Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

VITALY

T he ride to the restaurant isn't as long as I'd like it to be. Once we're in the car, I'm assaulted with her sweet fragrance and the sight of her bare thigh. The slit on her dress should be illegal, but who am I to make laws? I'm usually the one breaking them.

"I want you sitting on my left side tonight," I tell her as I stare down at all the smooth skin.

After looking at it for a long minute, I can't help myself. I reach out and trace my fingertips across her thigh, and it's so goddamn silky. With her on my left at dinner, I'll be able to do this anytime I want.

"Okay," she quickly agrees, and then her breath catches in her throat.

I look up and see her breasts rising and falling. They're pushing tight against the top of her dress, and it's almost as obscene as her thigh. They've made her look like a woman that's well acquainted with how to ride a cock. My own cock throbs as it thickens, like it's readying to get in her heat.

"Tell me, little one," I say as I look into her eyes, "do you want me to return you to your father so you can marry that boy?"

"No." She's quick and certain of her answer. "But that doesn't mean I want to stay with you."

My hand on her thigh stills before I grip it tight and lean closer. "Unfortunately that's not up to you."

"I don't know why you're bothering with me. It's clear you've got a line of women dying to be the next dress-up doll." Her cheeks are flushed as she raises her chin, and if I'm not mistaken, she sounds jealous.

"Oh, little one," I say as I pull her against me in the back seat. My hand moves to the inside of her thighs, and I slide it up until my thumb brushes the soft silk covering her pussy. "Don't you understand by now that you're the only one I won't let go?"

The car comes to a stop at the curb, and I'm careful to kiss her neck so I don't smear her lipstick. She leans into my mouth as I lick the soft place under her ear and then trail my mouth lower. I kiss along her bare collarbone, and she hums in pleasure.

"You'll show me what's under this dress when we get home," I tell her and then release her to step out of the vehicle. Once I'm on the sidewalk, I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it.

Her legs are wobbly as she takes a second to balance herself. I'm not entirely convinced the heels are what's making her stumble as I hold her on my arm and lead her into the restaurant.

Every year, I host a dinner for all the heads of the crime families. I find that it's good to look your enemy in the face every once in a while. And I like reminding them that I'm not going anywhere. We each have our territories, and we stick to them. Well, almost everyone does. Renzo Benecci likes to push the edges of his boundaries, and that's why I've got his daughter on my arm. Tonight I'm going to remind him who's in charge and where the lines are drawn. This meeting is for all other bosses to witness his behavior. I want him brought to heel, and if that means embarrassing him, then so be it.

When I walk into the room, everyone is still standing. It's a sign of respect to wait for the host to arrive before being seated. As I walk around the room and greet the bosses and their wives, I introduce Pru. Most of the bosses look shocked when I say her last name, but the wives welcome her like a new member of the club.

Pru's father isn't here yet, but in the corner of the room, I see Eduardo Manola. The man that Pru was promised to. When the crowd parts, and he sees her on my arm, he becomes enraged.

"What's going on here?" he asks me as he looks Pru up and down. "Why is she with you?"

"Watch your tone," my right-hand Luca says as he steps in front of me. "Show some respect to your host."

"Respect? He's got my fiancée on his arm."

"Fiancée?" I ask, and Luca steps aside. "That's funny because when she came to me, there wasn't anything on her finger." I take Pru's hand and offer it up for inspection so the other bosses can see it. "No claim made, no rules broken," I say simply.

"I had an agreement with her father," Eduardo says, a little quieter now that he's gotten the attention of everyone in the room.

"And where is he?" I ask and pretend to glance around the room. I already know her father isn't here yet. He's late, as usual. Eduardo huffs and backs away. "Why don't we all take a seat?" I suggest to the room, and the tension seems to ease.

Everyone moves to the long table that's been set for this evening. There are about thirty seats, and I tell the waiter to put two place settings at the head. I want Pru directly next to me so we are side by side.

Once we take a seat, I stand and raise my glass. "Thank you all for being here tonight. I appreciate everyone putting aside differences and?—"

I'm cut off when Renzo Benecci bursts through the doors with a young woman on his arm. She's probably Pru's age. He doesn't apologize for the interruption but takes a seat on the opposite end of the table, leaving his girl to find one farther away. He doesn't seem bothered that she's not sitting near him or that he's interrupted me.

"As I was saying," I continue. "Tonight is about more than our annual meeting. It's about doing what's right." Renzo glares at me while the other bosses look intrigued. "I understand better than most what it means to protect the people we love. As you all know, my parents and my uncle were murdered by a young boss trying to make a name for himself. When I was old enough, I took my vengeance, and then I took his place." Most of the bosses nod in agreement because the retaliation was sanctioned by them. "After that, I raised my cousin Gianna and made sure she never had to suffer the same fate." I hold my glass out to her, and she gives me a soft smile.

I take a deep breath and then look down to where Pru is sitting beside me. She's watching me with wide eyes, but when I reach out to her, she doesn't hesitate to take my hand.

"Tonight I'm going to protect one of our own." I turn to face the table. Renzo must not have recognized Pru until now, and when he sees me holding her hand, he stands up from his chair. "She's the daughter of Renzo Benecci, but she came to me looking for protection. I'd like to offer her not only that but my last name as well." I raise my glass once again before I lock eyes with Renzo. Then I keep my eyes on him while I speak in Italian. "I'd like you to welcome my fiancée, Prudence Viana Benecci, to our family."

Everyone around the table stands, and I squeeze Pru's hand to do the same. She stays close to my side as we all take a drink of the wine, and then I pull out the ring box I had in my pocket.

The bosses cheer as I place it on her finger and then cup her face. "Are you serious right now?" she whispers so only I can hear.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" I say against her lips before I place a soft kiss on them. "I told you to be careful what you asked for."

I keep my eyes on hers, and I don't miss the way she blushes and bites her bottom lip shyly.

"Enough!" I hear shouted from the other end of the table, and to my surprise, it's not Eduardo. Instead, the protest is from Renzo, Pru's father. His face is bright red with anger as he slams his fist on the table. "This is an insult!"

I can feel Luca move behind me as some of the other guards circle the table waiting to see what I'm going to do. "Gianna," I say to my cousin. "Will you take Pru and the other wives into the salon, please?"

"Of course," Gianna says brightly as she grabs her glass of wine. "Follow me, ladies. I believe the desserts have been left unattended in the salon, and there's no rule saying we can't eat that first."

"Vitaly," Pru says as the women begin to file out.

I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss the diamond I just placed on it. "Do what I say, little one. I don't want you here when I cut out his tongue." After I release her, I nod to the bosses around the table and remove my jacket. "Who has a knife?"

"I do," someone says as the men on either side of Renzo grab him.

"Wait, wait, wait," he begins to plead.

But it's already too late.