Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

F ather, I'm not coming to Venezia. I must stay here. I still have la famiglia to run. And Mia is here. I'm worried about what's going on, but I'm also worried about my wife. She's a mere pawn in this, and she's human, which means she doesn't have the strength to withstand any kind of magick. My mental voice is tight, frustration and worry simmering beneath every word. Keeping Mia safe is at the forefront of my mind. I made her a promise last night and I intend to keep it.

My father's voice is sharp in my head, his displeasure clear . Bring Mia if you want, but I want you here. You and your brothers. I don't like you out there. You're all in a weakened state."

Nico and Luca are on their way with Esme, I reply, pacing the length of my office, unable to keep still. They should be there by now.

There's a brief silence before my father's voice cuts back in, more controlled but still tense. Yes, they've just arrived.

Relief floods me, but it's fleeting, chased away by the lingering fear of what we're up against. See to them, and we'll continue this later. Esme said she would speak to her coven. Maybe we can get some answers about whatever this poison is.

Lorenzo. My father's tone changes, using my full name—a rare and deliberate choice that hits with the weight of a command. I wait, bracing for what's coming.

I would feel much better if you were here, at the center of our power, surrounded by those who will protect and support us.

I clench my jaw, struggling to keep my irritation in check. Father, have you ever thought that it's dangerous to have us all in one place? Think about what happened in Berlin. For now, it's better if we're more spread out. Once Nico and Luca recover, I suggest sending one of them to the New World. Our cousins in Nova Scotia would be happy to see any of us.

My father is silent, weighing my words. I'll consider it. Be very careful, Renzo. Don't get distracted by anything. You must stay on your guard.

Understood, I break the mental connection and leave my office, the need to find Mia is like an icepick between my shoulder blades. I have to see for myself that she's okay. We couldn't speak openly earlier, but now we need to have a frank discussion.

I pause in the foyer, reaching out with my senses to locate my wife, but she's not in the house. Panic grips me, sharp and sudden. Where the hell is she? I stride toward the kitchen, fear blooming in my stomach with every step. My heart hammers against my ribs, and I burst into the kitchen, finding Albert calmly polishing a glass.

"Where is she?" I snarl, barely keeping my temper in check.

Albert glances up, unruffled, and nods toward the window. I follow his gaze and spot Mia standing near the water, beyond the shimmering blue of the pool. Relief battles with frustration, but I keep my tone measured. "Bring champagne to the pool and then leave us, Albert. Make sure the cameras by the pool are off."

"Yes, sir," Albert says, bowing slightly before heading to the wine cellar.

I let out a breath, the tension in my chest loosening just enough to make my way outside. I step through the dining room doors and head down the stone path. The sun is sinking low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Mia stands at the water's edge, her back to me, staring out at the waves as they lap gently on the shore. She looks small against the vast expanse of the sea, and something twists inside me. I approach her, the sound of my footsteps muffled by the soft grass.

"What are you doing?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intend.

Mia spins around, startled, her expression one of fear and something else—guilt, maybe. Like she's been caught doing something she shouldn't. "Renzo," she breathes, her voice unsteady. "I… I'm sorry. I just needed some air."

I study her, searching for any sign of weakness or lingering effects from the gas. The color in her cheeks makes her look healthy, but there's a wariness in her eyes, a resistance that wasn't there before. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she says quickly, turning back toward the water, but her voice wavers. "No aftereffects from the gas."

I grab her hand, and she flinches, trying to pull away, but I refuse to let go. "Come," I say firmly, leading her back to the pool area. The sun dips lower, and the heat of the day is fading into the cool embrace of evening. The air is thick with the scent of seawater, and I guide her to the far end of the pool, then seat her at a table shaded by a large umbrella.

I release her hand and take the champagne bottle that Albert has left, pop the cork with a practiced twist and pour us both a glass. Mia, her movements slow, cautious as she takes the glass, staring at the bubbles that rise to the surface, lost in thought.

"You drink and eat human food," she says, her voice laced with curiosity and something darker— Fear. "Does it…?"

"Nourish me?" I finish for her, watching the way her eyes flick to mine, searching. "No. Alcohol doesn't affect me the way it does you either. The food is just for show."

Mia takes a long swallow, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly, but I can see the tremor in her hand. "Seeing your brothers feed—is that what you call it? —today was unsettling," she admits, her voice brittle.

I nod, understanding the weight of her words. "It upsets you."

She snorts; a harsh sound that breaks the quiet. "Upsets me? Renzo, I'm so overwhelmed I don't think upse t even covers it. Vampires, witches… What's next? Werewolves? Gremlins?"

I smile faintly, though there's no humor in it. "No gremlins that I know of, but the magickal realm is vast. I haven't spent much time there in the last few centuries, so anything's possible."

Mia lets out a bitter laugh, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. "This is all so absurd. I can't believe we're even talking about this."

I watch her closely, the setting sun casting shadows across her face, highlighting the fear she's trying to hide.

"I know it's a lot to take in, gattina, but you will adjust. We have time."

She takes another sip, but her hand is trembling more now. "You think I'll adjust? Someone has tried to kill me twice now. I know you all believe you're the targets, but I've been shot and gassed. I'm starting to think my odds of surviving a third attempt aren't great."

Fierce protectiveness surges through me, mingled with rage. "I won't let anything happen to you, Mia. I'll protect you. I promised you that I would keep you safe."

Mia laughs again, a harsh, broken sound. "That's a hollow promise and you know it. You're dead, and your brothers were right there today. They were affected by the gas as much as I was, if not more. Don't make promises you can't keep."

Her words cut deep, and anger roars through me, hot and blinding. "You think I can't keep you safe?" I ask in a low and dangerous tone.

Mia meets my gaze, defiance burning in her eyes. "I think you want to believe you can, but whatever is happening is beyond your control."

I stare at her, the thought of her feeling vulnerable twisting my insides. The idea that she doesn't feel safe with me is unbearable. I want to hunt down whoever's behind this and rip them apart, piece by agonizing piece. "You believe you're just collateral damage?"

Mia shrugs, a resigned look crossing her face. "You can't control everything, Renzo. And the way things are going, I'm not sure I'm going to survive this."

I clench my jaw, torn between fury and the desperate need to protect her. "What if I could offer you a way to protect yourself? Something that would make it harder for anyone to hurt you?"

Mia looks at me, confused. "What could you possibly offer me that would change any of this?"

I take a breath, feeling the weight of my next words. I've never offered this to anyone before, not even the women I've loved in the past. "Immortality. You could become a vampire. You would live forever, like me. Or at least, you'd be very hard to kill." I never envisioned myself ever offering the gift of becoming a vampire. Turned vampires are thought of as the lowest of the low but if it means that Mia feels safe, that Mia is safe, I am willing to do it, no matter what my family thinks, and I am already certain they will be dead set against my solution.

Mia's eyes widen, her mouth opening in a silent gasp as horror washes over her face. "Oh God, no. I don't want that!" she cries, her voice breaking. "I don't want to be a monster. I'd rather die than become…" She darts a look at my face and trails off.

The sting of her words cuts me deeper than I ever expected, a wound I didn't see coming. For the first time in centuries, I feel truly insulted, and it burns. She spurns the gift I have only ever offered her. "A monster like me?" I suggest, my voice cold.

"Renzo…I?—"

"You said what you feel. Understood. But understand this, Mia, you aren't going anywhere. You are my wife. You will stay by my side. I will keep you safe and you will do as you're told."

She stares up at me. I can see my words have little effect. Maybe it's the shock of the entire situation. Or maybe my wife is truly horrified by me. Either way, she will bend her will to mine. And I know just how to make her do it.

"Take off your blouse," I demand.

She blinks. "What? Here? Renzo people will see us. "

"No, they won't. The cameras are off and Albert knows not to disturb me. Now take it off," I growl.

Mia grinds her teeth. I see the hesitation in her eyes.

"Now, wife. You will do as I say."

"Renzo, I'm not up?—"

I grab her arm and pull her to her feet. I rip off her blouse and let it drop to the ground leaving her standing there in her black lace bra. "When I instruct you to do something, you will do it. No hesitation." I lean down and move to kiss her neck. She veers away from me, but I grab her by the neck and hold her in place. "Are you telling me you don't want me anymore? That you aren't turned on by me anymore?" I ask as I rub my knuckle down her jawline. I can smell her fear, but I can also smell her arousal and see her nipples poke against the lace covering them.

"I don't want to do this," she says very clearly.

"Really?" I ask as I run my hand down over her bra. Her nipple is like a pebble as I finger it through the fabric. "That's not what your body is saying to me, la mia tigre ," I whisper against her ear.

She lets out a small sound as I rub her nipple and then run my hand down over her stomach. I kiss her neck, running my tongue along her collarbone as I breathe in her scent. I lift my head and claim her mouth. I stick my tongue in her mouth, and she does not fight me, but she doesn't respond. My tigre is playing hard to get. "You want to play?" I ask her.

She makes no sound but watches me.

"Gattina, you will respond to me," I say as I undo her jeans and slide them down until she's left standing there in her thong and bra. I move quickly and release her bra, tossing it to the ground next to her shirt. I lean down and suck one taut nipple as I run my hand over her ass. I squeeze her ass cheek as I suck hard on her nipple. A small, strangled cry breaks from her tight lips.

I meet her gaze, and she looks away. I laugh. "My little putta , you can pretend all you want but we both know you want my touch. You crave it." I run my knuckle over her breast and then grab her ass with both hands and pull her against my cock. I'm hard and getting harder by the second.

"I do not," she responds but the high color in her cheeks tells a different story.

I run my fingers over her thong and between her legs. She clamps them together but relents when I grab her neck. I caress up and down the silky scrap of fabric and her mouth opens. Her breath quickens and so does her heart rate. The scent of her arousal is maddening, driving me as close to a frenzy as possible. The musk of femininity that comes from between her legs. Yes, she's hot for me.

"Mia, tell me you want me," I command.

"No," she snarls. "I won't."

"You will, my little slut. You will beg me to take you." I know I can make her bend to my will, and I'll enjoy every minute of it. But so will she, whether she wants to admit it or not.

I kiss her again and this time I grind her against me as I do it. I grip her ass hard and rock her against my cock. She doesn't resist but she doesn't engage either. I break off the kiss and laugh. "Little gattina. You should just give in."

She glares at me as she crosses her arms over her chest. "I will not." The words are strong, but the fear in her voice makes me hard as a rock. "Turn around and put your hands on the table."

Mia narrows her gaze at me, but I give her a look that says I am serious. She turns and puts her hands flat on the table.

"Open your legs, baby."

She does it slowly and I reward her by running my hand down her ass and then up her thigh. I reach the apex of her legs and rub her clit through her thong. "Now you're going to do as I say. You're going to tell me what you want me to do to you."

She says nothing.

"Tell me, tigre ," I say softly as I kiss her neck and continue to rub her through her thong.

"No."

Her voice is shaky, and I can feel her heat, but my woman wants to be disobedient. Fine by me. I bring my hand back and smack her ass with some force. She lets out a surprised squeak. "Tell me, Mia. Tell me what you want me to do to you."

She shakes her head no, but her lip is caught between her teeth. I smack her on the ass again. I know it stings. Then I reach up and cup both breasts, rubbing her nipples. "Tell me, Mia." I let go of one tit and smack her ass again before she's had a chance to respond. She lets out a whimper as I pull off her thong and let it fall to the ground.

"You want a drink, gattina?" I ask. She glances at me with a fierce look as I grab the champagne bottle and pour some down over her ass. I set it back down out of her reach and then pull her ass cheeks apart and rub the champagne between her ass cheeks. I finger the puckered opening and press gently. "Tell me what you want me to do, Mia."

Silence reigns but this doesn't surprise me. She's doing her best to resist me at least with her tongue. Her body is telling a different story. I run my fingers over her pussy and down between her legs. She is so wet. I rub her slick folds and tease her clit as I squeeze her nipple. "You're drenched for me, Mia. You like it when I spank my little slut, don't you?" I croon in her ear as I move my fingers faster in her folds.

"No—" she says but she can't continue because I stick my fingers deep inside her and curl them to touch her g-spot. I hear the air rush out of her lungs as her hips buck. "Fuck, Renzo," she says as she pushes her ass against me.

I rub my fingers in and out gaining speed as I finger her asshole. "What do you want me to do to you, Mia?" I croon again.

"Fuck, Renzo," she says again and then moans.

I immediately stop what I'm doing. "Tell me your darkest fantasy. Tell me how you want me to fuck you within an inch of your life. What will make your body break for me?"

Her voice is breathy. "I…can't"

"Do you want me to spank you?" I ask and then smack her ass.

"Yes," she breathes.

"Do you want me to squeeze your nipples?" I ask as I squeeze them .

"Yes." Her skin is flushed, and she is pushing back against my cock now.

"Tell me what you want me to do to you, baby girl."

Mia presses back against my cock. "Fuck me, Renzo. I want you to fuck me hard."

I smack her ass once again and then quickly stick my fingers inside her pussy and stroke her g-spot. "Baby, you only have to ask." I use one hand to undo my belt and pull it off. I then drop my pants and underwear. I rub my cock between her ass cheeks. God, I want her with a depth of hunger I have never experienced before. Not with any other woman.

"I'm going to come, Renzo," she moans.

I stop touching her. "You will come when I tell you." She's drenched and hanging on by a thread.

Turning to look over her shoulder she glares at me. "I want you to fuck me, Renzo. Do it. Now."

I smile. "Oh, my little slut. Not yet." I bring my hand back and smack her ass once more. She moans and presses back harder looking for my cock to rub against. I grab her hips and pull her back as I rub against her. Then I reach for the champagne bottle again. I pour it down over the seam of her ass. Then putting the bottle out of her reach, I grab the cork. I run it down over the same place.

"This is going to hurt just a bit, my greedy little putta, but then you're gonna love it." I can smell her fear and her lust. It's making me harder than I thought was possible.

She glances over her shoulder at me again. "What are you going to do?"

I slip the cork against the puckered opening and I ease it inside her.

She bites her lip but continues to look at me.

"Does that hurt, gattina? Is it too much?" As much as I want this, I don't want to hurt her more than it feels good. I want her to love how she feels not be in serious pain.

Mia nods. I take it out again and spit on it, then rub my saliva all over it. Then I put it back, and press it in a little more, going very slowly, giving her body a chance to expand around the cork.

"Renzo," she moans. "It hurts."

"Do you want me to stop?" I ask as I rub her clit. I run my fingers through her wet folds and then inside her. I increase speed as I curl my fingers to touch her g-spot.

"No," she says and pushes back against me. "I feel…full," she gasps.

I push the cork in a little further and then kiss her neck. "You like that, my little slut? You like the cork in your ass?"

"It hurts but I… It feels so fucking good."

I chuckle as I take my fingers out of her and grab her hips. I position my cock at her entrance. "Do you want me to fuck you now, baby? You want me to fuck you with the cork in your ass, my little slut?"

"Yes, Renzo. Fuck me now," she commands.

I sink into her slowly at first, but she pushes back against me. "Faster, Renzo. I want to come," she says.

I pick up the pace and lean over her and grab her neck, choking her just a bit as I slam into her again and again. "Come now, Mia. Now." I slam into her and squeeze her neck, and she comes, her vagina squeezing my cock in waves. I slam into her again and come with a roar. I lay over her body, which is pressed against the table, and catch my breath.

A moment later, I stand up.

"Renzo," Mia says as I slide out of her. "I fucking hate you, but goddamn, I love what you do to me."

I throw my head back and laugh. "Baby girl, I know you love it. La mia tigre ." I reach down and gently pull the champagne cork out of her ass. "Next time, I will fuck your ass with my cock, and you will love it even more."

Mia glares at me, but I can tell she's thinking about it, and her nipples pucker once more.