Chapter 33
Tiziano Constanzo
I sat down in one of the armchairs, watching her rise. Bianca ran her hands over her dress, clearly nervous, her eyes fixed on the floor as she took small steps toward me.
“I’m waiting, Bianca,” I said firmly. “I’m not going to believe you if you tell me you were hiding in my office just to suck my cock.”
She stopped a few steps away from me, taking a deep breath before finally lifting her eyes.
“I’ve been hearing a lot of things... about this Vittorio Bellini and his son.” The name Bellini was enough to get my attention. My body instantly went rigid.
“And what does that have to do with what happened here today?” I asked, crossing my arms. “I want to know why you were hiding, Bianca. Answer me.”
She hesitated, but gathered her courage.
“Why is he asking about me?” she demanded, her voice raised, and I tried to determine whether what she felt was fear or merely curiosity.
A slow smile formed at the corner of my mouth.
“Exactly, wife. Why?” I leaned back slightly in the armchair, my eyes locked on hers. “Do you know the answer?”
Bianca took a step back, shaking her head, but I knew she was hiding something.
“Are you sure?” I asked, tilting my head and narrowing my eyes as I studied every one of her reactions.
“I don’t know anything! How could I possibly know?” Bianca shot back, visibly nervous.
I liked her. I hadn’t planned on it, but Bianca had earned something rare from me: respect. And with that came the willingness to defend her, care for her, and protect her. But I couldn’t ignore the weight of the hatred that still burned inside me for the Bellinis.
If he was so interested in her, perhaps it would be more effective to show that bastard that yes, she was happy by my side.
That the woman he dared question belonged to me now.
And, if necessary, I would make damn sure he saw it as clearly as possible until he came to me and questioned me in person.
“Come,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Where?” she asked, almost in a whisper, her eyes wide and hesitant.
“We’re going for a walk in the garden.”
I picked up my jacket and draped it over her shoulders as soon as I opened the door and the night breeze reached us. Without saying a word, I laced my fingers through hers, and we began walking along the stone path illuminated by soft lights.
We walked in silence for several minutes. The sound of our footsteps on the gravel seemed louder in the stillness of the night. Bianca looked straight ahead while I admired her beneath the soft moonlight kissing her face.
Finally, I stopped and turned toward her. I placed one hand against her face, lifting her chin until her eyes met mine.
“Maybe the way I am scares you,” I began, my voice low and calm. “I know I often seem indifferent, that I push feelings aside. But you...” I paused, staring at her. “You need someone who shows you they care about you. And I do care, Bianca. More than I can admit.”
She blinked, surprised, but didn’t look away. I gently brushed my thumbs over her cheekbones, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingers.
“Don’t hide anything from me, Bianca. Don’t try to carry whatever is inside you on your own. I want to live every year I have left in the peace your arms bring to this life of mine, a life marked by chaos and violence.”
She remained still, her lips parted as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
“About your parents, about what you’ve been through. I’m willing to embrace, care for, and love every piece of you, every piece they broke. Just be honest with me. And love me back.”
“I...”
“You don’t have to say anything right now,” I murmured, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
I kept holding her hand, leading her back toward the mansion.
Days later...
It was just another event I was required to attend.
The ballroom was filled with familiar faces.
Businessmen, allies, and members of the council moved among glasses of champagne and discreet conversations.
I had always hated events like this, but they were part of my job.
And, as always, Bianca was by my side, captivating everyone with her elegance and presence.
Every day, she was getting better at carrying herself in these environments.
She looked elegant in a blue silk dress that highlighted her curves. She was perfect. My pride was obvious, but so was my possessiveness.
“Relax,” I murmured, noticing how tense her posture was.
“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, but her hands gripping her clutch told a different story.
I knew she was outside her comfort zone, but this was necessary. It was part of her role by my side. My eyes swept across the ballroom, analyzing familiar and unfamiliar faces until one particular movement caught my attention.
A man in a light-gray suit was engaged in conversation, but his eyes kept wandering insistently toward Bianca. He was staring at her shamelessly, the kind of look a man should never direct at another man’s woman, much less mine.
“Is everything okay?” Bianca asked, noticing my expression.
“Yes,” I lied, keeping my eyes on the man as I took a long sip of my whiskey.
The bastard noticed me watching him. For most people, that would have been warning enough, but he simply raised his wineglass and smiled. A gesture that burned through what little patience I had left.
“Stay here.” My voice came out firm, and Bianca frowned.
“Tiziano?”
“Just stay.”
I called one of my soldiers over as I started walking toward the man.
“Don’t take your eyes off her.”
I approached him calmly, maintaining my composure.
“Can I help you with something?”
He turned, feigning surprise.
“Don Tiziano. What a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“The pleasure is all yours.” I placed a hand on his shoulder, applying more pressure than necessary for a friendly conversation. “I noticed you were interested in something that belongs to my territory.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He laughed, an irritating sound filled with false innocence.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Don Tiziano. I was only enjoying the view.” He raised his glass, looking toward the table where Bianca stood.
I leaned closer to the man, my voice low, almost a whisper, but carrying a threat as sharp as a blade.
“Keep looking at my wife like that, and the last thing you’ll see in this life will be my fingers tearing each of your eyes out.”
He swallowed hard, his taunting smile faltering for a moment before he regained control.
“I didn’t realize I was committing such a serious crime. My apologies, Don,” he said with a false smile and an insolence that irritated me even more.
“Don’t play with the patience of a man like me.”
Before he could answer, I released his shoulder and straightened my suit, giving him one final warning look before turning away and walking back to Bianca.