10. Luca #2
To Nyah’s credit, the rapid pulse flickering in her neck was the only thing that gave away she was nervous, and I could only see that because I was so close to her.
My father was too busy ogling her tits to notice or care if she was uncomfortable.
He eventually dragged his gaze up to her face and smiled. “Nyah Matish.”
“Carlos Guerra,” she shot back, without any of the charm he’d started the conversation with.
I flinched, knowing my father wouldn’t like it.
And I was right. Something ticked in his jaw, but he continued, like her addressing him as anything other than Mr. Guerra didn’t bother him. “Your father tells me your mother has taken ill and so you’ll be staying with us until the wedding. Is that correct?”
That was the first I’d heard of it.
But Nyah just nodded, clearly trying to pull herself back into line. “Yes. Her diagnosis is her business, but I didn’t want to become ill before our nuptials.”
I squinted at her. “Your wedding date isn’t for ages.”
She swiveled to stare at me. “Are you suggesting my health isn’t of importance? I’m sure your father doesn’t agree.”
We both stared at him.
He frowned in my direction. “Of course her health is my concern. Come here, fiancée. Let me look at you more closely and inspect how healthy you are.”
I was sure I wasn’t imagining the way Nyah went stiff beside me. But then she relaxed so quickly I thought maybe I’d imagined it.
What I didn’t imagine was Enzo’s gaze narrowing and following her as she made her way around the desk to stand in front of my father.
I didn’t miss the way my father’s greedy gaze ate her up either. He sat back and crossed one leg over the other. Then held a finger up, moving it in a slow circle, indicating for her to turn around for him.
She obliged, turning slowly, showing off the dress she’d worn, with its low back and ties around her neck that kept the whole thing in place.
My father groaned at the sight of her naked back; in much the same way I had wanted to when I’d seen her on the top of the stairs.
My molars ground against each other, loud enough Lynx glanced over at me.
I unclenched my jaw, forcing them to stop.
“Your father didn’t lie when he said you were a beauty. It will be no hardship seeing your pretty face around my house each day.”
Nyah smiled at him, all charm now he was complimenting her. “Thank you, Mr. Guerra.”
Gag me with a spoon. Did I really need to be here for this?
Except I couldn’t just walk out and leave her here with a roomful of men, most of whom would eat her alive in that dress if given half the chance. My uncle in particular stared at her in a way I didn’t like. Half leer. Half anger.
Why the fuck was he even here? He lived across the other side of the country, last I’d heard.
The anger on his face only intensified when my father reached out a hand to Nyah, trailing it from her upper thigh, over her hip, and then to the small of her naked back.
She sucked in a sharp breath at his touch, and my father chuckled like it amused him. He drew her in, and she took little, uncertain steps in his direction, teetering on heels that were too tall to easily walk in.
My father took care of that problem and pulled her down so she was sitting on his lap.
She went stiff as a board, but if he noticed, he didn’t let on. He stroked his fingers up and down her bare back, his touch featherlight but possessive. He leaned in, inhaling the scent of her hair or her perfume.
She flinched.
Beside me, Lynx stiffened as much as I did. I could feel more than see the clenching of his fists, and I leaned into him, ever so slightly, knowing if my uncle or one of my father’s other men noticed the aggression in Lynx’s posture, he’d be dead on the floor without any of them asking questions.
He breathed out heavily, but it didn’t make enough noise to draw my father’s attention.
He was too busy with his new plaything. He chuckled at her. “So jumpy. Your father didn’t lie then about his virgin daughter. Has a man never touched you like this, Nyah?”
She shook her head. “No, sir.”
I called bullshit, but whatever. She was playing the part well.
My father’s fingers stroked up her spine until they reached the tie at the back of her neck. He tugged the string and peeled down the front of her dress, exposing her tits.
Unlike last night, when I’d drunk in my fill of her body, this time, I turned away.
And let the jealousy ignite inside me.
It came on hot and fast, consuming me like a wildfire I had no business being in the middle of.
I didn’t look up until Nyah gasped. She covered her breasts with her arms self-consciously.
But my father knocked them away, showing her off to the room. “Now, now. No need to hide yourself.” He ran his hand over her shoulder, and then lower, scooping up one of her tits and giving the nipple a good squeeze. And then he twisted her, ducking his head to take her nipple in his mouth.
She stifled a noise of surprise. And her hands fluttered uncertainly.
But she didn’t try to stop him.
Jealousy waged a war inside me. I was equal parts turned on by the sight of her tits and raging on the inside that another man was touching her.
My father licked and sucked on her, making eye contact with every man in the room as he did.
Making sure we knew she was his to do what he pleased with, anytime, anywhere.
He took his time, building her nipple up into a stiff peak, it popping out of his mouth, wet and shiny, aching for more.
He used his hands to push her tits together and then pressed his face between them, licking her cleavage like he was marking her.
And he was.
This little show was him clearly claiming what was his in front of his men. He groaned, moving his hips from beneath her. “It’s going to be so hard to keep you a virgin until our wedding night.”
Pink bloomed across her skin. “Your men are watching,” Nyah whispered to him. “We could take this…somewhere more private.”
Something inside me wanted to scream at that. But I wouldn’t let the sound travel up my throat.
She was going to marry my father and then she’d be bouncing on his cock nightly. I might as well get used to it.
My father was as old-school as they come. He shook his head at Nyah and lifted her off his lap. “Tidy yourself up before I get carried away. I expect my wife to be able to wear white on her wedding day.”
She blinked at him and then gathered up her dress, stumbling around to our side of the desk once more, trying to get her tits back in place and do the tie up at the back of her neck at the same time.
Lynx stepped forward to help her, grasping the ties for her and making quick work of them.
I grimaced on the inside.
My father wouldn’t like it.
And I was right; his eyes narrowed on Lynx. “Who are you?”
Lynx focused in his direction. “Miss Matish’s bodyguard, sir. We haven’t had a chance to meet yet. Torin Cross. Most people call me Lynx though.” He stepped forward and offered my father his hand.
My father just looked at him, until Lynx dropped it and stepped back into line with me and Nyah.
“You’re the man War sent over?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How would War feel if you touched his woman the way you just touched mine?”
Lynx opened his mouth and then closed it.
Smart. He was learning.
“That’s the one and only time I’ll tell you not to touch what isn’t yours, bodyguard. Do we have an understanding? You protect her. You don’t touch her. Capiche?”
Lynx nodded. “Capiche.”
My father’s gaze finally turned to me. “And you. As you’ve probably noticed, your uncle is back in town.”
“I noticed,” I said stiffly, not turning in Enzo’s direction.
“He’s been filling in for you while you were away.”
“Good of him.”
My father glared at me, like even that simple sentence was too much talking out of line for him. “We have a lot of new businesses we’ve acquired in your absence. Enzo has been handling things.”
I couldn’t seem to take my own advice and just zip my mouth. “Great. Seems like you don’t need me here then. I’m always happy to leave.”
I regretted it instantly.
My father’s rage flared behind his eyes. “You’ll take on some of the businesses Enzo has brought to our table.” He glanced at his younger brother who stepped forward as if he’d been summoned with just that one look.
“You’ll take Luigi’s in James Town. And the string of laundromats along the coast.”
I was familiar with both and forced myself to knock it off with the insolence. “Yes, sir.”
“And you’ll take the Saint View Vipers,” he added.
I raised an eyebrow. “The what?”
My father sat forward, picking up his pen again. “They’re the local hockey team.”
I blinked. “I’m sorry. I thought you said hockey team.”
“Don’t be cute, Luca. It doesn’t suit you.”
I let it go, because I still didn’t understand what on earth he was talking about. “You bought a hockey team? What the hell for?” We owned restaurants. Sex clubs. Brothels. Laundromats. Businesses that were easy enough to launder money through.
Never a sports team.
Other than boxing, what the hell did any of us know about sports?
My father scrawled something across the pad of paper. “For reasons that will make themselves clear when I deem it fit.” He lifted his gaze to meet mine. “Audit the books and the team. Fire anyone not performing. I expect it to be profitable by the end of the season.”
I gaped at him. “How the hell am I supposed to do that? I’ve never watched a game of hockey in my life.”
My father shrugged and flicked his hand, dismissing me. “You’re not just a pretty face, my son. Work it out.”