Chapter Thirteen
Maximus
All it had taken to push Roberto over the edge and eliminate Dale was a few failed business deals.
I may have ensured some of his business partners dropped out or withdrew their finance, but that was the rules of business, and I had gotten what I wanted.
She stood smiling and chatting to people as they admired her dress.
Olivia was stunning in the silk and lace dress that hugged her curves in the right places, while showing her class and dignity.
The lace had been made by my great grandmother in the village she had lived in back in Italy.
It had been used in some way on every wedding dress in our family, and had been present in the basic dress design awaiting Olivia a week ago.
I always got what I wanted, and that included the woman who was now my wife.
Five years ago, I promised myself that she would belong to me, and today that plan finally came to fruition.
That ring on her finger warned every man here to stay away, or I would put a bullet between their eyes.
I had no issue following through with my threat.
Dale had been collateral damage that a reasonable man would regret the loss of, but I was not reasonable, and didn’t care who I eliminated in my path.
“Word on the ground says you’ve been interfering in my affairs,” Roberto said, appearing beside me. He should crawl back under the rock he had emerged from.
“Fuck off, Roberto,” I replied, taking a sip from my glass and regretting it. I hated champagne.
“You owe me twenty million dollars,” my annoying brother-in-law was stupid enough to keep talking.
“How do you figure that out?” I turned my full attention to him, and had the pleasure of watching him take a half step back.
“Sam was willing to pay that to marry Olivia, so you owe me his debt.”
I had to admire his balls, to come into my family home, and make this ludicrous demand.
“Fuck off, Roberto,” I repeated my statement from earlier. “Quit while you’re ahead. You’re Olivia’s brother, but she doesn’t seem to be fond of you, so I doubt she’ll notice if you disappear under suspicious circumstances. I’ll even pay for her new dress for your funeral.”
I continued to stare at him while he struggled not to crumble. His fa?ade was commendable, but his poker face could do with a little work.
“You know how it works in our families,” he continued. “Marriages are brokered with a dowry. For Olivia, that is twenty million dollars.”
My lips tipped up in a mocking smile. “That is normally negotiated prior to an engagement. You do realise that Olivia is a married woman?”
“Who you kidnapped and held captive until this charade of a wedding.” His face twisted in anger, and if looks could kill, I would be lying on the ground with a dagger through my heart.
I glanced across the garden to where Olivia stood smiling at one of her sisters who was speaking to her.
“You tried to sell my fiancée,” I said in a low, cold tone. “Technically, I was within my right to put a bullet between your eyes, or demand reparations.”
Roberto blinked once, his lips tightening. I could almost see the tiny hamster in his head trying to run, and give him the strength to think this through.
“I could call the ruling families together to take a vote,” I mused, lifting my glass in a silent salute to the gathered crowd. “I believe there is a representative here for most of them.”
It was a gamble, but most of my business deals had been brokered by taking a chance, and bullshitting my way through. I watched Roberto’s every reaction, reading his emotions to determine how far I could push him.
“There’s Enzo,” I said, nodding towards the house. He tended to be the person who held the peace, but he was also the person who called meetings and organised events.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a complete bastard?” Roberto sneered.
“No one would dare,” I replied calmly even though my temper started to rise. “And anyone who did, I would advise them to watch their back.”
I flashed the smile I saved for situations when I knew I had won, and left the person planning my untimely death. Roberto was beaten because Olivia was mine, and an entire audience of people could testify to that.
“I’ll tell you what,” I said as I stepped forward to walk away. “I’ll happily give that twenty million to Olivia as a slushie fund to buy herself incidentals”.
My spy had told me that Roberto was in need of that cash as he had made some very bad business decisions, and also lost a lot of money in the casino. That dowry would have put him back in the black. He had sold his other sisters like sex slaves, there was no way he was doing the same to my Olivia.
I saw his attack before it had reached his fists.
Roberto grabbed my shoulder to spin me around, but I ducked low to ensure he couldn’t land his punch.
Instead, my fist connected with his stomach, my foot curving around his leg to destabilise him.
Roberto had been pushing my buttons for over a week, ever since he decided to try and sell what rightfully belonged to me.
He had spent most of his life ordering his families security officers to carry out his dirty work, and for his particularly heinous acts, he tended to hire cleaners to eliminate his problem.
Dale was one of the first times he had got his own hands dirty, and all he had managed to do was push him off a balcony.
I had trained in hand-to-hand combat from a young age, and tended to do my own dirty work since I doubted I would tout on myself to the feds. Roberto had just made a grave error in attacking me.
I stamped down on his floundering form, my foot pushing the air from his body with the force of my movement. Jake was already beside me by the time I had straightened, the security officers on the periphery alert and ready for my command.
“I would advise you to walk away and don’t look back,” I said in a deadly tone. “No one puts their hands on me or my family without consequences.”
I slammed my foot down again to make my point.
Someone should have taught the little shit manners a long time ago.
I looked up, and my gaze locked with the emerald-green one of my bride.
There was fear in her eyes, but also what I had seen five years ago, a sprinkle of excitement mixed with the fear that suggested she belonged in my life.
There was a little psychopath in all of us, and I craved someone with the same darkness that resided inside me.
Her gaze dropped to Roberto for a moment before climbing to mine again. Her eyebrow rose in silent question, and I continued to silently stare at her. Olivia pushed her long hair over her shoulder, and continued her conversation as if nothing had happened.
Interesting. At one point, the girl I once knew would have lectured me on using violence.
“You’ll regret this,” Roberto sneered, trying to roll over to push himself to his feet.
“I have excellent balance,” I replied, folding my arms across my chest. “You’ll need to be more inventive than pushing me off a balcony. Olivia is mine, now and forever.”
Silence spread through the people closest to us. It was one thing to suspect what had happened, but another entirely for someone to vocalise it. It had been a cowardly act with no honour to push Dale to his death. Every man deserved the right to defend themselves in the ultimate combat.
“Roberto,” his father appeared from the orangery Mum loved at the side of the house. “That is enough! We are here to celebrate your sister’s wedding.” Armand’s bushy eyebrows descended in annoyance, his expression darkening like thunder.
Roberto opened his mouth to protest, but Armand made a guttural noise that stopped him immediately. Armand turned to me, a practiced smile gracing his lips. “I believe it is time to cut the cake. Melissa was just admiring them earlier, and debating which to try first.”
Armand came from the same era as Father, diplomats who ensured the survival of their family. It was why they had survived as long as they had in our dark and dangerous world. He nodded to one of his men, who moved forward to half lift and half drag his errant son away before I blew his brains out.
“Did someone say cake?” Olivia asked, appearing beside me, her hand slipping through my arm.
I didn’t want to point out that we hadn’t had our meal yet, glaring at Roberto as he was dragged into the house. We had enough security on today to ensure he was never seen again, and I fought the temptation to give the order.
Olivia rubbed my arm, gently tugging me toward the impressive marquee Mum had overseen the construction of a few days ago. She had left nothing to chance, wandering around with her clipboard and throwing orders until she was satisfied yesterday afternoon.
The ceiling inside was a cascade of fairy lights, illuminating it even though it was still light outside. Columns of greenery with magnificent white roses ensured it was an extension of the garden.
“It’s beautiful,” Olivia said, stopping to take everything in, her head moving from side to side. “How did all this happen in a week?”
I glanced down at her, a warmth expanding across my chest. “I always get what I want, Olivia. Surely you know that by now?”
She wrinkled her nose. “If that was true, you would be married to a super model with long legs and immaculate hair.”
“Super models are over rated. They tend to obsess about food, and talk about it constantly because they don’t eat it.” I’d dated several, so was well aware of the reality.
Olivia stared at me for several seconds before bumping me with her shoulder. “Thanks for everything today. You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I only plan to get married once, Olivia,” I replied, drawing her into the room to distract her. Olivia had always been able to see through my fa?ade in the past. I always told the truth, even if I walked a fine line in the grey area of what was legal, and played with words.
Her brow furrowed for a moment, and then allowed me to lead her into the main area. Mum had created a corner to display the cake, lights highlighting it.
“That is a lot of cake,” Olivia laughed. “I didn’t realise the cakes would be so big. It is almost a person.”
“There are a lot of hungry guests and security officers. There will be no cake left at the end of today.”
Olivia glanced to the entrance. “What did Roberto say?” she said in a low voice.
I deliberately copied her actions, and leaned forward in conspiracy. “He wanted me to pay him twenty million dollars to marry you.”
She arched back, her mouth open in shock. “But we’re already married.”
“I guess he’s late to the party.” I winked, and lifted her hand to kiss her wrist.
Olivia narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do I always feel as if I’m two steps behind you?”
Considering I had planned the events of today five years ago, I’d say I was a few steps more ahead than two. “I’m an open book,” I replied. “You know you can ask me anything.”
More people wandered in, distracting us.
“Could everyone please make their way into the reception area?” The master of ceremonies announced, his voice carrying into us.
I grabbed Olivia’s hand, and led her into the trees at the back of the tent since we would be expected to make an entrance.
Her toe caught in one of the guide lines from the marquee, and my arm instinctively wrapped around her waist to pull her against me.
Olivia’s hand landed on my stomach, her body moulding to mine.
Her head tilted back, and I fell into those green eyes, a tightness grasping my chest. This woman had been my secret obsession and she was finally mine.
Her tongue darted out to zip along the seam of her lips, and I couldn’t resist cupping her face in my hand, my thumb following the action of her tongue.
My head dipped, and my lips skimmed against hers, tasting her deliciousness.
I felt her pressing closer to me, her hand on my stomach tightening on my shirt.
My hand tilted her head, and my lips found their home on hers. Her touch ignited a fire in my blood, a need that only she could satiate. Thoughts of her had haunted me over the years, and I had watched over her like a dark shadow who eliminated any threats.
Olivia was mine.
She would soon realise what that meant, and she should be terrified.
I had to drag my head away because I heard voices close by. Olivia blinked several times, her lips swollen, and eyes bright. My thumb swept over her lips again.
“Did I mention how beautiful you are today?” I asked.
A flush crept over her cheeks and she glanced away for a moment. “You don’t have to say that. I’m just grateful that you agreed to marry me.”
If she only fucking knew.
There was no way I would have ever let another man stand before God and join his life to hers.
“I can say it because it’s true, and you’re my wife.” I left it at that, leading her back toward the marquee entrance.
A cheer erupted when we walked into the reception area to join our guests, signifying my victory. I lifted our joined hands in the air in celebration. I always got what I wanted because I had every move on the board planned before anyone else even knew the game had started.
Five years ago, I had decided that this woman would be my wife.
I would happily kill anyone who tried to take her from me.