14
Sebastiano
I sit my ass down in the dim nightclub, nestled in the secluded booth tucked away from all the prying eyes. The air is thick with the heady scent of alcohol, and the pulsating rhythm of the music reverberates through the walls, drowning out all the noise from the bustling crowd.
Red velvet curtains hang from the walls, casting eerie-ass shadows that dance across my face as I take a sip from my drink. The booth offers a semblance of privacy amidst the chaos of the dance floor, giving me a moment of respite from all the outside bullshit.
But even here, surrounded by the distractions of the club, my mind keeps returning to Mia. I should have gone home with her, talked to her first, and maybe set some expectations. But I couldn”t face her. Not after seeing that empty look on her face when I pulled her out of the church. All but pushed her into Daren, with Yusuf behind the wheel, as I jumped into another.
Yeah, I know I”m a walking contradiction, and I need to get myself under control. But facing Mia now feels like stepping into the lion”s den––I know I”ll have to confront the fallout from my actions, and I”m not sure I”m ready for that.
So, I sit in my booth, nursing my whiskey and try to drown out the nagging voice in the back of my mind. The music pounds in my ears, the bass reverberating through my chest, but it does little to calm the unease that gnaws at my gut.
I take another sip of my drink, the burn of alcohol momentarily distracting me from my thoughts. But even as I try to lose myself in the haze of Diavolo, I can”t shake the feeling that I”m running from something––something I”ll eventually have to face, whether I like it or not.
Clenching my jaw, I feel a burning fire erupting inside my chest. The anger brewing within me is nothing like the wrath this traitor will face.
Someone has been fucking with me, moving the cameras, and creating a dead zone in the footage. I can”t see who’s been sneaking in and out of the docks, stealing from me. It”s an inside job. The loading dock has its own set of cameras, but we added our own for an extra security measure. This isn”t public knowledge, and the fact that someone under me would take from me only pisses me off more.
I grind my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides, trying to make sense of the situation. Whoever is behind this is playing a dangerous fucking game, and they”re going to pay for crossing me.
I’ve killed men for less.
There is a double-crossing stronzo under my nose, and I have a bullet with his name on it.
Nobody takes what”s mine.
After handling the bullshit on the loading dock, the last thing I need is Nico texting me, asking why the hell I’m not at home with my new bride. I haven”t responded to any of his damn messages and stopped looking when he brought up something about a honeymoon. Knowing Nico was in my house cozying up with her only pissed me off more.
That fucker is asking for it.
The drive home is short, and my mood is still sour as hell. Daren confirmed that Nico had left, and I was hoping he was still there so I could take my anger out on him.
Pulling up to the house, I unbuckle the seatbelt and jump out as Enzo puts the car in park. Rolling down the window, he tries to say something from the vehicle. I hurry inside, not listening to what he is saying behind me as I shut the door, take the stairs two at a time, and head straight to her room. My brow furrows in annoyance, with a frown that has been engraved on my face all damn day. The tension bubbles under my muscles as I barge through the bedroom door, a little more forceful than I intended.
The door opens with a loud thud against the wall, making the door push back towards me, stopping Mia in her tracks. Frustration tightens her brow, her lips pressing into a thin line as she shoots me a glare over her shoulder. Her posture is frozen, with her ass still in the air, half bent over the bed.
My dick thickens behind my zipper, eyes glued to her ass, and I can”t look away. I’m not a jealous man, but I”m a little envious of those tiny-ass shorts that let her ass cheeks peek out and a tank top barely covering her tits.
So many different things I could do to that ass.
Mia clears her throat, breaking my trance.
Fuck, what did I come in here for again?
Turning around, popping her hip with one hand on her side, she glares at me. “Did you need something?” she asks in a clipped tone. That confirms that annoyed look etched on her face.
Stalking towards her in a few long steps, we”re only inches away now. “Did you know?” Part of me wants to blame her because a wife was supposed to make my life easier and not cause all of this added stress. But if she didn”t know about the baby clause, I can”t take my anger out on her. I’m not a total dick.
“Know about what?” Her tone is trepidation as her bright blue eyes peek from under her thick lashes and stare directly at me. A look of confusion quickly floats across her face before she schools her features into a calm, passive expression.
“The contract? The baby we’re supposedly having? Did you read that damn contract?” Firing question after question at her, not even giving her time to answer first before I ask another.
“A b-baby,” she murmurs.
Slightly smirking as her cheeks turn pink.
She gasps as I grab her chin with my thumb and index, tilting her face directly to me, looking her in the eyes. “Yes. Did you know?” I ask again, already knowing she didn”t. The confusion on her face tells me everything I need to know, but her following words leave me dumbstruck.
“I didn”t sign a contract. My father handled everything,” she says softly.
Instinctively, she pulls from my grip, stepping back until her legs hit the bed, and she sits on the mattress. My heart thuds; of course, she has no idea because that prick, Peter, signed on her behalf. I remember the day I walked into Dad”s office when I barely noticed her sitting in the corner while Peter and Dad were talking business.
“Fuck,” is all I manage to spit out. Heat coursing through my veins, blocking out the details from that day, trying to check my rage. I”ll direct it to who deserves it, and it”s not Mia.
Brown meets blue—our eyes lock onto one another. The hate and my hostility from moments before leaves my body as I stare down at her.
“It’s nice to know I don”t even have a say in what happens to my body,” she says, shivering as she hugs her knees to her chest. “What else did the contract say?”
Pulling my shirt off, I place it over her shoulders. “I didn”t read it. I just signed it because I didn”t think my dad would add in this shit,” I tell her honestly.
”How could you sign something without even reading it?” she pleads, frustration evident in her voice as she throws her hands up dramatically and rises to her feet. As she moves, her shirt lifts slightly, revealing the outline of her toned belly. When she turns away from me, I notice her shorts riding up, showing off her toned legs and ass. It”s almost as if her ass is the only part of her body with any meat on it.
”Just so you know, I”m not forcing you to do anything,” I assert, my tone devoid of emotion. ”I”ll find a way out of this mess.”
”He”ll be watching; he always knows everything,” she murmurs so softly I can barely hear her. But I catch every word.
She’s right; he and Dad both will be watching. Running my hand through my hair, I make a mental note to save a bullet for that fucker, Peter. Speaking of the fucker, he mentioned wanting to send a few guards here to watch over Mia, the ones she had in New York. I assume it was because they knew her the best, but it’s just a way for him to keep tabs on her. The Commission. Me.
I glance back at her as she walks toward the bed, surprisingly still wearing my shirt and clasping her trembling hands together as she sits back down next to me.
“So, what do we do?”
My shoulders sag, and I exhale a frustrated sigh. I place my hand over both her clenched hands, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Now that we know everyone is watching, we need to play the part. And you having a separate room is out of the question.” Standing up and pulling her to her feet alongside me.
“W-What?” Mia”s eyes go wide, mouth agape.
Using my thumb and forefinger, I gently lift her chin, meeting her gaze. ”I understand it”s our wedding night and all, but if you keep that mouth open, I might just take it as a personal invitation,” I say, a cocky smirk playing on my lips. Despite my teasing, she remains rooted in her stance, not budging an inch.
“It was a joke, Mia. Women line up for a piece of me, so forcing the unwilling isn”t exactly my style,” I say without remorse. “But we will sleep in the same bed.”
Note to self: new wife doesn”t joke.
”Ew!” she squeals, her tone high-pitched like a child disgusted by something. ”I”m not sleeping in your bed so that you can bring other girls back while I”m there. Or should I get in line with the rest of them?”
I should be offended by her comment, but I”m not going to lie. I”m a little turned on by her feisty side, so I decide to keep it going.
”Or you could just join in,” I reply, giving her a cocky grin.
She is not amused.
“Not that I owe you any explanation, but I have never brought another woman home, well, not in this house.”
“I didn”t m––,” she tries to explain.
“Save it. Don”t make this weird or any worse than it has to be. I’ll have someone move your things tomorrow. Let”s go.” I give her a cold glare before pulling her out of what is supposed to be her room, then drag her toward mine and kick the door shut as we enter.