Chapter 4
The reception was in full swing, the grand ballroom buzzing with laughter, the clinking of glasses and the soft strains of a string quartet.
The massive chandelier above cast a warm golden glow over everything, making the scene look almost dreamlike.
But no amount of light or music could make this feel real.
This wasn't a celebration. It was a transaction wrapped in silk and drowned in champagne.
I leaned against the bar, my tie hanging loose and the first few buttons of my shirt undone.
Somewhere between the vows and the second round of congratulations, I had ditched my jacket.
The whiskey in my hand wasn't helping, though the slow burn at the back of my throat gave me something to focus on.
Across the room she sat at the head table, looking as out of place as I felt.
Alessa Rossi....... No, Alessa Moretti now. My wife.
She was polite and poised, smiling faintly when people stopped to speak with her but there was a tension in her shoulders that gave her away.
She was trying, I had to give her that. But it didn't matter. This wasn't real for either of us.
I hadn't spoken to her since the ceremony. I didn't want to. What was there to say?
We both knew what this was. She was here to play her part in the alliance just as I was.
Gavino's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You have been brooding over here for too long."
He appeared at my side, drink in hand, his expression annoyingly amused. "If I didn't know better, I had think you were nervous."
"I'm not nervous" I muttered, my eyes still on Alessa. "Just bored."
"Staring at her isn't going to make this any easier, you know." he muttered.
"Who says I'm staring?" I shot back without looking at him.
Gavino chuckled under his breath. "Right. You are just glaring at the wall behind her head."
I didn't reply. I hated how Gavino always thought he had me figured out like he could see things I couldn't or wouldn't.
"Papa! Papa!" A high-pitched voice cut through the room and for a moment the tension in my chest eased.
"Over here, piccolo" Cancio called from nearby, holding a glass of wine and watching his three year old son with a rare, relaxed smile.
(piccolo - little one)
Leo came barreling toward me instead, his tiny tuxedo askew, his dark curls bouncing as he ran.
"Zio Luca!" he shouted ignoring his father's voice from across the room. "Dance!"
(Zio - Uncle)
I crouched down, setting my glass on the bar to steady him before he knocked it over. "Dance? Aren't you a little young for this party?"
"Mama say I dance with her." he announced proudly grinning.
"Did she now?" I smiled, ruffling his hair.
Sara appeared a second later, her blue dress flowing as she moved, the kind of effortless elegance that made it impossible to dislike her.
"Leo has been practicing his moves all week." she said with a laugh, crouching to adjust his bowtie. "He is not going to let this party end without showing them off."
Gavino grinned. "Kid has got more guts than half the men in this room."
Sara arched a brow. "I will take that as a compliment."
Then, with a pointed look at me, she added, "Maybe you could learn a thing or two, Luca. It is your wedding after all."
Before I could respond Fabio sauntered over, that infuriating grin plastered across his face.
"Speaking of dancing" he said far too loudly, "If you are not going to take your bride for a spin Luca, I will gladly step in."
I turned to face him, my jaw tightening. "Stay out of it, Fabio"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Relax, fratello. I'm just trying to help. She looks like she could use some fun."
(fratello - brother)
"She doesn't need your kind of fun" I said, my voice low, the warning clear.
The glass in my hand felt like it might shatter but I forced myself to stay still. Fabio thrived on reactions and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
"Come on, Leo" Sara interjected sensing the tension. She reached for her son's hand. "Let's show everyone your moves."
Leo beamed, letting her lead him toward the dance floor. Cancio followed, a rare smile tugging at his lips as he watched his wife and son.
Gavino leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You might want to keep that temper in check before you do something stupid."
I shot him a glare. "I don't know what you are talking about."
Gavino's smirk was maddening. "Of course you don't."
I set my glass down and pushed past him. The crowd seemed to blur as I crossed the room. Alessa's gaze shifted when I stopped in front of her, the faintest flicker of surprise crossing her face.
I didn't offer my hand. I didn't ask.
"Get up." I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
????
"Get up" Luca's voice cut through the noise of the reception, as clear and direct as a command.
It wasn't a request. It was an order like I was a piece of property he could direct at will. But for the first time, a flicker of defiance sparked within me.
He was my husband, yes, but there was still so much about this marriage that felt like a transaction and it made my blood run cold.
I stared at him but my heart thudded louder in my chest.
Did he really think I would just stand up and follow him without question? My grip on my dress tightened.
But then the eyes of everyone around us, those strangers who had become witnesses to this farce seemed to shift toward me. I could feel their judgment, the weight of their stares pressing against my skin. I could either make a scene or I could swallow whatever pride I had left and play my part.
I stood slowly, lifting my chin as I met his gaze. There was no trace of warmth in his eyes, nothing that even resembled a connection.
He held out his hand and without another word, I placed mine in his, his grip firm as he pulled me toward him and started walking.
The moment we stepped onto the dance floor, I felt the air shift, the space between us closing in a way I wasn't prepared for.
His hand settled at the small of my back, his touch possessive, pulling me closer than I ever thought I could be to him.
My heart pounded against my ribs, my body reacting to the unfamiliar nearness of him.
The heat of his palm burned through the thin fabric of my dress, his fingers pressing just enough to remind me that he was in control.
His other hand clasped mine, his grip steady, unwavering.
The scent of him something dark, rich, intoxicating wrapped around me, making it impossible to focus on anything but him. Every inhale filled my lungs with him.
Neither of us spoke as the music floated through the air, its soft melody carrying us through the dance. I tried to focus on the rhythm, the steps I knew well but with every move his presence was too much. His hand on my back, his body so close to mine as if he controlled every movement.
Finally, my voice broke through the tension between us.
"You could have asked?" I said quieter than I meant, the frustration in my chest slipping out.
His grip tightened around me, pulling me even closer until there was no space between us at all.
He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear, his voice low. "I don't ask for things that are already mine."
The words, the way they rolled off his tongue, made something inside me tighten. I shifted, trying to escape him but his hold didn't falter. If anything, it only grew stronger.
The song finally drew to a close and as the last note lingered, Luca released me without warning. The sudden absence of his touch left me feeling off balance.
Without a word he took my hand again and led me across the room. The warmth of his palm against mine was gone the moment he guided me back to my chair. I sat down slowly, feeling the eyes of the guests on us as he straightened.
Luca didn't stay. He didn't look at me again. He simply turned and walked away. I watched him retreat leaving me behind in a haze of confusion.
The room felt colder without him standing next to me but I forced myself to smile faintly when one of the older women at the table made a comment about how lovely we looked together.
I nodded absently, my thoughts far away still replaying the strange dance we had just shared.
What was that?
I didn't know whether to feel relief that it was over or disappointment that it had happened at all.
———————————————————
Some new faces in this chapter.
Don't forget to vote!!