Chapter Four #4
Unlike me, Marcello is in his element. He moves through the crowd with a natural authority, shaking hands, leaning in for quiet conversations, laughing when appropriate.
People orbit him. They watch him the way meeker animals watch an aggressive one, with respect and caution and the constant awareness that the more powerful animal could devour them at any moment.
As he steers me through the room, his hand moves from my lower back to the nape of my neck at one point. His fingers are warm against my skin, and I shiver. I can’t help it. His touch is possessive, not affectionate. He’s giving a quiet signal to every person watching: he’s my property.
I guess technically, I am.
Marcello steers me toward a cluster of older alphas near the bar. They turn as we approach, faces opening into smiles that look genuine enough.
“Marcello.” A tall, handsome, silver-haired alpha says. He has a deep tan and he sets his drink down and extends both hands. “What a beautiful ceremony it was.” He clasps Marcello’s hand warmly, then turns to me. “Congratulations on your marriage, Elio.”
“Thank you,” I say politely.
“Elio, this is Salvatore Marchetti,” Marcello says. “One of my father’s oldest friends.”
“It’s an honor to be invited to your special day.” Salvatore takes my hand and covers it with both of his. “You’ve made a lot of people very happy today, young man. Marcello’s father would have been proud to see this day.”
I smile. “That’s kind of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. I’ve known this family for forty years. Watched Marcello grow up. I’ve been telling his mother for months that Marcello needed to settle down.” He winks at me. “Now all you two need to do is to start a family, capisce?”
My face heats as a few of the other men give leering laughs and nod enthusiastically. One of them, a broad-shouldered alpha with a neatly trimmed white beard, raises his glass toward me. “You’re one of us now, Elio. You ever need anything, you come to us. Marcello’s people are our people.”
“Thank you for being so welcoming,” I say, even though I know he’d probably poison my drink if he knew the truth.
He shrugs. “Marcello is a great don and a natural leader.”
Marcello is smiling. Shaking hands. Accepting congratulations from these men with the easy confidence of a man who belongs at the center of everything.
But I’m standing close enough to feel the slight tension in his fingers against my back.
Not directed at me. Directed at something I can’t see.
These men seem sincerely fond of him and they’re clearly delighted that this wedding is happening.
Marcello receives their attention with perfect grace, but I sense something beneath it. Something dark. Coiled.
An older alpha named Ettore with kind eyes and a pewter pinky ring takes my hand and pats it gently.
“You take good care of him,” he tells me, nodding toward Marcello.
“He works too hard. His father was the same way. Maybe now he’ll slow down a little, eh?
Now that he has something worth coming home to. ”
My smile feels stiff as I say, “I’ll do my best to be worthy of him.”
Marcello turns to me, putting a finger beneath my chin. “You’re already more than worthy, caro.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine.
The older alphas chuckle.
My cheeks are hot as he straightens. I know it’s all an act, but the feel of his warm mouth on mine is arousing, even if this is all for show. I’m self-conscious as the older alphas stare at me, elbowing each other. They have decades on me, but it all feels a little like we’re in high school.
The group of them chat a bit more, and then Marcello leads me away. When we’re some distance from them, Marcello says under his breath, “Phony, backstabbing bastards.”
I look at him in surprise. “But, they seemed to adore you.”
He lets out a harsh breath. “We aren’t the only ones putting on a show, Elio.”
His comment makes me uneasy. I definitely thought they all loved him.
I don’t understand his world at all, which isn’t reassuring.
I’m usually very good at reading people.
It’s handy in my line of work. But I obviously missed a lot of silent cues back there.
How am I supposed to safely navigate three years of this?
But I have to push my worried thoughts aside because there are more people approaching with handshakes and congratulations.
At one point, Marcello steps away to talk to a group of women who are standing with his mother. I slip behind a planter that holds a large olive tree, attempting to hide behind the glossy leaves. I’m socially drained and in need of some space from people. Unfortunately, Carlo finds me.
He’s holding two glasses of champagne, and he hands me one.
“How are you holding up?” he asks. Up close, he’s handsome in a rakish, slightly disheveled way that contrasts sharply with Marcello’s smooth perfection.
His smile is quick and genuine and it reaches his eyes, which is more than I can say for most of the smiles I’ve received today.
“I’m still standing.” I sip the champagne.
He glances around. “So far, everyone is buying what you two are selling. I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
“That’s great. I’d hate to think this was all for nothing.”
He studies me. “Marcello can be a lot. I’m his best friend and even I sometimes don’t know what to do with him. He’s moody, but it never lasts long. You probably already know that.”
“I don’t know him well enough to know anything about him yet,” I admit.
“No? Well, he’d hate for me to tell you this, but he’s not nearly as hard as he pretends to be.” He grimaces. “I mean, yeah, he can off a guy and not lose any sleep, but he wants his loved ones to feel safe and happy.”
I squint at him. “Did you forget our relationship is fake? I don’t think he gives two shits about me, Carlo.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe not. But he’s weird about you.
” He gives a quiet laugh. “He gets this look when he sees you. It’s like he’s excited, but he’s fighting the feeling.
I’ve known him since we were four years old, but I can’t figure him out where you’re concerned. But you make him feel something.”
“Maybe it’s indigestion. I suspect I give him that.”
Carlo laughs. “Maybe.” He glances at me. “I will tell you this, if he decides he likes you, there’s no one more loyal.”
I meet Carlo’s gaze. “I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but I’m just here to give him an heir. I don’t need to understand Marcello. I doubt he’d even want me to bother trying.”
“But, you’re going to spend the next three years together.” Carlo frowns. “It would be best if you two could understand each other.”
I shrug. “It’s a waste of time. I think once I give him the heir he wants, he won’t be around me much.”
“You really think that?”
“Yes. Marcello doesn’t care about me. He cares about what I can give him. And that’s okay. That’s what I signed up for.” I meet his gaze. “You don’t have to worry about me, Carlo. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was nineteen.”
“Yes,” he murmurs. “Marcello mentioned you and your brother were orphaned at a young age. That must have been very difficult.”
“Of course. But we did okay.” I grimace. “Until recently, when Fabio was diagnosed with his heart condition. But once he’s well, we’ll be okay again.”
“I respect your strength, Elio.” He looks sincere and he leans closer. “Listen, if you ever feel like you need someone to talk to, and you don’t want to go to Marcello, come to me. I’m a good listener.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re Marcello’s best friend and second-in-command. How do I know you wouldn’t just report everything I say to Marcello?”
“I guess you don’t.” He laughs. “It’s good that you’re suspicious. That’s probably the safest way to be in this world. Good instincts.” He claps me lightly on the shoulder and disappears back into the crowd.
I stare after him, wondering what in the hell that was all about. Was Carlo punking me? Pumping me for information for his pal? Or was he sincerely offering to listen? I have no idea.
My phone buzzes in my tux pocket. I almost don’t check it because I’m at my own wedding reception. Looking at my phone seems rude. But it might be Fabio or the doctor, so I tug out my cell and glance at the screen.
I feel relief and a little bump of happiness when I see it’s a text from Pete.
Hey stranger. Hope everything’s going okay with Fabio.
Duffy’s isn’t the same without you. I was thinking, I know you can’t leave your brother, but maybe I could come see you in Sorrento Bay.
I’m due a few vacation days and I actually miss talking to you.
No pressure. I know you’re busy with your brother. It was just an idea. Let me know.
As I read the text, something warm blooms in my chest. I grin happily as I reread the message.
Just to know he’s been thinking about me means a lot.
Especially right now when I’m feeling so lost and alone.
I really liked Pete. He was funny and smart.
He was one of the few alphas who stayed engaged even after we hooked up.
So many alphas only liked the chase, but Pete had stuck around. He was a good guy with a good job too. If he’s still interested, maybe there’s a way to keep him in my life. My situation is tricky now. Complicated. Maybe too complicated to drag Pete into. But it’s a tempting thought.
I jump when Marcello suddenly returns to my side. I instinctively lower the phone to hide the text, but it’s too late. Marcello already read the message. That’s obvious from his thinned lips and the anger in his eyes.
“Who’s Pete?” he demands.
“A friend.” My voice wobbles. “From Philadelphia.”
He curls his lip. “Don’t lie to me, Elio. That guy isn’t just a friend.”
My face is hot as I hold his accusing stare. “Okay, but I didn’t text him first. He just texted me out of the blue.”
He pushes closer. “And you thought, in the middle of our wedding reception, that you’d just start texting your old boyfriends?”