Chapter Fourteen

“Will you ride with me?” she asked. I usually took my bike and rode ahead to make sure the roads were safe. I’d never sat in the car beside her.

“Of course,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I’m at your side. And if you need me to kick some fancy lady’s fat ass, I’ll do it too.”

A grin flitted across her face, banishing her anxiety for a moment. “I wish you could. I wish it worked that way, but this is a fight that can’t be won with violence.”

“I’m fairly sure you’re wrong. There isn’t a fight that can’t be won with violence.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s why you should get along with Amo, Matteo, and Dad. You all love violence too much.”

She was right, but unfortunately, we’d spent years being violent to each other. That made the bonding experience a bit difficult. Luca fucking Vitiello and I grudgingly got along right now. Whenever he and I ran across each other at meetings of the Enforcers, he treated me like he didn’t hate me quite as much as he used to, which was a step in the right direction I supposed.

My own feelings toward the man were still far from gentle either, but I didn’t always feel murderous around him anymore, so that was good. He didn’t trust me yet, nor did I trust him, but we worked together and we tolerated each other because of Marcella. Did she even realize how much power she held in her perfectly manicured fingers?

“We should go now,” she said. “I don’t want to miss the grand entry. The furies will only think I’m slinking in because I’m afraid.”

The ride to the apartment building where the mayor celebrated his party took only fifteen minutes. Marcella and I didn’t talk, but she clutched my hand and I was trying to get past my feeling of discomfort riding in a limousine. I’d never been a good co-driver. I preferred to be in control.

When we parked in the underground garage of the building, Marcella remained seated.

I leaned over to her, meeting her focused gaze. Deep in her blue eyes, I saw the fear she battled like a warrior. “If you want to leave, you give me a sign and I’ll whisk you away. Okay?”

She smiled and gave a sharp nod. I got out and opened the door for her, helping her to get out then I released her hand even if it was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to show the world that Marcella was mine but not before she was ready. Her family had already driven ahead. Their presence would hopefully lessen the impact of Marcella’s appearance.

In the elevator that took us up to the roof terrace where the party was taking place, Marcella clutched my hand in a death grip. I loosened my hold when we arrived on the top floor. We weren’t officially an item and I wouldn’t be the one to make it public. That was Marcella’s decision.

After a moment of hesitation, she released me and straightened even more. The doors glided open and I stepped out, checking the perimeter. The penthouse was bustling with people. I recognized a few faces, politicians, local socialites, billionaires and Famiglia members. Everyone’s eyes zoomed in on me, the black sheep among all of these fake white lambs. I gave Marcella a nod, pretending to be the perfect bodyguard.

I could see it in the faces of so many of the women gathered in the room that they had hoped to bear witness to the dethroning of Marcella Vitiello today. The eagerness and schadenfreude in their expressions said more about their horrible characters than they probably realized. Maybe they’d hoped to find a broken, ashamed and submissive Marcella after what had happened. But when Marcella entered the room with her head held high, looking like a fucking apparition in her plum dress and her matching Louboutins, she humbled them all. Marcella hadn’t come to cower or hide, she’d come to fucking rule. Those cold blue eyes that had frozen my blood in the beginning and later set it aflame, now coldly regarded all the spectators ready to gloat.

I smiled grimly as the faces of some of the women fell, transforming to shock. Marcella glided through the room, nodding greetings at the mayor and whoever else had the guts to meet her gaze. Her phoenix ear cuff was on display as was her tattoo.

I walked a couple of steps behind her, keeping a close eye on the people around. I felt a sickening satisfaction when some people backed away fearfully. I was like a wild beast to them, untamed, not bound by their rules. They feared Luca Vitiello because of what they knew he was capable of. They feared me because they didn’t know what I was capable of. Fear of the unknown was something beautiful if used right.

Marcella took a glass of champagne from a tray one of the waiters offered to her but I shook my head, not a fan of the bubbly drink. I really wanted a beer. The moment Marcella came to a stop, a couple in their fiftieth approached her. Marcella tensed considerably but I doubted anyone but me noticed. She kept up her pleasant expression and nodded a greeting at the two.

“Marcella, it’s so good to see you healthy in body and mind after the horrors of the last few months,” the woman said, sounding insincere. Marcella must have heard it too, but she kept up the chitchat professionally.

“Giovanni has been very worried about you,” the man said, and my attention intensified. So they were the parents of Marcella’s ex. I did a quick scan of the room, trying to ignore all the curious and hostile looks I was getting from the guests. Finally, I spotted the guy I’d only seen on photos so far. He stood beside the buffet, talking to another man, but his eyes were focused on me. He narrowed his eyes when he caught my gaze.

I raised my eyebrows. Did he think his glower would intimidate me?

“I’ll grab a plate of food. Should I bring something for you?”

Marcella shook her head. “I’ll eat later.”

I nodded and crossed the room toward the buffet and Giovanni. He froze when he realized I was heading his way. His companion, too, looked ready to draw a gun on me. Of course, we now had Luca’s attention as well, and soon probably that of the rest of the room. Everyone was waiting for a scene that would make the headlines. I definitely wouldn’t cause it.

I grabbed a plate and loaded it with tiny pieces of food that were decorated in a way that made me almost sad to devour them. I gave Giovanni a smile. “You chose the right place.” I toasted him with a piece of prawn.

It took him a moment to gather himself. “And you didn’t,” he said, straightening and looking more confident now that the attention of half of the room was on us. Did he think that would protect him? I’d kicked people’s asses in more awkward situations before.

“Oh, I have a penchant for the wrong choices,” I said, my voice harder than before. “But I made one perfect decision.” I looked pointedly at Marcella who glanced my way. I could see her confusion and worry over my conversation with her ex.

“Marcella will realize soon enough that you are the wrong choice, White. She wants a man with manners at her side, someone who won’t embarrass her in public.”

“Most of all she wants a man who isn’t too scared to show her how much he appreciates her even if it means pissing off Luca Vitiello.”

The hint of embarrassment crossed Giovanni’s face. “If people find out she’s with you, she’ll be ruined.”

“You don’t know anything about Marcella if you think anything or anyone could ruin this woman.” I ate another prawn before I put my plate down. “Oh and one more thing, don’t go near Marcella if you know what’s good for you. She’s no longer your woman.”

She’s mine. My eyes said what I couldn’t—yet.

I nodded at him and at Luca across the room before I sauntered back over to Marcella, who looked like she needed saving from Giovanni’s parents.

“Please excuse us. We have matters to discuss,” she said and motioned for me to lead the way to the bar before anyone could protest.

We settled at the bar and Marcella ordered a Cosmopolitan for herself, obviously needing something stronger than bubbly wine. I got a whiskey neat for myself which teased a quick grin out of her which she masked quickly, lest someone realized she wasn’t as emotionless as she liked to pretend.

“What?” I asked after I’d taken a sip from my drink.

“None of my other bodyguards would ever drink on the job.”

“I’m not really your bodyguard,” I said quietly. The meeting with Giovanni made me resent this charade even more. I wanted to claim Marcella as mine in front of everyone.

“What are you then?” She stepped closer, an almost challenging gleam in her eyes. I could feel the eyes of half the people in the room settling on us, even the few that hadn’t paid us any attention before.

“Your noble servant, Snow White,” I said with a wry smile and took another nip from my drink. I had only eyes for the woman in front of me now and the way she looked at me, like she considered me hers as much as I considered her mine.

She shook her head, taking another step closer. “More.”

“I’m more, or you want more?” I asked.

“Both,” she said quietly, stopping right in front of me. Now we had the attention of pretty much the entire room.

“Kiss me,” she said, taking me by surprise. Not that I hadn’t been thinking about doing it.

“You sure? Some of these old ladies look as if that’s more action than they got in years. They’ll talk shit about you.”

“I don’t care what they say. You are my man and we’ve hidden it for too long. I’m sick of bowing to their whims, of being a slave to their rules, of hiding. If my family can accept us, then they better do.”

“Snow White, if we do this, I won’t ever let you go. I’ll be yours till I die. You can have my heart, my soul, my life, and everything else you want from me.”

“I’ll take them all,” she said haughtily before her face softened and those luscious lips pulled into a smile.

I set the glass down, wrapped one arm around Marcella’s slim waist and kissed her, and not a chaste kiss either. I laid my claim on the princess of New York before all of their judgmental eyes, hoping they’d choke on their shock.

The kiss lasted only for a couple of heartbeats, a fleeting moment in time, but with consequences for the rest of our lives.

Marcella had made a choice that would earn her many people’s condemnation.

She showed the world that I was the man at her side, no matter what anyone else said.

And their expressions left no doubt to what they thought. I was beneath them, and certainly beneath the princess of New York. I gave them a cold smile. As long as Marcella wanted me by her side, I sure as hell would be at her side. Fuck. I’d probably still stay even if she didn’t want me anymore. That woman had me wrapped around her perfectly manicured fingers and she certainly knew it.

I never did things on the spur of the moment, especially not in public. I planned every move, every word, every smile.

Tonight, for the first time in my life, I acted on impulse, simply because I wanted to, and kissed Maddox.

I could hear the unison intake of breath and the shocked murmurs that followed, and when I pulled back from Maddox, I could see the open-mouthed shock on many faces.

“I make the rules,” I whispered.

“A queen always does,” Maddox said, and the adoration in his eyes gave me the strength I’d need today and many days to come.

After a moment to gather my courage, I risked a glance toward my family. Dad’s face had become stone, but the look in his eyes was murderous. Mom lightly touched his arm. I knew the gesture. She was trying to keep him in check. Amo was gone, probably disgusted by our kiss.

These were the people whose opinions mattered. I needed them on my side to brave the rough waters of our world. Mom caught my gaze and gave me a small nod.

I could have cried and hugged her from gratefulness but I kept up my public mask and acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

“You okay?” Maddox murmured.

“Better than okay,” I said firmly. “I should talk to my parents.” But just in that moment, Mom and Dad headed out onto the roof terrace.

“Maybe you should give your old man a few more minutes to calm himself.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ll need to freshen up in the bathroom anyway.”

“Do you want me to accompany you?”

“I know this place, don’t worry.” I gave him a teasing smile. “Don’t let the old ladies scare you away.”

He chuckled but he was still tense, just like me. I strode through the room, making sure I walked slowly lest it looked as if I was fleeing from the scene. Instead, I even forced myself to have a quick chat with the oldest daughter of one of New York’s richest men. She was a party girl and had gone to the same school as me. We weren’t friends, but we weren’t enemies either. The conversation with her was satisfyingly uneventful and she only congratulated me on such a piece of eye candy.

Afterward, I excused myself to the bathroom, glad for a few minutes to myself. When I emerged from the bathroom, two girls waited in front of it. Both of them from our circle, daughters of Captains, and classmates of Amo.

I only remembered Cressida’s name. Her father was responsible for the illegal goods that arrived in shipping containers from all over the world. I gave both girls a pleasant smile, but their faces meant trouble.

Cressida shook her head, her lips pinching. “You dishonored yourself and your family. That was so disgusting. I’d never kiss a dirty biker.”

“Or anyone but my future husband,” the other girl added.

“Yes,” Cressida agreed. “I pity Amo for having such a slut as a sister.”

My eyebrows climbed my forehead. That girl had always blown candy up my ass. Apparently, she now saw her moment to rise above me. Wrong move, little girl. “If you don’t want your father to spend the rest of his life scrubbing the dirt from container floors, you better watch your mouth, Cressida. Maybe you’ll one day be brave enough to be the master of your own life, and not let other people be your master.”

“You are still a sl—”

Maddox stepped into the hallway, causing Cressida to pale and snap her mouth shut. “Don’t let me interrupt you,” he said, in a voice that made Cressida take a step back.

“We should go…”

“Already?” Maddox asked. “Maybe you want to share your opinion about me with me face to face.”

She shook her head then her expression morphed into relief. “Oh Amo,” she crooned, when Amo appeared in the hallway.

Amo barely glanced her way. “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing,” Cressida said quickly. “Do you want to join me on the roof terrace? I need fresh air.”

“The girls just informed Marcella that she’s a slut in their eyes,” Maddox said.

I gave him a look to shut him up. Amo had a tendency to get overprotective and do stupid shit in his little-brother-but-acting-like-a-big-brother-mode.

Amo looked at me for confirmation. I gave a small shrug. “The girls are entitled to their opinion as long as they keep it to themselves in the future, right, Cressida?”

Cressida pressed her lips together and glanced at Amo. I could see how pissed Amo was even if he’d learned to mask his emotions over the years.

“How about we have a word on the terrace?” Amo said to Cressida. She nodded uncertainly, obviously unsure if she was in trouble. Before they left, I grabbed Amo’s arm. “She’s not worth it. Don’t do something stupid.”

“You know me,” Amo said.

“Indeed.”

Amo shook my grip off. “I’ll just make sure people respect our family.”

He disappeared.

I sighed. “He’ll do something stupid.”

“He’s a teen, they’re supposed to do stupid things.”

“There is stupid, and then there is Amo’s kind of stupid, and the latter is always bad news.”

Maddox chuckled. “I like your big sister mode.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and I tensed. His brows pulled together and he began to pull away, but I stopped him. “Stay. I was just surprised. This public togetherness is still new for me, and we shouldn’t overdo it in front of my parents before I could clear things with my dad.”

“Good luck with that. Your parents still haven’t returned to the party.”

My heart sank. I’d have to talk to Dad. I hated if he was mad at me, but eventually he’d have to allow me to live my own life and make my own choices, even if he considered them a mistake.