I stood, smoothing out my dress, nervous about meeting my father and Salvatore Vitiello after the wedding night. “Good choice,” Luca said. “The dress covers your legs.”
“Someone could lift the skirt and inspect my thighs.”
It was meant as a joke, but Luca’s lips pulled into a snarl. “Someone tries to touch you, they lose their hand.”
I didn’t say anything. His protectiveness thrilled and scared me in equal parts. He waited for me at the door and I approached him uncertainly. His words from the bathroom still rang in my ears. Writhe in pleasure. I wasn’t sure I was even close to being relaxed enough around him for anything coming close to pleasure. Gianna was right. I couldn’t allow myself to trust him that easily. He could be manipulating me.
He rested his hand on my lower back as we walked out. When we reached the top of the stairs, I could already hear conversation, and a few scattered guests were talking in small groups in the huge entrance hall.
I froze. “Are they all waiting to see a bloody sheet?” I whispered, appalled.
Luca peered down at me, smirking. “Many of them, especially the women. The men might hope for dirty details, others might hope to talk about business, ask a favor, get on my good side.” He gently pressed me forward and we walked down the steps.
Romero was waiting at the foot of the stairs, his brown hair in disarray. He tilted his head toward Luca, then gave me a brief smile. “How are you?” he asked me, then grimaced, the tips of his ears actually turning red.
Luca chuckled. I didn’t know any of the other men in the hall, but they all gave Luca winks or broad grins. Embarrassment crept up my neck. I knew what they were all thinking, could practically feel them undressing me with their eyes. I shifted closer to Luca and he curled his fingers around my waist.
“Matteo and the rest of your family are in the dining room.”
“Poring over the sheets?”
“As if they could read them like tea leaves,” Romero confirmed, then gave me an apologetic look. He didn’t seem to suspect anything.
“Come,” Luca said, nudging me toward the double doors. The moment we stepped into the dining room, every pair of eyes was on us. The women of the family were gathered on one side of the room, divided into small clusters, while the men sat around the long dining table, which was piled with ciabatta, grapes, ham, mortadella, cheese, fruit platters, and biscotti. I realized I was actually quite hungry. It was already almost lunchtime. Matteo snuck up beside Luca and me, an espresso in his hand.
“You look like shit,” Luca said.
Matteo nodded. “My tenth espresso and I’m still not awake. Drank too much last night.”
“You were trashed,” Luca said. “I’d have had your tongue cut out for some of the things you said to Aria if you weren’t my brother.”
Matteo grinned at me. “I hope Luca didn’t do half of the things I suggested.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that. Matteo still made me nervous. He exchanged a look with Luca, who ran a thumb over my side, making me jump.
“Quite a work of art you presented us,” Matteo said with a nod toward the back of the room, where the sheets were draped over a coat rack for better display.
I tensed. What did he mean?
But Luca didn’t look worried; instead he shook his head. Salvatore Vitiello and my father were waving at us to join them, and it would have been impolite to make them wait any longer. Father rose when we arrived at the table and wrapped me in his arms. I was surprised by this open display of affection. He touched the back of my head and whispered, “I’m proud of you.”
I gave him a forced smile when we pulled apart. Proud for what? For losing my virginity? For spreading my legs?
Salvatore put a hand on my and Luca’s shoulders, and gave us a smile. “I hope we can expect small Vitiellos soon.”
I managed not to let my shock show. Hadn’t Luca mentioned that I was on birth control?
“I want to enjoy Aria alone for a long while. And with the Bratva closing in, I wouldn’t want to have children to worry over,” Luca said tightly. There was no word to describe how relieved I was about Luca’s words. I really wasn’t ready for children. I’d already had enough changes thrown my way without the added bonus of a baby.
His father nodded. “Yes, yes, of course. Understandable.”
After that they launched into a conversation about the Bratva, and it became pretty clear I was dismissed. I slipped out of Luca’s grasp and walked toward the women. Gianna met me halfway. “Disgusting,” she muttered with a scowl toward the sheets.
“I know.”
I looked around, but couldn’t see Fabiano or Lily. “Where are—”
“Upstairs in their room with Umberto. Mother didn’t want them to be there for the reveal of the sheets.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. Those women have been sharing their bloody sheet stories for hours. What the fuck is wrong with the New York Famiglia? If I hear one more word about it, I’m going to give them a real bloodbath.”
“Now that I’m here, I doubt they’ll be talking about anything but the bloody sheets over there,” I muttered. It turned out I was right. Almost every woman felt the need to hug me and offer me words of advice that only made me nervous. It’ll get better. Sometimes it takes a bit for a woman to be comfortable. And the best: Believe me, it took me years to enjoy it.
Valentina didn’t say anything as she wrapped her arms around me, just touched her palm to my cheek and smiled, before stepping back to make room for another woman. Mother kept her distance. I wasn’t sure why. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, disapproval written across her face. I was glad she wasn’t sharing stories of her wedding night with Father. I stepped toward her and she pulled me into a tight hug. Like my father, she wasn’t an overly affectionate person, but I was glad for her closeness. “”I wish I could have protected you from all this,” she whispered before pulling back. There was a flicker of guilt on her face. I nodded. I didn’t blame her. What could she have done? Father wouldn’t have let her talk him out of the agreement.
“Luca can’t stop watching you. You must have left quite an impression on him,” Luca’s stepmother said teasingly.
I turned to her and smiled politely. Luca probably just wanted to make sure I didn’t give away our secret by accident. From the corner of my eye, I saw the door at the back open and Lily slink in, followed by Fabiano. They’d probably used Umberto’s toilet break to get away. Gianna made a face when our brother stopped in front of the sheets.
I excused myself and walked over to them with Gianna at my heels. Mother was wrapped up in overly polite conversation with Luca’s stepmother.
“What are you doing here, you little monster?” Gianna asked, grasping Fabiano’s shoulders.
“Why’s there blood on the sheets?” he half shouted. “Has someone been killed?”
Gianna burst into laughter while Lily looked honestly distressed by the sight of the sheets. I supposed it burst her bubble of fairy-tale princes and lovemaking under the stars. The men at the table behind us also started laughing, and Fabiano’s face scrunched up in anger. Although he was only eight, he had a temper. I hoped he’d calm down soon, or he’d get in trouble once he was initiated. Gianna ruffled his hair.