As nice as it would be to have some new clothes, she didn’t think this was the right way to go about it.
“I … I don’t think this is right,” she said, gripping his arm. His soldiers had already given them some distance, and were heading around the shop.
“Why not?” Dante asked.
“If I find that … stuff, you won’t need to stay married to me any longer than you have to,” she said. “There’s no point in wasting your money.”
Dante stared at her for several seconds. Aria had never needed to read people before, and it was concerning. He kept looking at her, and then he smiled.
“How about you let me have this fun, dressing up my wife?” he asked.
“But, you don’t have to.”
He cupped her face and it was strange for Aria, she didn’t flinch. Not for a second did she feel any fear.
“Look at me.”
She stared at him. It was hard for her to form any kind of thought. He was touching her, and she didn’t know what to say or do.
His hands on her face should terrify her, but instead she felt alive. This was strange.
“Let me treat you. Let’s not think about what might happen. You’re my wife, Aria, and I think it’s time I started treating you like it.”
Was this a trick? Was he luring her into a false sense of security, and then when he was ready, he’d kill her? She hoped not.
Dante took her hand. While they’d been talking, one of the soldiers had already made the arrangements so the shop was completely empty. One of the assistants came toward Dante with a smile on her lips.
Aria noticed several buttons at the top of her shirt had come undone, and the giggle was a little over the top.
“Good morning, sir, what can I get you today?” the assistant asked.
“I’m looking for a new wardrobe for my wife.”
“Your wife.”
Aria smiled as the other woman chanced a brief glance toward her.
“Yes, my wife.” Dante slid his arm across her shoulders, and pulled her against him. “Do you think you could help us with that?”
The woman was charmed by Dante, or by his wealth.
“Certainly. If you would like to take your wife over to the changing rooms, I will collect several items and be right there with you.”
She spun on her heel and left.
“She chooses everything?” Aria asked.
“For me, they do,” Dante said.
“You’ve come here before?”
“Yes, with my mother and sister, at my father’s request many years ago.”
Aria had met his family. From what she could tell, Dante wasn’t close to his siblings, but there were quite a few years difference between them all. Dante was the oldest, and the one that needed the constant training. Aria wasn’t close to his family, nor her own. In the past eight months, she’d pretty much been on her own inside his country home.
They arrived at the changing rooms, and Dante took a seat, spreading out his arms.
“What happens now?” Aria asked.
“Simple, she brings along a bunch of clothing, and you try them on. I get to decide if I like it or not. Easy.”
Aria spun toward him, folding her arms beneath her chest. “Are you sure there aren’t a million other things you’d rather be doing?”
“Nope.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Dante chuckled. “You’re right. There are a million other things I need to be doing, yet I am here with my wife, enjoying her company.”
“Shopping. I thought the whole adage was men hated to shop.”
He winked at her. “I’m not like most men.”
She was about to ask him more questions but their assistant arrived, as well as two other women.
“I’ve got everything to get us started.”
Aria hated shopping. Her mother would often complain about the size she had to wear, and usually it would result in a diet. Stepping into the changing room with the assistant, she wasn’t used to having someone with her. She expected the other women to make a snide comment about her weight, as that had happened in the past. Yet, she said nothing. No rude comment. No disgusted looks.
The woman who flirted with Dante seemed to have disappeared, and now was a woman of focus.
“I brought all different kinds of outfits. Is there anything you’re looking for?”
Aria glanced down at the woman’s name tag, to see she was called Chloe.
“I have no idea. This shopping spree is kind of a surprise.”
“Well, well, well, your husband is a keeper, Mrs. Gallo. You do not let a man go who is interested in spending money on clothes and even helping you.”
“Uh, what size did you get?” Aria asked, looking at the pair of slacks the woman had brought.
Chloe didn’t say it aloud, but showed her the size. “I didn’t want to appear rude by asking you, and I took a guess.”
“It’s right,” Aria said and smiled.
This was nice not to have any kind of judgment.
Changing into a pair of slacks and a sleeveless blouse, Aria looked at herself and then stepped out.
Dante stared up and down at her, and then shook his head. “Next.”
Not a great start, and for the next three hours, Aria was pretty sure she fell out of love with shopping. Not that she was ever in love with it. Dante was strict.
She happened to notice most of the dresses were keepers. The slacks and trousers he instantly dismissed. Then the skirts were accepted, along with certain tops, which again had to all be fitted at the bust. By the end of those three hours, she had enough, and was starving.
When Aria thought they were finally going to be leaving, he then sprung another little surprise.
“Chloe, we’ve got a social event tomorrow night. Would you please find an evening gown for my wife?” Dante said.
Aria looked toward Dante as Chloe made her agreement and then left.
“What?” Aria asked.
Dante held up his cell phone, but it wasn’t like she could read the message. “Just came through. My father expects us to attend. It’s another engagement party.”
“When is it not an engagement party?” Aria asked. “Don’t you think this is a little soon? Tomorrow night?”
“Aria, you will be more than ready for tomorrow night. You have nothing to fear.”
****
If Aria kept squeezing her nails into her palms, there would be nothing left of her. Dante reached down and took hold of her hand. She turned toward him.
“Why are you so nervous?”
“This is all well and good, but … don’t you think this is a little … I don’t know … soon?”
She’d been nervous since he told her about the party yesterday. He understood her nerves, and other than a brief business meeting with his father, he’d not left her side.
Dante didn’t intend to cause a public stir when they entered this event. Every other time since they’d been married, he entered with Aria at his side. The only difference was, tonight, when they entered, he was going to be holding her, and she wouldn’t leave his side.
“Aria, we’ve been married eight months and have attended many different gatherings.”
“Yeah, but tonight you’ve told me not to leave your side. On other occasions, you’ve advised I stay out of your way.”
He’d been horrible to her.
Dante had made it clear from the very beginning that he didn’t want to be married to her. She had followed his directions completely, giving him the space he required, but now he wanted to be close.
Their car pulled up outside of one of the capos’ houses. It had been an hour’s journey from their penthouse suite. Dante didn’t want to go to any social function, especially not one that had been sprung on him with such short notice.
He preferred to be prepared, to know every single aspect of every venue. This was a capo’s home, so there wasn’t as much to fear, but if they had been lax in their security, it would put them all at risk.
The car came to a stop and he kept hold of Aria’s hand. He helped her out of the car and then banded an arm around her waist.
“We can do this, right?”
He found her honesty refreshing.
Dante couldn’t help but wonder if she realized her brutal honesty and growing spine was what … intrigued him about her in the first place. He didn’t want a simpering fool. He wanted a woman by his side. Not someone who would agree with him about everything. No, he wanted to have a challenge, and Aria provided that.
After hearing what she’d told her sister about hating sex, he was encouraged to try harder.
Last night, Aria had been nervous. Even though he’d spent the last eight months telling her to stay on her knees as he fucked her from behind, not once had they shared a bed. Not even on their wedding night. He’d been a cruel bastard.
Dante hadn’t cared until now.
He had to be cruel to survive this life. They had too many enemies waiting for the right moment to exploit, and he wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“We’ve got this,” he said.
He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Aria.
She was so nervous that all he wanted to do was keep her close, protect her, and not let anything happen to her.
They walked into the function, and Dante already spotted his parents, along with Aria’s. The whole house was thriving. Engagements often were. His own had been the same, but there had been several nasty comments, all of which he allowed to slide because he’d been so pissed.
He knew people watched them. This was not new, apart from him holding Aria. Whenever they entered a function, they were side by side. He never touched her. Now, he kept Aria close.
Dante noticed the whispers start, and he decided to go straight toward his father.
Again, he did something different by taking Aria with him.
“Dante,” his father said.
“Father,” he said.
“Mr. Gallo,” Aria said, bowing her head toward him.
She didn’t look up, but stayed silent at his side.
Dante smiled at his father. “I wasn’t expecting an engagement party so soon after the last one. Is this someone I know?” There was always some cause for celebration. A party, a child’s birth. Dante knew exactly who this was and who they were engaged to.
This was the capo’s daughter, Mary, who was joining with another capo from another city. Again, the man was twenty years older than her, but it was a business deal. This is what they did. Strengthen alliances, build wealth, and gain power.
His father didn’t even answer his question.
“Aria, you’re looking lovely tonight,” his mother said.
This made Aria lift her head and then glance down at the red dress he’d insisted on her wearing.
“Thank you. Uh, Dante picked this out.” Aria ran her hand down the fabric at the front.
He loved the dress. Often, Aria wore something that drowned her body. This one enhanced her curves. When he first saw her in it at the shop yesterday, he’d been utterly speechless.
The dress molded to her tits and curved in at the waist before flaring out at her hips. She looked stunning. He’d even hired a hairstylist to take care of her hair for tonight.
Aria tended to wear hers either pulled back or in some kind of bun. It was always bound up. This time, ringlets fell down her face. She had long hair, beautiful, soft, thick, and rich golden brown.
Her makeup was minimal as he didn’t want to go to the party with a clown. Smoky eye shadow, mascara, and some lipstick. She looked amazing.
“Ah, my son always had a good eye for quality,” his father said. “Do you mind if I steal your husband away for a moment?”
Dante didn’t want to leave his wife’s side. He looked toward his mother. “Please, don’t leave her. I’ll be right back.”
This wasn’t part of the plan.
He’d promised he would stay by Aria’s side. Following his father to a small alcove, he stopped and waited for his father to say what he needed.
“What is going on?” he asked.
Dante looked at his father. “About what?”
“Cut the crap, Dante. I know these last eight months you’ve ignored her. You bring her to these events because I order you to. You could have left her home for this one, instead you bring her. Why?”
His father had told him there was no need to bring his wife. It was a small gathering, but Dante saw this was anything but small. Not bringing Aria would have created all kinds of rumor and gossip.
“I’ve accepted my life. Aria is my wife, and I’m going to start treating her like it.”
His father grunted. “She will not be for long. I have men working—”
“With all due respect, you said I wouldn’t even have to go through with my own wedding, and yet, that is exactly what I had to do. In the past year, we have gotten nowhere. Aria is my wife. I’m attempting to make her pregnant with my child. I’m going to start treating her like a wife.”
“Do you think you’re fooling me?” his father asked.
“I’m not trying to fool anyone, but what I’m not going to do is allow my child to grow up in a home where his parents hate each other. You made sure we didn’t.”
He saw his confession shocked his father.
Seconds passed when neither of them said a word.
“Dante?”
“Dad, don’t, okay? I’m the one that fucked up, and this is the consequence of that. Aria’s nothing like her father, and according to my staff, all of them have fallen in love with her. Trust me, I didn’t task them with helping her. They were horrible to her, and still, Aria found a way to win them over. That is quite an accomplishment.” He reached out and slapped his father’s arm. “Trust me.”
He moved back toward Aria, who hadn’t taken a single sip of her champagne, and then Dante remembered. Banding an arm around his wife’s waist, he pulled her in close, and then stopped a waiter before he could pass.
“Could you get me a glass of water?” Dante asked.
The waiter mumbled his agreement and quickly headed back into the kitchen. He returned seconds later with a glass of water. Dante took a sip, and then presented it to Aria. He took her glass of champagne and winked at her.
“You remembered,” Aria said.
“See, I can make a good husband after all.”
For the first time since they had been together, he made his wife laugh. At first, Dante could only look. Her laughter lit up her whole face, and she was positively beautiful.
He had never considered Aria to be beautiful. Not a classic beauty, but he was starting to see there was more to beauty than mere looks.
He’d been with many different beautiful women, but all had a cruel and jealous streak about them. Aria wasn’t malicious. Even when she was telling him the truth about their marriage, she was only speaking the truth, and he could handle that.
Glancing past her shoulder, he saw her father watching them. The hatred he always felt for the man was there, but it didn’t consume him. He didn’t want to suddenly hurt Aria, to make the bastard pay. Phillip Lewis would pay eventually, but that would come when he was ready.
Now, he gave the family something to really talk about, as he leaned in close and pressed a kiss to his wife’s lips.
He knew he should feel guilt at taking the spotlight away from the engaged couple, but the truth was, he didn’t care.