7. Dante
Itravel into the next town over so I can call Rocco and brag to him without him being able to find me in case he decides to trace the call. I use a burner phone as an extra precaution.
“Rocco, how’s it going?” I ask, knowing my question will only piss him off.
“Dante, where’s my sister?”
“Oh, didn’t get to find out, did you? I know she called you, but you won’t be able to find out where she is, trust me. She’s mine now.”
The growl that escapes him would scare most people, but I’m not scared of Rocco. Not anymore. “Gabriella is not yours. She belongs with her family.”
“I’m her family now. Or well, I will be.” I pause for dramatic effect. “Once I marry her.”
Rocco is silent for a long moment. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I? What better way to own Gabriella completely and hurt you in the process than to marry her? Honestly, I think Gabriella would be ok with it. She’s already gotten naked for me.”
“You’re making up lies. Gabriella would never get naked for you. If she did, then you forced her.”
“I don’t think you know your sister as well as you claim to, Rocco. Gabriella isn’t some pure Mafia princess. She has a naughty side. She took off her wedding dress right before me and everything else. And my god, it was a sight. One I’ll never forget.”
“I’m going to kill you, Dante.”
“You keep saying that, yet you’ve never actually been able to do it. So, I don’t believe you, Rocco. You’re just going to have to accept that I’ll be part of the family soon. See you at the next Christmas dinner. Oh, and did you get the picture I sent? The one of Gabriella? You know I have her, and you know I’m not messing around. Just give me what I want, Rocco. Stop hunting me.”
“And you’ll let Gabriella go?”
“Well … no. But I won’t hurt her. And that should be your main concern. You don’t want me hurting your precious sister, do you?”
“Go to fucking hell,” Rocco growls before hanging up.
I just laugh as I head back to the cabin.
When I open the door to the bedroom, I find Gabriella lying in bed, asleep, with nothing but her bra and panties on. Fuck, she looks delectable. I could lick every inch of her right up.
Soon, I remind myself.
It’s clear Gabriella doesn’t hate me as much as she pretends to. She’ll give herself over to me eventually. I just have to be patient.
After talking with Rocco, I know what I need to do. I need to marry Gabriella as soon as possible. It’s the best way to hurt Rocco to the core. I’ll literally be corrupting his precious, pure sister, and I’ll love every minute of it. Hell, I already love it.
Gabriella shifts and sleepily blinks her eyes open. She jerks back when she sees me but then smiles and stretches, showing off her body. “Like what you see?”
“You’re trying to pretend I don’t bother you, but I know I do. You can’t hide your reaction to me, Gabriella.”
She huffs. “I wasn’t hiding anything. I was just asleep one moment and awake the next, and there you are, watching me sleep like some creep. Excuse me for reacting.”
I lean against the door frame and cross my arms. “How come you’re not wearing your wedding dress?”
“I was getting tired of it. And you don’t get to tell me what to do. I didn’t want to wear it, so I’m not wearing it. Simple as that.”
“Fine. You can get married in what you’re wearing right now.”
She blinks. “Uh … what? I’m not marrying Antonio.”
“I never said it was Antonio you’re going to marry.”
She sits up straighter. “Wait. Us? We’re getting married? You and me? Me and you?”
“Say it however you want; it won’t change the fact this is happening. We’re getting married.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?” I ask. “I want to own you completely.” I let my eyes linger on her body, and she flushes but doesn’t look away. I’m impressed. Gabriella has nerves of steel.
“At least let me change back into my wedding dress,” she says.
“Fine. If you can do it within the next few seconds. If you can’t, you’re wearing your bra and underwear to the ceremony.”
She jumps off the bed and quickly slips on her dress. The reality is I never would have paraded her around town in her bra and panties. It would have caused too much attention. Gabriella in her wedding dress is already an attention grabber. But if I walk around town with a girl in her underwear, the police might come knocking, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
“There,” she says, motioning toward her now-clothed body. “So, we’re doing this? We’re actually getting married?”
“Why, if I didn’t know any better, you sound like you’re actually looking forward to this.”
She quickly shakes her head. “Of course not. But it’s not like I have any other choice. So, let’s go.”
“You just don’t want to marry Antonio. I find it astounding you’d rather marry your kidnapper than that idiot.”
“I don’t want to marry you or Antonio. I’d prefer to be a free woman.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “But seeing as you’re not going to let me go, I might as well get used to my new life with you and marry you. That way, Rocco can’t force me to marry Antonio.”
“Love your reasoning,” I tease her. “Just keep convincing yourself. I know you want me just as much as I want you. It’s ok, Gabriella. You can admit it.” I take a step closer to her. “I won’t make fun of you for it.”
“I don’t want you, Dante. You’re delusional. I’m just out of options.”
“So, that’s the reason you changed back into your wedding dress so fast? You’re out of options? It’s not because you, I don’t know, might want to actually marry me.”
“Not one bit,” she says through gritted teeth. We’re toe-to-toe now. Face-to-face. There’s barely any space between us. I notice this, but the question is—does Gabriella? And how does she feel about it?
“Ok, then. Well, since you don’t seem bothered to be married to me one way or another, let’s go now.”
“Now?” There’s the first hint of her uncertainty.
“Yes, now. I want to marry you now, Gabriella. You coming or not?”
She scoffs and steps away from me. “Like you’re giving me a choice.”
“I am. Marry me. Or I can give you back to your brother, who can marry you off to Antonio. Your choice.”
“God, you’re confusing,” she mutters.
“Marry me right now or don’t. But I won’t make this offer again.”
“What if I say no?”
I shrug. “Then you’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
I give her my most charming smile. “I know. Now, decide.”
She’s quiet as she thinks. I can see her mind working. She’s trying to make the best decision. I just hope her wants match mine.
Finally, she meets my gaze again. “Fine. Let’s get married.”
I grin. “Great.” She gave in sooner than I thought she would, which means a large part of her wants to be with me.
I’m ready to let the world burn with Gabriella at my side. Is she ready for that, too? Only one way to find out.
“Let’s get married,” I say.