Chapter 3
VALENTINA
I stand alone on the terrace of my family's estate, stealing a moment before I need to help Katerina finish getting ready for her walk down the aisle to marry my brother Luca.
I’m over the moon that my brother has healed and found happiness, especially after all the pain my father inflicted on him, exiling him and keeping him from Katerina and their son, Enzo.
Today, he’s a successful Don in Chicago and about to marry the woman he loves.
Then he takes his wife and son back to Chicago. Just when I could really use him here, he’ll be gone again.
I suppose he’ll return when I take my walk down the aisle, but it won’t be filled with love and happiness like today is.
I shiver when I think of Maksim and the way he looks at me like he’s calculating all the ways he can try to break me once I belong to him.
The rumors surrounding him are the stuff of nightmares.
His collection of knives that aren’t for show but for use.
How he once beat one of his lieutenants to death with his bare hands for some minor transgression.
The mysterious death of his first wife.
His own men fear him.
What chance do I have?
I’ve had nearly two weeks to settle into the idea that I’m marrying Maksim. But now, suddenly, the reality of my future crashes over me.
I’ll sleep beside a man who cares for nothing or no one besides himself. Bearing his children.
I hope he’s a philanderer so he can get his rocks off with someone else.
Oh, how I wish Luca would stay.
Maksim may be a monster, but even monsters have fears.
I've caught the way he watches Luca.
How he tenses when my brother turns his sights on him.
The infamous Pakhan is afraid of Luca Dante.
"You touch my sister, and I'll carve out your eyes." Luca's words to Maksim during our last meeting still ring in my ears.
My brother’s threat was said with a cold certainty that sent a visible shiver through Maksim's men.
And why not?
In his short time home, Luca had killed a dozen of Maksim’s men on their own turf.
Maksim laughed it off, but I could see in his eyes that it affected him.
He knows what Luca is capable of, knows the blood my brother has spilled without remorse.
The question is, will it be enough?
Will Maksim's fear of Luca's retribution keep his cruelty in check, or will it simply make him more secretive in his methods?
I remind myself that this marriage isn't just about me.
It’s about the Dante family.
I'm the bandage on a wound that's festered for too long.
I shake off my wallowing and enter the house.
I find Katerina in her room.
She's radiant as she prepares to marry my brother.
There is no fear or doubt on her face, just love and an eagerness to grab hold of her future with my brother.
And little Enzo looks as cute as can be, so earnest in his role as ring bearer.
"It's time," I tell her, forcing a smile.
Katerina takes Enzo's hand. "Ready?" she asks him.
He grins. "Ready."
The ceremony is everything a woman could want.
The way Luca looks at Katerina as she walks down the aisle is like the sun rises and sets by her.
Their vows aren't flowery promises but honest declarations that even have my brothers Alessandro and Adriano looking moved.
When Katerina and Luca kiss, it's not for show.
It’s sealing their love forever.
At the reception, Luca whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh, her head tipping back, completely unguarded.
The intimacy of it brings an envy that is soul crushing.
That's what I want.
Not just passion but the knowledge that someone sees you, truly loves you, and wants to make a life with you.
My chest aches with longing so intense, it’s painful.
Instead of a man’s tender touches, I'll have Maksim's possessive, abusive grip.
Instead of endearments, I'll have commands. Instead of laughter, tears.
I see Maksim across the room, invited as a show of solidarity. After all, we’re all almost family now.
He holds his champagne up as if saluting me.
It takes every bit of effort not to scream.
Instead, I dig deep, muster a smile, and hold my flute up in salute.
Then I search the room for Cristian.
I’m a strong woman, but the more I think about marrying Maksim, the more I grow afraid of him and want Cristian close by.
He’s here, but like most soldiers in my brother’s Mafia army, he is in the shadows.
Staying unobtrusive unless needed.
His eyes are narrow as they track Maksim through the room.
For a moment, I want to rush to Cristian and ask him to whisk me away from my life.
Why do I have to give up everything simply to stop these men from trying to kill each other?
Why do I have to forgo a chance at love and passion like Luca and Katerina have?
For once, I’d like to know what it’s like to be touched with tenderness. To feel cherished.
How stupid is it that part of my worth includes my virginity? I can practically feel Maksim salivating at how he’ll take that from me.
I shake my head, wondering how my world got so out of control.
Maybe if I hadn’t contacted Luca after our father’s murder, I wouldn’t be on the verge of losing all power over my own life.
Suddenly, my virginity feels like the only part of myself that I still control.
Well, technically not and yet, feeling defiant, I know I have time to find someone who’d show me, if only just once, what tenderness and passion are all about.
Maksim and my brothers can take away my freedom, my future, but I still have my body.
If I'm to be Maksim's wife, perhaps I should ensure there's one thing he can never truly claim as his.
No one would know, except me, but that could be enough.
Over the next fifty years of a heinous marriage, I’d have this little secret over Maksim.
And I know exactly to whom I’d want to give myself.
I scan the crowd again until I find Cristian, this time maneuvering to keep his eye on Maksim.
My assigned bodyguard is ideal.
First, he’s discreet.
Second, he’s handsome and has the body of an Adonis.
Third, because he’s protecting me, no one will think twice about our spending time together.
Perfect.
I finish my champagne in one swallow and set the glass aside.
My stomach flutters at what I’m about to do.
I’ve flirted with men before, but I've never seduced anyone.
What if he rejects me?
What if I make a fool of myself?
But the alternative, Maksim's cold hands being the first my body experiences in bed, steels my resolve.
I glide toward Cristian, grabbing two champagne flutes from a passing waiter.
"You look like you could use this." I offer him a glass, letting my fingers brush his.
He hesitates. "I'm on duty, Miss Dante."
"Valentina," I correct him, emboldened by champagne and desperation. "And surely, even the most dedicated soldier deserves one drink at a wedding?"
Something flickers in those dark eyes, probably wariness.
It causes me a moment of doubt.
But no.
I deserve one night of pleasure before a lifetime of pain.
"Dance with me," I say, the words tumbling out like I’m a silly schoolgirl.
"I don't think that's appropriate."
The music changes to something slower. I place my hand on his arm, feeling the solid muscle beneath his jacket. "Just one dance, Cristian."
His eyes drift to where Alessandro stands across the room, then back to me.
"Your brother—"
"Is busy celebrating. You're my bodyguard, Cristian. Who else am I supposed to be close to?" I step closer, lowering my voice. "Until my wedding, you're the only person standing between me and Maksim. The only one I can trust."
A flicker of darkness crosses his face as he glances toward Maksim again. "One dance," he finally concedes.
I take his hand, feeling its warmth engulf mine. "One dance," I agree, knowing I want so much more.
The dance floor is crowded enough to justify my moving as close as I can to him.
I guide Cristian's hand to my waist, feeling the slight hesitation before his palm settles on my back, warm and steady.
We begin to move, and I’m surprised at his grace for a man who’s so large and lives a life of brutal violence.
"You're a better dancer than I expected.” I look at him through hooded eyes, a trick my friends have used to lure in men.
His lips twitch. "The Bonettis have served the Dantes for generations. We're trained in more than just combat."
"What else are you trained in?" The double meaning hangs between us.
He clears his throat, eyes darting briefly over my shoulder, probably checking for Alessandro. "Protection, surveillance, strategy."
I press slightly closer, inhaling his scent until I’m nearly drunk from it. "That's not what I meant."
"I know exactly what you meant, Miss Dante."
"Valentina," I correct him again, deliberately letting my breath warm his neck.
The song shifts to something even slower.
Perfect.
I rest my cheek against his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken beneath my ear.
"Are you always this formal with women you hold in your arms?" I murmur.
His hand tightens in mine. "Only the ones whose brothers sign my paychecks."
I laugh, genuinely amused by his humor. "And if Alessandro weren't watching?"
"He's always watching."
I step on his foot deliberately, though I make it seem accidental. "Sorry,” I say, using the moment to press against him more fully.
Our bodies align from chest to thigh, and I feel the sharp intake of his breath.
"You're playing a dangerous game," he warns, voice low enough that only I can hear.
I look up at him, dropping all pretense. "My whole life is a dangerous game now."
He looks at me with sympathy, which I hate.
“I don’t want your pity,” I snap. “My life ends the day I marry Maksim. I just want to enjoy the time I have left.”
He gives me a slight nod and we continue to dance, now in silence.
I close my eyes, savoring his large hand holding mine, the other against my back, guiding me.
I feel safe in his embrace.
The song ends, but neither of us moves.
"One more dance?" I ask, not ready to relinquish the warmth of his arms.
He should refuse. We both know it. Instead, his hand slides fractionally lower on my back, not improper, but deliberate.
"One more.”
I hide my triumphant smile against his shoulder, heart pounding with equal parts fear and exhilaration.
For the first time in weeks, I feel something beyond dread.
I feel a flutter in my belly that isn’t fear.
The music changes tempo, but Cristian's hold on me doesn't loosen.
If anything, his grip tightens, fingers pressing ever so slightly into the small of my back.
My world narrows down just to him. I've never noticed the exact shade of his eyes before.
They’re not merely brown but almost black, with tiny flecks of amber.
Like embers smoldering in the darkness.
His jaw is sharp, cheekbones high.
I can see how scary he must be to his enemies, and yet, I feel like I see something softer inside him.
There's something intoxicating about being held by someone who could snap a man's neck with the hands that are gently guiding me around the room.
But all too soon the song fades, and a desperation sets in.
I press closer, tilting my face up toward his. "We could find somewhere quiet to talk.”
The warmth in him recedes. His hands release me abruptly, leaving me cold.
"No, we can't." His voice turns to gravel. "This dance is over, Miss Dante."
The formal address stings. He steps back, creating a proper distance between us.
Heat rushes to my cheeks, embarrassment mixed with anger. "Cristian—"
"Don't." The word is sharp, and at first, I flinch.
But as I study him, I sense that he’s not just saying it to me, but to himself as well.
In his fathomless eyes, I swear I see desire, and his irritation is at feeling tempted.
He's fighting himself.
And then it’s gone.
The soldier is back, rigid, detached.
Yes, the rejection burns, but I know what I saw.
That fleeting glimpse beneath his armor boosts my determination.
I've spent my life surrounded by dangerous men. I know their weaknesses.
And I've found Cristian's. Me.
"As you wish," I say, smoothing my expression into cool detachment.
I watch Cristian walk away, his broad shoulders tight with tension, the perfect soldier retreating to his post.
My skin still burns where his hands rested moments ago.
The memory of his touch lingers, and something molten pools low in my belly.
This isn't just about denying Maksim my virginity anymore.
There's something about Cristian that calls to me, even if he tries to hide who he is under the Herculean control he maintains.
I want to be the one who makes him lose that control.
Across the room, Alessandro catches my eye and raises an eyebrow.
I give him a smile, the perfect picture of a dutiful sister.
I grab a flute of champagne from a passing server.
I sip it, watching Cristian resume his post by the wall.
His eyes scan the crowd methodically, but when they land on me, they linger a beat too long before moving on.
A thrill runs through me.
He's not as indifferent as he pretends.
Less than two months until I'm Maksim's bride.
That’s the time I have to seduce the most loyal of my brother's men.
To experience something real before I'm sold to a monster.
I won't waste a single day.
The music shifts again. Luca holds Katerina like she's the center of his world, their foreheads touching as they move.
That tenderness, that passion, that's what I want.
And I will have it, I promise myself.
No matter the obstacles.
No matter the ramifications.