Marry the Don

Chapter 18

It wasn’t because I’d planned on being a bachelor my entire life yet now stood as a married man either. Marrying Arianna Rosetti hadn’t been any real hardship on my part, to be honest, it wasn’t as if my lifestyle needed to change just because of the change to my marital status.

Arianna was breathtakingly beautiful; I’d realized that in Milan and that alone had spurred me into allowing the union to take place. But more than that, she was … entrancing.

I watched her at the gala from across the room and witnessed her charm diplomats and businessmen firsthand who hardly ever batted an eye at anything that wasn’t cold hard cash. Though for her, they not only paused, they also hung onto her every word.

She drew them in dutifully with her mother or father at her side pulling her strings, and she was outstanding.

She looked like a goddess and played the part of a god. It was captivating to watch.

At that moment, I knew I needed her at my side, and luckily for me, we were already engaged in a way. I already held a claim to her, but I wasn’t dumb enough to think that Emilio Rosetti wouldn’t entertain other offers if they came along. That night I contacted him and set the wedding into motion, no longer hiding from my future.

Now, I was married and rethinking everything I’d planned, with the dynamics of the Rosetti family revealing themselves to me minute by minute. Nothing was as it seemed before last night when I laid eyes on Arianna Rosetti again and then helped myself to her innocent body.

My dick stirred in my pants for the hundredth time since leaving her bed from thinking about the stolen moments with her.

Even if I’d lied my way into her bed, it was worth every single second. Because when I gave her the attention she so deserved, she opened up underneath me like blooming flower petals in the spring sunshine.

It had been life-changing to watch firsthand. Even though I was supposed to hate her, and hate everything she represented, I found myself longing for another taste.

“Nico,” Saul said as he opened the door drawing me out of my thoughts, “Mr. Rosetti.” He motioned for the young man to enter ahead of him before closing the door and standing guard outside of it.

“Carmine,” I said walking around my desk to offer my hand to shake.

“Mr. Capasso,” the younger Rosetti man said firmly while shaking my hand. He was my new brother-in-law, and though I hated his father, I could admire the differences in their personalities already.

Emilio was a slimeball, all the way around. But Carmine-

I could see a lot of strength and honor in his eyes, and I appreciated that.

“Call me Nico, please,” I said with a nod toward the lounge chairs by the fireplace, “ Since we’re related now, after all.”

“Hmm,” he said, but took the offered seat and watched me closely. He was young, around twenty- six or so, but wise.

I could see it in his eyes.

“I wanted to speak with you, freely,” I added with an influx to my voice, “About your father and your sister.” He raised one eyebrow at me but didn’t say anything, so I continued on. “Arianna’s hand is broken.” I watched his face for any ques, and I got exactly what I expected.

Shock. Anger.

And then indifference. “Is it?” He asked.

“Yes, a couple of her knuckles are dislocated as well. My doctor is on her way here to place it.”

“Thank you for seeing to her care,” He said impassively and I could see his father’s teachings shining through.

“You aren’t interested in asking how it happened?” I challenged. “I figured you’d tell me either way.”

I stared at him knowing bigger and worse men would have wilted under the glare I’d perfected at a young age. But not Carmine.

I leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees and cocked my head. “Did you know your mother and father beat her? Drugged her? And did God knows what else to her that I’m sure I’ll find out in the coming days.”

He swallowed and watched me back with the same intensity. “I’m aware.”

“Yet you did nothing to stop it!” I snapped, hating that the topic had any power over my emotions. I shouldn’t give two shits, but last night when she told me the drink on her dresser was drugged, saving me before I took a sip, I started to care.

“What would I have done?” he hissed back, leaning forward on his own elbows. “I have three other siblings I’m trying to protect as well. I did what I could for her,” He challenged, “Believe it or not, marrying you was the best thing for her.”

“I’m the worst kind of monster there is. Surely you know that she won’t be better off with me, The Wolf. ”

“Will you feed her?” he countered, “Because they didn’t. For weeks now they’ve withheld food from her to keep her dependent on them. Will you allow her to walk around your lavish estates freely as it pleases her as long as she is safe and within your boundaries? Because they locked her in her room for months at a time, sometimes even in a small closet with no windows or fresh air. Will you see that she is healthy and relatively happy in what will no doubt be your numerous absences from the home for business and other women?” He accused, “Because, for the last twenty years, they’ve tortured her!” He stood up in anger, rising to meet my own and I let him stand over me in a move that most men wouldn’t dream of doing. “They starved her. They beat her. They drugged her. They locked her away in isolation when she served them no purpose and then paraded her around at events like a horse at a meat market when she did!