Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
cesare
It’s been a few days since I last saw Vittoria, but tonight is our engagement party. Tonight, everyone will see us together for the first time.
As Vittoria enters the grand ballroom on her father's arm, my eyes lock on to her like a fucking magnet.
She's a vision in an emerald green gown that hugs every curve before flowing out like liquid silk.
Her dark hair is swept up, exposing the graceful line of her neck; a neck I want to kiss, bite, and mark as mine.
She's breathtaking. For a moment, I forget to breathe.
But it's not just her beauty that captures my attention. There's quiet strength in the set of her shoulders, defiance in the tilt of her chin. Even as she smiles and nods politely to guests, I can see fire burning behind her eyes.
It both intrigues and unnerves me.
I make my way through the crowd to greet them, plastering on my most charming smile. "Domenico, Siobhan," I say, shaking her father's hand and kissing her mother's cheek. "Thank you for coming. And Vittoria..." I turn to her, taking her hand and bringing it to my lips. "You look stunning."
She meets my gaze steadily, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Thank you, Cesare. You look very handsome yourself."
I offer her my arm, which she takes after brief hesitation. As I lead her deeper into the room, I lean close, lips barely brushing her ear. "Remember, Vittoria," I murmur, "tonight is about presenting a united front. Play your part well."
I feel her stiffen beside me, but her smile never falters. "Of course," she replies, voice low. "I understand my role perfectly."
As we make our rounds, greeting guests and accepting congratulations, I keep close watch on Vittoria. She plays her part flawlessly, laughing at the right moments, offering gracious thanks, her hand never leaving my arm. To anyone watching, we must look like the perfect couple.
But I can feel tension thrumming through her, see annoyance flash in her eyes when she thinks no one's looking. Despite her outward compliance, the fire within her burns bright.
Dangerous. Intoxicating.
"Cesare," a gravelly voice interrupts my thoughts. I turn to see Vincent Torrino, head of the Russian faction, approaching with his usual predatory smile.
"Vincent," I greet him with a firm handshake. "Thank you for coming."
His eyes slide to Vittoria, and I feel my jaw clench as his gaze lingers on her body. "And this must be your beautiful bride-to-be," he says, his accent thick as he reaches for her hand.
"Vittoria," I say tersely, "meet Vincent Torrino."
She extends her hand gracefully, but I notice how she keeps her grip brief and pulls away quickly. Smart girl.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Torrino," she says politely.
"The pleasure is all mine, bella," Vincent says, his eyes still fixed on her in a way that makes my blood boil. "You are very lucky, Cesare. Such a young, beautiful wife."
The way he emphasizes 'young' makes it clear he's fishing for information, testing boundaries. Before I can respond, Vittoria speaks up.
"Age is just a number, don't you think?" she says sweetly, but there's steel beneath her tone. "What matters is finding the right person to stand beside you through life's challenges."
Vincent's smile falters slightly at her response. She's just told him to mind his own fucking business while maintaining perfect politeness. Impressive.
"Indeed," he says, recovering quickly. "Well, I wish you both great happiness."
As Vincent moves away, I lean down to Vittoria's ear. "Well done," I murmur. "He was testing us."
She glances up at me, something unreadable in her expression. "I know exactly what he was doing, Cesare."
Of course she does. This woman continues to surprise me.
The evening wears on, and I find myself both impressed by her performance and increasingly wary of what lies beneath it.
Vittoria Costa is proving far more complex than I initially thought.
Her mother keeps a close watch, as do her brothers.
It's clear she's close to her family. Her father, however, is a different story.
The man doesn't seem to give a shit what happens to his daughter.
Fucking prick.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Lorenzo's voice cuts through the chatter as he raises his champagne flute. I guide Vittoria to stand beside me, my hand resting possessively on her lower back.
"We're gathered tonight to celebrate the engagement of my father, Cesare Mariano, to the lovely Vittoria Costa," Lorenzo begins, his voice carrying across the hushed room.
I feel Vittoria tense under my hand, but her smile remains firmly in place as Lorenzo continues.
"This union represents not just the joining of two people, but the strengthening of ties between our families," he says, tone carefully neutral. "To my father and his bride-to-be, may your future be filled with... happiness."
The slight pause before 'happiness' is almost imperceptible, but I catch it. I narrow my eyes at Lorenzo, silently warning him to tread carefully.
"To Cesare and Vittoria," Lorenzo concludes, raising his glass.
The room echoes the sentiment, a sea of raised glasses and polite applause. As I take a sip of champagne, I notice Vittoria hasn't touched hers. Her eyes are fixed on Lorenzo with curiosity and what might be sympathy.
I make a mental note to watch their interactions more closely.
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of small talk and posed photographs. Vittoria remains by my side, the perfect fiancée, but I feel her growing weariness as the night drags on.
As the last guests begin to depart, I guide Vittoria to a quiet corner. "You did well tonight," I murmur, hand still possessively on her lower back.
She looks up at me, fatigue evident despite her smile. "Thank you, Cesare. I'm glad I could meet your expectations."
There's a hint of sarcasm in her tone that I choose to ignore. Instead, I lean closer, my lips brushing her ear. "I have one more task for you tonight," I say. "Meet me in my study in fifteen minutes. There's something we need to discuss."
She stiffens slightly but nods. "Of course. I'll be there."
As she walks away to say goodbye to her parents, I catch sight of Lorenzo watching us, expression unreadable. I'll need to have a word with him soon about his attitude.
But for now, I have more pressing matters.
I make my way to my study and pour myself a scotch while I wait. The engagement party went better than expected, but I can't shake the feeling that there's more to Vittoria than meets the eye. Tonight, I intend to find out what she's hiding.
The soft knock comes exactly fifteen minutes later. "Enter," I call out, settling behind my desk.
Vittoria steps in and closes the door quietly. She's removed her jewelry, and her hair is starting to come loose from its elaborate updo. Even slightly disheveled, she's breathtaking.
And mine. Soon.
"You wanted to see me?" she says, voice steady despite the wariness in her eyes.
I gesture to the chair across from me. "Sit. We have things to discuss."
She hesitates before taking the seat, posture rigid, hands folded neatly. The perfect picture of obedience. But I can see defiance simmering beneath the surface.
"You played your part well tonight," I begin, sipping my scotch. "The guests were impressed."
"Thank you," she replies, tone carefully neutral. "I'm glad I could meet your expectations."
I lean forward, studying her face. "But that's just it, isn't it? It was all an act. The perfect, obedient fiancée. I wonder, Vittoria, who you really are beneath that carefully constructed facade."
Fear mixed with anger flashes in her eyes before she pushes it down. "I'm not sure what you mean, Cesare. I've been nothing but honest with you."
I chuckle at that blatant lie. "Come now, we both know that's bullshit. I saw how you handled my children at dinner. How you navigated tonight's crowd. You're far more than the demure bride-to-be you pretend to be."
Vittoria's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "And if I am?" she challenges, voice low. "What does it matter? I'm here, aren't I? Marrying you, fulfilling my role in this... arrangement."
I stand and move around the desk to lean against it directly in front of her. "It matters because I need to know exactly who I'm dealing with, Vittoria. In our world, secrets can be deadly."
She looks up at me, and for a moment I see a flash of that fire I've been sensing. "You want to know who I really am, Cesare? I'm a woman who's been raised her entire life for this moment. I know the game, the rules, the stakes. I'm not naive, and I'm certainly not stupid."
"And what, exactly, do you hope to gain from this arrangement?"
Vittoria stands slowly, bringing herself eye-level with me. "Survival," she says simply. "For myself, for my family. Isn't that what we're all after in the end?"
I study her face, searching for deception, but all I see is determination mixed with resignation.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Vittoria," I warn. "Be careful you don't get burned."
A small, bitter smile curves her lips. "I've been playing dangerous games my entire life, Cesare. This is just the latest round."
Something about her response, the way she says it, the pain hidden beneath her words, ignites something primal in me. Before I can stop myself, I lean in and capture her lips in a kiss that's all heat and possession.
Vittoria stiffens for a moment before responding, her lips soft yet demanding against mine. The kiss deepens, and I pull her closer, one hand tangling in her hair while the other grips her waist.
For a few heated moments, I lose myself in the taste and feel of her. A soft moan escapes her, velvety and perfect, and my cock thickens at the sound. She's got her hands fisted in my shirt, her small body pressed against mine.
Fuck, she feels amazing. Fits perfectly.