I didn’t care what they said, but I’d never enjoyed myself at social functions and I doubted that would change any time soon. “I know, but I hate these gatherings. Everything about it is false. People who wouldn’t hesitate to thrust a knife into your back smile into your face if they hope to gain something from it.”
For a long time I’d thought I was anti-social and just didn’t like to be around larger groups of people but during my time on the run, I’d attended several parties and I’d never felt out of place. Even though I’d been pretending to be someone else then, I’d still felt truer to myself than I ever did around the people in our world.
“You’ll get used to them.”
“I don’t want to. That’s why I ran away.”
Matteo searched my face with a curious expression, then his lips twitched. “So you didn’t only run from me?”
“Don’t get your hopes up. You were definitely one of the main reasons,” I said.
“But not the only reason.”
I rolled my eyes and took another sip from my coffee. “Do I really have to attend the dinner?”
Matteo rose from his chair and startled me with a quick kiss on my mouth. “Yep. I won’t suffer through it alone now that I have a wife who can share my anguish. Just do what I do when I have to talk to idiots, imagine how it would feel to slice their heads off.”
Despite how often I’d pushed him away, Matteo seemed intent on making it work between us. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Couldn’t he finally grow tired of me and give me the chance to get away? “That’s easy for you to say, but not all of us make a habit out of killing people.”
Images of Sid wanted to anchor themselves in my brain again, but I couldn’t bear them right now and forced them away.
“Then imagine how it would be to watch me kill the people that annoy you. As your husband it’s my duty to kill your enemies after all.” Matteo smiled his cocky grin, his eyes lit up with humor. My stomach fluttered in a scary way and I quickly tore my gaze away from him and emptied my cup.
“I’ll go up to Aria and talk to her about going shopping. I need to be a good wife after all,” I said mockingly but somehow it felt wrong. My emotions were confusing me, everything about my new situation did.
“You should probably buy some new clothes for you,” Matteo said as he put his gun holster on.
“Is that an order?”
“I didn’t know it was necessary to order a woman to buy clothes. Isn’t that your favorite hobby?”
“Really?” I almost laughed. “Not all women are the same.”
“Oh, I know.” There was that smile again.
My eyes lingered on his gun, trying to remind myself that this was who he really was. The smile that made my stomach do flips was only a mask.
I stood abruptly. “You and Luca will be gone all day again?”
“Why? Do you and Aria have another escape planned?”
“Haha,” I muttered, then raised the leg of my jeans, revealing the black ankle bracelet. “I can’t, remember?”
“It doesn’t stop you from making plans. Don’t tell me you’re not still thinking about escaping?”
I considered lying but instead opted for the truth. “Of course I am thinking about it. Did you think good sex and a ring around my finger would suddenly make me change my mind?”
“Only good, hm?”
I snorted and headed toward the elevator. Matteo joined me inside, his eyes resting on my hand.
“You are wearing your ring. I thought you’d throw it away the first chance you got.”
I peered down at the gold band with the fine line of diamonds. “Did you carry it the entire time you were hunting me?”
Matteo smirked as if he knew I was avoiding his question, and I was. I hadn’t even considered throwing the ring away. It seemed like such a waste. At least I hoped that was the only reason.
“Of course,” he said. “I always knew I’d catch you eventually and I knew I would have to make you my wife before you ran off again.”
His confidence was exasperating. It was also incredibly sexy. I was glad when the elevator doors slid open and I could walk away from Matteo’s smile and my own unwanted thoughts. Luca passed me with barely a nod and joined his brother in the elevator.
Aria’s welcome was much warmer. She was beaming all over her face as she headed my way and hugged me. “I still can’t believe that you’re living so close to me. I really missed having you as my confidante.”
“I suppose there aren’t many trustworthy women around here,” I said, my blood boiling when I remembered how Luca’s cousin Cosima had tricked Aria into walking in on Grace and Luca.
“Now that you are here, I don’t care.” Aria peered down at her elegant gold watch. “How about we head out for coffee now and then go shopping. Luca said we were all invited to the Bardonis’ Christmas party.”
I sighed. “Yeah. Matteo told me I had to attend.”
“At least we can suffer together. Believe me, Luca isn’t too excited about that invitation either. Bardoni wants his son to become Luca’s Consigliere because in the past the Consigliere has always been one of the Bardonis, but Luca wants Matteo and nobody else.”
“So this party is going to be even more awkward than I thought. Everyone is going to scheme against Matteo and me. Oh, joy.”
Aria smiled apologetically. “It won’t be too bad. Now let’s go shopping. I need some fresh air.”
Of course Romero accompanied us as we headed out to buy dresses. Maybe I would have enjoyed myself more if I didn’t have to be careful not to flash my stupid ankle monitor whenever I tried a dress on. From the look on the face of one of the vendors, I was fairly sure I didn’t manage to cover the bracelet with the hem at all times. I realized I’d barely thought about escape in the last few weeks. Too many things had happened. And then there was Romero’s constant surveillance whenever I went somewhere with Aria. Moreover, the ankle monitor was making it entirely impossible. I’d have to figure out a way to convince Matteo to take that thing off. Once that was taken care of, my desire to run away would probably return with full force.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Gianna
I’d known all along that the Christmas party at the Bardonis’ house was going to be a huge flop, but it was even worse than I’d thought. The only good thing about this ordeal was that Matteo had Sandro take off the ankle monitor so I could wear my cocktail dress without flashing that thing at everyone. That would have been the talk of the evening, no doubt.
The Bardonis lived in a townhouse, which had been decorated to an inch of its capacities. They’d even set up a massive angel, which had been carved from ice, in their front yard. The decoration was white and gold, expensive crystal baubles adorned the massive tree. It screamed money, and felt so impersonal that I was sure an interior designer had arranged it. Mrs. Bardoni didn’t appear as if she’d ever moved a finger for anything. She was also at least twenty years younger than her husband.
She and her husband greeted Aria and Luca first, and while their smiles hadn’t been exactly warm or honest, they turned positively fake and condescending when it was time to greet me.