Chapter Eight
Elio
Thankfully, I make it to my room without running into anyone. The last thing I want is to have to explain why I’m upset. I don’t even know why I’m upset. All I know is the sight of Marcello holding Sandro in his arms has me flustered. Angry.
Jealous.
I close the bedroom door and lean against it.
I remind myself that my marriage to Marcello is a contract.
We’re not in love. We barely know each other.
He doesn’t owe me his fidelity any more than I owe him mine.
It doesn’t matter that he claimed me and knotted me last night.
That was just part of our deal. It didn’t suddenly change the terms of our contract from a business deal to something more meaningful.
Do I find it rude that instead of checking on me after I could have been killed today he instead chose to rendezvous with his ex?
In the same house I live in? Yes, I do find all of that disrespectful, but Marcello is an alpha who does what he wants.
He never promised me he’d be anything but what he is.
I’m being overly sensitive because I don’t feel good.
My entire body aches from the crash, my head is pounding, and the bite on my neck is raw and painful.
The doctor Carlo took me to cleaned and bandaged the bite on my neck, but I feel the dried blood pulling at the scab every time I turn my head.
I’m a mess physically and emotionally. After the claiming last night, and then the car accident, I’m bruised, scraped, and sore inside and out.
Logically, I know the claiming wasn’t personal.
Even though the experience was passionate, it was a means to an end.
Marcello wants an heir and that all had to happen for him to get what he wants.
Unfortunately, because he claimed me, my instincts are confused.
He gave me his bite, and when he knotted me, it was like his body told my body that I was his.
My brain knows better, but obviously something inside me accepts it still.
I can also feel the bond purring in the back of my skull, relentlessly.
I settle on the edge of the bed, pressing my palms against my eyes, trying to organize my emotions.
I’m getting distracted with thoughts of Marcello and Sandro.
Where Marcello puts his dick isn’t the point.
I almost died today and that’s the real issue here.
My priority needs to be getting something in writing to protect Fabio in case I die.
Today was a wake-up call on many levels.
That’s the only reason I went to Marcello’s study.
I wanted to nail something down to keep Fabio safe if anything happens to me. That still needs to be my focus.
I jump when there’s a knock at my door. I sense it’s Marcello.
Is that because I have his bite? My heart races as I consider not answering.
I didn’t enjoy seeing Sandro and him in an embrace.
The petty, wounded part of me wants to let him stand out there.
But the rational part of me overrules the emotional side.
I need to take care of business for Fabio’s sake, even if I’m disappointed with Marcello.
“It’s open,” I call out.
The door opens and sure enough it’s Marcello.
He steps inside, closing it behind him. I hate that even when I’m angry with him I can’t help noticing how attractive he is.
He’s wearing a fitted white shirt and dark slacks that cling to his muscular thighs.
No suit jacket or tie tonight. He looks tired as if the day has been taxing both emotionally and physically.
I know the feeling.
His jaw tightens as his dark eyes take in the bruise on my temple. “I came to check on you.”
“How kind of you to make time for me.” I don’t bother hiding the sarcasm in my voice.
He ignores my tone. “How’s your head?”
“Still attached.”
“Elio,” he rumbles. “Don’t be a brat.”
“What do you want me to say, Marcello? That I’m fine? I’m not fine. I almost died today,” I rasp. “Maybe that’s just a day that ends in Y for you, but I’m not used to it.” I purposely don’t mention Sandro. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
He narrows his eyes. “Don’t try to use today as an excuse to get out of our agreement.”
I frown. “I’m not trying to get out of our agreement. I’m simply not thrilled about what happened today. It was terrifying. I’ve never been through anything like that before.”
He’s quiet for a moment. Then he moves further into the room. I expect him to come toward the bed, but instead he heads to the armchair near the window. I thought maybe he came to my room to have sex, but perhaps Sandro has taken care of his needs.
He sits and then says, “The people who came after you today have been dealt with.”
“Dealt with how?”
He shrugs. “You don’t need the details. All you need to know is that I’ve identified who was behind the attack and I’ve handled it. You’re safe now.”
I sigh. “I think we both know that’s probably not true. There are probably plenty of other people who would love to try and murder me just because I’m married to you.”
He examines his nails. “Okay. But if they do, I’ll deal with them the same way.”
“Hopefully I survive the next attempts,” I murmur.
“You survived today.”
“By the skin of my teeth, yeah.” I swallow hard. “By the way, I have to talk to you about something. The accident today made me realize I need something from you.”
“We already signed the contract.”
His pompous voice annoys me, but I try to ignore it. “Yes, but as you well know, I had no idea who you were then.”
“What about it?” he asks irritably.
“Well, today has driven home the fact that the contract isn’t sufficient for my needs.”
“It isn’t sufficient for your needs?” He squints at me. “In what way?”
“I feel as if you and Kessler tricked me. You purposely kept your identity hidden so I’d sign the paperwork. If I’d known who you were, I would have asked for a few extra things. You robbed me of that chance by withholding information.”
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue. He can’t argue. We both know I walked into this arrangement not knowing he was mafia. But by then, I was trapped. Things were already in motion for Fabio’s surgery. I couldn’t back out, which was what he was betting on.
“You know keeping that from me was unfair,” I say gruffly.
“Says who? My offer to you was extremely generous whether you knew who I was or not. Why would I have to change the terms after the fact?” His mouth has an arrogant twist to it.
Anger nudges me because the bastard seems to be enjoying this. “Marcello, this isn’t a fucking game to me. You purposely withheld your identity and now I need you to compensate me for that.”
“You want more money?” He laughs.
“Not exactly.”
He hesitates, looking curious. “What then?”
I waver, then push forward. “I… I want something in writing that says you’ll still take care of Fabio if I die. Right now, I have no idea what would happen to him. If I’d died today, would you have turned your back on him? Would you have cancelled the surgery?”
He seems to consider my question. “I never thought about it.” He studies me, his expression difficult to read. “The contract as written doesn’t specifically address your brother’s care in the event of your death.”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
He tilts his head, but says nothing.
I clear my throat. “So what happens? If… if someone succeeds next time. If there’s a next time, which, based on today, seems pretty likely. Does Fabio lose his surgery? Does he go back to Millhaven with a heart condition, no money, and no brother to take care of him?”
Looking thoughtful, he drums his fingers on the arm of the chair. “If I don’t have my heir, why would I owe you or Fabio anything?”
My heart chills. “Jesus, if I die because of who you are, that isn’t Fabio’s fault. You lied about who you were. You misled me. I want my brother protected, or I’m going to make trouble for you, Marcello.”
He laughs, but his eyes are dark and malicious. “How would you hurt me?”
“By not playing the game anymore.” I hold his gaze, heart pounding so hard I’m sure he can hear it.
“You want your mafia pals to think we’re happily married, right?
You want an heir as soon as possible. If you won’t give me what I need to protect Fabio, you’re not getting either of those things from me. ”
“Maybe I’ll just take what I want from you,” he growls, running his eyes over me.
Fear jolts through me but I try not to show it. “Go ahead. That won’t stop me from talking. From acting out in public. Maybe I’ll spill the tea on how this is a contract marriage. That would be pretty humiliating for you, right?”
He stands and walks toward me. I brace myself, stiffening as I sit on the bed. He stops in front of me, his eyes black pools of malice. The pulse in his neck is beating fast and he’s flushed with anger. “You’re playing with fire, Elio,” he rumbles. “I don’t respond well to threats.”
I lift my chin. “If you’d played fair with me from the beginning, I wouldn’t have to do this now. But you kept crucial information from me.”
He studies me wordlessly.
“You didn’t need to hide your identity from me,” I say. “Even if I’d known who you were, I’d have still gone through with the arranged marriage, Marcello. Because of Fabio.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I lean toward him. “The problem is knowing who you are, I’d have absolutely put language in our contract to protect my brother. You say family means something to you. Prove it. Let me protect my brother just like you’d protect yours.”
His face is emotionless as I finish speaking. It’s impossible to know what he’s thinking.
“You could do this easily for me, Marcello. We both know that. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to give me this.
I’ve been nothing but obedient to you. I’ve done everything you asked of me.
I shouldn’t have to threaten you to get this for Fabio.
For fuck’s sake, you know he’s the only reason I’m even doing any of this. ”