11. To mayhem and retribution
After I’ve fixed my hair, I come back to our seats, where Giulia pretends I don’t exist. She’s good at pretending, my little wife. Or maybe it’s not pretend with everyone but me. There was nothing fake about the way her tight cunt clenched around my fingers just seconds ago.
She smiles at Jane like the woman is the most interesting person she’s ever met. She gives her attention to Lewis without restraint, and the other table guests draw smiles and laughs from her sinful throat; only when my hand falls on her thigh, she glares.
I signed a contract guaranteeing I’d respect her rules, but it’s been null and void from the second she let me pull the skirt of her dress up. Right now, my hand on her thigh is the only thing that keeps me grounded. It also serves the purpose of reminding everyone in attendance that she is mine, even if she’s reluctant to that fact.
She’s sweet like the vanilla perfume she wears with everyone, and bitter and prickly with me.
I like to think I’m the only one who sees behind the mask she thinks she needs to wear to get what she wants. Breaking it apart piece by piece is the most alive I’ve ever felt and I’m not ready to give that up, but I’ll let her set our pace. For now.
When the diner ends and most guests congregate from their round tables to the large bar made of glass at the back of the room, Giulia and I get separated. She navigates the crowd expertly while Lewis and Taylor pull me aside before it’s time for me to do my own Public Relations and work the crowd, begging for endorsements. With Addams doing the same fucking thing, my competitive streak comes out to play. This is the part I hate, but I need every single one of the men and women in this room to vote for me and tell their constituents to do the same if I have a hope of satiating the hunger I have.
The words I hear from Councilman Carmichael threaten to unravel who I really am.
“Have you seen Capaldi’s new wife? I wonder where he got such a tasty piece of ass. I’ll pay good money to get a go at her once he’s done with her,” he says and his band of merry followers all laugh.
Cold fury invades my every cell, urging me to maim, to kill. Red paints my vision and my head empties of anything but the need to see Carmichael choke on his own blood.
Dr. Farrow, whom I will expect a fucking fat check from, is the first to see me. His eyes widen and his face blanches; he even flinches when I take a step toward their group. I land a heavy hand on Carmichael’s shoulders.
“Gentlemen, how kind of you to endorse me this evening.”
My words are civil, but my tone leaves no room for argument. Carmichael must be well in his cups because he counters, “Who says any of us would, Mr. Capaldi?”
I smile a sweet smile I borrowed from Giulia. “Who else, Councilman? From my recollection, you’ve used Capaldi’s Security as well as made a point to support the new school project and better recycling throughout the town, just like I champion, haven’t you?”
The threat is laced with pleasantry, but the other three men gulp and nod their approval. My hand hasn’t left Carmichael’s shoulders and I press with all my might, making him flinch.
“Something’s the matter, Councilman? You look pained.”
“My stomach not agreeing with the food choices, I’m sure.”
Considering I paid the chef to make the meal vegan so Giulia wouldn’t have to look at meat all night, it’s another dig at my wife even if he doesn’t know it. I was not about to tolerate the first offence, but twice in five minutes is too much, even for him.
“Better leave and take care of that stomach, then.”
I give the men my leave before walking to Giulia.
Of fucking course, Addams found his way to her. He’s standing way too close, his own wife nowhere to be seen, and after Carmichael’s words, I’m close to losing my shit and taking it out on whoever will add a fucking drop to the ocean of outrage storming inside me.
Maybe Lewis is right, and that temper of mine will be the end of me. Until then, I need to expel it.
I slide a hand around her waist and to her hips, moulding her soft curves against the plains of my body. Her hands reach behind me and to my ribs like we’ve rehearsed the move a thousand times before. She can say whatever she wants, we fucking fit.
“Addams, I see you’ve met my beautiful wife.”
Giulia’s blush on her cheeks is all I have to do to stop dragging her to a closet and break the vow I just made to myself to let her set our pace.
“I have indeed. What an incredible story you two have. I could have sworn Miss Moretti…”
“It’s Capaldi,” we both say at the same time. I raise an eyebrow while she rolls her eyes, exactly like lovers would. Her acting skills are truly unmatched.
“Of course. Like I was saying, I could have sworn Giulia came into town very recently.” His eyes narrow, making his round face looking even rounder. He’s in a complete tuxedo, clean shaven and blond hair gelled back, and I know he’ll play on his English pedigree during the campaign as another way to antagonise me. That’s fine by me, our voters’ base isn’t the same. It’s really the people who don’t know who to vote for we’re fighting each other for.
“Don’t be nosy, mate. We like to keep our story for ourselves, how we met and fell in love only belongs to us, I’m afraid.”
He recoils at my use of “mate” and I feel the move in my bones, because I feel the same way uttering it, even as sarcasm.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna steal my wife away.”
I don’t miss the way his eyes dip to the curve of Giulia’s ass, but we have something more pressing to do.
“Where are you taking me? I’m not done. You want me to get information on your competitor, the wives talk more than their lewd husbands.”
“We’re leaving, sweetheart, but not before a little detour.” I smirk and guide her outside through the manicured British garden. She goes for the town car waiting for us, but I take hold of her hand and direct her to the other side of the parking lot where a drunk Carmichael is trying in vain to open the door of his SUV. Talk about compensating for a small dick.
“Where are we going?”
“To mayhem, sweetheart.”
Her brow dips when she sees Carmichael who’s slow to turn in our direction when we approach him on silent steps. I don’t wait for him to talk. I punch him straight in the face until he collapses like a sack of potatoes, then kick at his round belly until he almost retches.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he heaves.
I stoop to the floor and grab a fistful of hair, raising his gaze to mine, vicious and burning. He averts his gaze when I move to show Giulia, who’s standing behind me, arms crossed over her chest, looking bored. Fuck, how is it that any annoyance on her face makes me hard?
“What are you doing, Andrea? Whatever it is, leave him be, he’s not worth it and you’re jeopardising your career.”
I ignore her because if I look up at her, I’ll obey and I need this motherfucker to pay the price of insulting my wife with his fucking blood on the pavement.
“Look at her.” Carmichael averts his gaze, but I pull at his hair harder. “I said ‘Look. At. Her.’ Nothing to say to my wife? She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Now that he’s at my mercy and no one’s around to tame the raging beast inside my chest that demands I protect what’s mine, I won’t be satisfied without breaking bones. I pull a switchblade from my pocket and hold it at his neck. Giulia’s demeanour changes. Her arms uncross and her lips part. I’d think she’s uncomfortable if it wasn’t for the constant shifting of her weight on each foot and the way she licks her lips. I smile at her and she rolls her eyes at me.
“Tell my wife you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” Carmichael whines.
I’m surprised when Giulia chimes, “Be specific.”
“You heard the lady.”
“I’m sorry I insulted you and implied you’re a prostitute.” He closes his eyes to avoid her disdain, but I fucking live for it.
“You won’t get away with this,” he cries.
“Oh, but we will,” Giulia says. “You’re gonna keep your mouth shut if you don’t want the press to know you beat your children when you’re too far in your cups.”
Fuck, she’s vicious. My heart rate picks up before my blood moves south at the retribution she promises. She’s magnificent, a goddess of vengeance all dressed in velvet, wearing my jewels around her throat. I can’t wait until she wears nothing but my ring on her finger and my cum on her face.
“And if you touch a hair on their heads one more time, you”ll want to kill yourself. A rope is better than what I will do to you. Andrea, let him go,” she demands and I obey, the soldier of her wrath.
Carmichael’s on his knees, at the perfect height for Giulia to kick him in the face with her right foot in a move worthy of the best street fighters I’ve seen in a ring. The heel of her silver shoe breaks his nose and blood pours from it in the most beautiful splash of colour. She smirks at the surprise I can’t hide before sashaying away with a few last words. “Apology not accepted.”
I follow her, and we reach my town car in a few long strides. I signal to the driver to go take a walk. Before she can open the door, I press Giulia’s body against it and take hold of her face.
My mouth falls on hers at a punishing speed, our lips connecting in a movement I feel soul-deep. Instead of pushing me away, she fists the side of my jacket as if she needs the hold not to collapse. The slit in her dress allows me to move my thigh in between hers and she moans against me. I swallow the sound like it’s the only sustenance I need.
I press against her closed lips with my tongue, commanding her to open for me and she delivers, yielding to me, giving us both what we need. Our tongues dance across each other and I groan against her, growing harder, my mind threatening to lose its grasp on reality.
This kiss, it fucking shatters me.
When I pull away, Giulia’s eyes are wide, her expression one of awe and want, until a shadow falls across her face, and she whispers, “It’s just pretending.” When I turn my head to the side, I see the few people looking at us like we’re the best spectacle they’ve seen all year. My teeth grind together until I can almost pop my jaw.
If she wants to play that game to convince herself nothing more can happen between us, I’ll happily oblige.
Until it won’t be enough anymore.