CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

S tefano laid his arm across the back of his chair, his body angling toward Sofia, and tipped his brandy glass to his lips, smiling.

Across the table, Sofia’s father lifted his glass in a private toast to him for the seventy-fifth damn time. His eyes were glistening with joy—and dollar signs, since Stefano had basically purchased his daughter from the male.

He sent him a nod.

Who sells their fucking daughter? What an asshole.

Stefano tapped his foot to the cheerful music and ran his eyes across Sofia’s body. Her blue dress flowed over her curves deliciously, showing enough of her long, toned arms and the curve of her breasts. It was easy to recall the feeling of them in his hands as he’d squeezed them, just as he would again tonight.

Her eyes darted to his. They were full of anger, which just made her look even more beautiful to him. “You can’t do this,” she said, her courage turning him on.

Stefano leaned forward and twirled a lock of her long dark hair through his fingers. She flinched, but he saw a strength in her eyes he’d never noticed before. How wonderful. He loved breaking in wild horses. “You’d be surprised what I’m capable of,” he replied, his cock lurching in his pants at the need to show her. “And I have plenty of time to show you.”

As her eyes widened, his pulse quickened in excitement. Stefano sat back and stared along the table at his guests, downing the last of his brandy. His patience with this farce of a night was over.

“My drivers will return you to your premises. Thank you for your company tonight,” he spoke up, standing.

The celebration was over.

Time to go so I can sink my cock into my new toy.

One by one, the guests said their farewells and took their leave. It felt like it took hours while Sofia stood with her arms wrapped around herself. Still, she smiled at their guests, knowing it would be unwise to do anything else, which also pleased him.

Finally, it was just his new mate and her parents.

“Take care of my little girl,” Rosa Ferrero told him. “I can’t tell you what a delightful surprise this is. You must have been so worried about her when she was imprisoned, Stefano.”

He shook his head. “It was horrible.”

“And you kept your love such a secret, darling. So sneaky.”

Sofia nodded, pressing her lips together.

He hadn’t been sure how she would react, but he’d come to an agreement with Leonardo, who knew everything. Well, not about their first sexual encounter, but that was a private moment between the two of them.

Leonardo was a rebel loyalist and had been disgusted when he’d heard Sofia had sided with the Morettis. He was more than pleased to support Stefano’s plans to make her a Russo. And the payment he’d been offered for his support.

The idiot didn’t know the pleasure would be all his.

Sofia’s brother was the one he’d kept his eye on. As far as they knew, he was still on the other side of the world. His phone call had been a surprise, and Stefano was pleased Leonardo had shared it with him, again showing his loyalty.

“Come. Let’s leave these two lovebirds alone,” Leonardo said. “Thank you for a wonderful evening. Sofia, you have done well for yourself. Congratulations, daughter.”

And then there were two.

“So I’m your prisoner,” Sofia spoke. Not a question. “And you expect me to pretend to be your mate. That’s your grand plan?”

He took a step toward her, then another, until they were toe to toe.

“If you want your family to live. As for pretending, no. Don’t have to pretend to anyone under this roof,” he said, shrugging. “They all know the situation. And in the bedroom, the more you scream and struggle, the happier I’ll be.”

She spat in his face, and he grabbed her around the neck. She gasped and began clawing at his hand. His cock, once again, hardened at the power he had over her supple and small frame.

God, she was just perfect. How had he not thought of possessing her before now?

My bad.

“Save the body fluids for our next fucking, mate of mine.”