rdo's

ll, but I ignore them and make my way to the si

e French doors and dra

feels vaguely like excitement. Stra

tract, my name and hers signed on the bottom line. She was perfectly acceptable, a woman raised to be a wife of a high-

inking about her sister, with her insolent mouth and repre

oke up hard, desperate to know what it would fee

ine, and then I'll be able to move past this bizarre fascination. Ava will

om, right? I pull the do

er back angled to me. Beside her is Sabi

en our gazes clash, a c

elded straight, and her hands are folded primly in

the pockets of my tr

nside her gaze, and then she's on her feet, stomping ac

the fierce expression on her face

to my sister?

perfume, just clean skin,

n and my hands itch to loosen it. I want to bury my nose in

did Sabina hi

va's side. "Don Messero,

the house manager scu

" she says in a low, hostile ton

t question out of her mouth. After all, sh

he is none of my

the truth. I made sure Isabella was allowed to leave without any

y with worry. It's been days since

ws tomorrow at

green eyes. "Will Iz

not inv

the woman responsible for our bro

her si

will be welcomed. Your mother and brother will be

cheeks, and she tak

l walk on

ative." If I ignore another of my family's tra

anni. I don't want anythi

hand to her, but she could have been lying. I

es me clench my fists. "Ar

sc

but no. I just don't w

care about Garzolo's stance on the matte

ention to them. There's a dusting of freckles over her skin. The fact that I'll get to unwrap he

this dinner t

aze back up to her face.

which is a first. Given what I know of her, she's being surpris

emind you that you've sig

yes n

et you put a ring on my finger. I know if I don't, you and Papà wi

nt sister, but I don't correct her. After

'll quickly adjust

e. "Right. Because I'm ge

e can be very funny at times. "I h

ght be

w s

ing he wanted from m

bury myself in her and fuck her

a step

e wh

round. She tilts her chin up, meeti

intimidate me.

hand to

idation. I'm also quite

way, the pulse in he

at a few t

n closer.

with creative insults, cooking inedible

ther step

yes n

ffer-" "Don't stop, y

h parts

th you." "Did you really think tha

hits th

ing into me like

r head. Her chest rises and falls with quick breaths, and she's g

her sister? Her sister didn't make constant ap

swal

. In fact, I strongly suggest you leave

l dinner." I press my nose against

you doing?" she ask

mell your food bef

g her small fists

ee you in the balls so hard you can forget about procreation. I

te m

," she say

nd to compose mysel

eaming for our

about tomorrow? She doesn't need to be. I might be a killer and a feared fighter, but I'm not like my father. I don't get off on inflicting

ou," she

how I h

itely doesn't like me. But hate? That's a str

rbed by how much what sh

er all, you've got a lif

ke she wants to bu

akes a sound, drawing both of o

emotion from my express

y is waiti

ze. I offer her my arm, and after a moment of hesita

ith her anchored to me. T

, and yet I didn't really notice her the first few times we met. It was after an enc

leven in the morning. Antonio was the one who recognized her. I told the driver to stop the car, knowing she must have snu

un. Didn't get very far, but she caused quite a scene. Vehicles slowed dow

e over that brazen mouth. She glared at me the entire ride back, and when we returned her to her parents, she threatened me and

ss has stayed wi

g into the ballroom. She must be nervous, but when I

s birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements, and where we've grieved more than a few deaths. This was my pa

he position of the wife of the don is a coveted one, and Ava is not the woman they wanted for me. No one would risk openly insulting her in

on my last name, she becomes mine, and dis

t of his chair and every

glance at Ava. "I'd like to intr

r of unenthusia

heeks, and her expression

d a glass too many saying something they shouldn't. I didn't clean the blood off my hands only to get them dirty again before the appetizers are served. My re

table and pull one out for her. Her lips are pur

ide her and nod at A

expressions are strained as they study her. Both of

ing her out tomorrow and scrap the whole r

start bringing out the foo

I should be

uths before you came," he says, tipping

n are gossiping, but there's

er. If you're not getting stronger, you're getting weaker. By joining our family with the Garzolos, we

ng cocaine, along with the counterfeits deal Garzolo helped arra

riends instead of enemies. There's no point in letting the fact that my dead father killed one of h

wonder if I've underestimated the blowback I'll receive for taking

eep pull f

hance i