4. Cesare
FOUR
Cesare
A s Vittoria enters the grand ballroom on her father's arm, I find my eyes drawn to her like a magnet. She's a vision in an emerald green gown that hugs her curves before flowing out gracefully. Her dark hair is swept up elegantly, exposing the graceful line of her neck. She's breathtaking, and for a moment, I forget to breathe.
But it's not just her beauty that captures my attention. There's a quiet strength in the set of her shoulders, a defiance in the tilt of her chin. Even as she smiles and nods politely to the guests, I can see the 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 a brief hesitation. As I lead her further into the room, I lean in close, my lips barely brushing her ear. "Remember, Vittoria," I murmur, "tonight is about presenting a united front. Play your part well."
I feel her stiffen slightly beside me, but her smile never falters. "Of course," she replies, her voice low. "I understand my role perfectly."
As we make our rounds, greeting guests and accepting congratulations, I keep a close eye 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 the tension thrumming through her, along with annoyance in her eyes when she thinks no one is looking. It's clear that despite her outward compliance, the fire within her still burns bright.
As the evening wears on, I find myself both impressed by her performance and increasingly wary of what lies beneath it. Vittoria Costa is proving to be far more complex than I initially thought, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. Not to mention, her mother has kept a very close eye on her, along with her brothers. It seems as though she’s close to her family, but then her father’s a different story altogether. He doesn’t seem to care in the slightest about what happens to Vittoria.
The sound of a glass clinking draws everyone's attention. Lorenzo stands at the front of the room, champagne flute in hand, ready to make a toast. I guide Vittoria to stand beside me, my hand resting possessively on the small of her back.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Lorenzo begins, his voice carrying across the hushed room. "We're gathered here tonight to celebrate the engagement of my father, Cesare Mariano, to the lovely Vittoria Costa."
I feel Vittoria tense slightly 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," Lorenzo says, his tone carefully neutral. "To my father and his bride-to-be, may your future be filled with... happiness."
The slight pause before the word '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, a look of curiosity and a hint of sympathy in her gaze. I make a mental note to keep a closer eye on their interactions.
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 can feel her growing weariness as the night wears on.
As the last of the guests begin to depart, I guide Vittoria to a quiet corner of the room. "You did well tonight," I murmur, my hand still resting possessively on her lower back.
She looks up at me, fatigue evident in her eyes 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 in 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."
I feel her stiffen slightly, but she nods. "Of course. I'll be there."
As she walks away to say goodbye to her parents, I catch sight of Lorenzo watching us, his expression unreadable. I'll need to have a word with him soon about his attitude. But for now, I have more pressing matters to attend to.
I make my way to my study, pouring myself a glass of scotch as I wait for Vittoria. The engagement party went well, better than I had expected. But I can't shake the feeling that there's more to Vittoria than meets the eye. Tonight, I intend to find out just what she's hiding.
The soft knock on the door comes precisely fifteen minutes later. "Enter," I call out, settling into my chair behind the desk.
Vittoria steps in, closing the door quietly behind her. She's removed her jewelry, and her hair is starting to come loose from its elaborate updo. Even in this slightly disheveled state, she's breathtakingly beautiful.
"You wanted to see me?" she says, her voice steady despite the wariness in her eyes.
I gesture to the chair across from me. "Sit, please. We have some things to discuss.”
Vittoria hesitates for a moment before taking the seat across from me. Her posture is rigid, hands folded neatly in her lap. The perfect picture of obedience, but I can see the defiance simmering just beneath the surface.
"You played your part well tonight," I begin, taking a sip of my scotch. "The guests were suitably impressed."
"Thank you," she replies, her tone carefully neutral. "I'm glad I could meet your expectations."
I lean forward, studying her face closely. "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, but once again, she pushes it down and her expression is unreadable once again. "I'm not sure what you mean, Cesare. I've been nothing but honest with you."
I can't help but chuckle at that. "Come now, we both know that's not true. I saw the way you handled my children at dinner the other night. The way you navigated the crowd this evening. 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, her voice low. "What does it matter? I'm here, aren't I? I'm marrying you, fulfilling my role in this... arrangement."
I stand, moving 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 the fire I've been sensing all along. "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?" I ask, genuinely curious.
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 any sign of deception. But all I see is determination and a hint of resignation.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Vittoria," I warn her. "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."
I find myself drawn to her, the fire in her eyes igniting something within me. Before I can stop myself, I lean in and capture her lips in a searing kiss. 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 little moan escapes her, it’s soft, velvety and my cock thickens at the sound. She’s got her hands fisted in my shirt, her tiny body pressed against mine, fuck, she feels amazing against me. She fits fucking perfectly. I’ve never had such an intense reaction to someone as I do Vittoria. I grind my cock against her stomach, loving the way she releases yet another moan.
All I want to do is fuck her against my desk, bend her over it, pull up the hem of her dress and fuck her unlike I’ve fucked anyone before. Christ. What the fuck is wrong with me? I force myself to pull away, breathing heavily. I can’t lose control like this, doing so will come with consequences and right now the Boston Elite Syndicate is trying to repair our reputation, not cause even more chaos. Taking the virginity of a rival’s daughter isn’t the way to go—not until we’re married at least.
Vittoria looks up at me, her chest heaving as she catches her breath. Her lips are swollen from our kiss, her cheeks flushed. She looks utterly ravishing, and it takes all my self-control not to pull her back into my arms. I can see the confusion and desire warring in her gaze.
"Leave," I growl, angry at myself for losing control, knowing that if she doesn’t leave right now I may just do something that I could end up regretting. "Now."
She hesitates for a moment, as if about to say something, but thinks better of it. Without a word, she turns and hurries out of the study, closing the door quietly behind her. Before she exits my study, I notice the white bandage hidden beneath her hair. What the hell happened?
I slump back against my desk, running a hand through my hair in frustration. This was not how I had planned for this conversation to go.
I pour myself another glass of scotch. Vittoria Costa is proving to be far more intriguing—and dangerous— than I ever anticipated. The kiss we shared was electric, igniting a passion I haven't felt in years. But with that passion comes risk.
I take a long sip of my drink, savoring the burn. The wedding is in two weeks, and I have a feeling those two weeks are going to be very interesting indeed. Vittoria may think she knows the game, but she has no idea what she's truly gotten herself into.
I can't help but feel a mix of anticipation and dread for what's to come. Vittoria Costa is a wildcard, one that could either be my greatest asset or my ultimate downfall. Only time will tell which it will be.
Do you want to read more from Cesare and Vittoria? The full story is coming this Christmas. You can pre-order The Capo’s Yuletide Bride now - https://geni.us/BostonEliteSyndicate