"How about I do both.”
“How about not.”
“Natalia, you going there is a waste of my man’s time.”
“Then I’ll hang out with you.”
“Nice try.”
“It’s the gallery or playing go-to-work with Cristian day.”
“Fine. Go to the gallery. It’ll keep you out of my hair.”
Normally, I wouldn’t give in so easily, but the woman is grating my goddamn nerves. The less I’m dealing with her right now, the better.
“What are your plans today?” She grabs the water glass in front of her and takes a sip.
“Tracking down the other two men you’ve fucked and killing them.” I shrug.
She rolls her eyes. “Funny.”
“I find it amusing you think I’m joking.”
Her back straightens. “You can’t kill them! They were innocent, stupid boys I went to high school with.”
“Not so innocent if they were fucking you.” I run my thumb over my lower lip.
I knew as soon as I married Natalia that I’d kill those men, but after last night, that vengeance rope has tightened. Now that I’ve had my hands on her and tasted her sweet pussy, the thought of killing them gives me an even stronger high.
“And what about Vinny?” Natalia’s voice turns frenzied. “Are you leaving him out of your everyone who fucked Natalia murder spree?”
I pop my knuckles. “I’m waiting for Vinny to come to me.”
Her cheeks redden. “Vinny can be brutal … cruel.” She shuts her eyes, as if replaying a moment with him.
She thinks Vinny is cruel.
I can’t stop myself from laughing bitterly. “There is no one crueler than me in this city. Vinny might play it off like he is, but let me put a barrel in his mouth and see how tough he is then.”
Vinny is a mean motherfucker, yeah.
Teeters along the sadistic side from what I’ve heard.
But he’s no match for me.
I saw him with Natalia, witnessed how weak he was when I touched her in front of him. He cares about her, making him reckless and an easier target for me.
“Why don’t you just handle Vinny and leave the others alone?”
“That’s not my style, sweetheart.” I pull myself from my chair again and stop next to her.
She tilts her head to the side. “Do you not want a say in the wedding?”
I can’t help but scoff at her question. “I couldn’t give two fucks about our wedding. All I care about is that it happens.” I slide my hand into my pocket, grab a phone, and drop it next to her on the table. “Here’s your new phone, which you don’t deserve. It has a new number. I programmed Gigi and me as your emergency contacts.”
Before she can reply, her attention swings to the guy walking into the room.
“This is my nephew Luca,” I explain. “He’ll watch over you today. Try not to get him murdered.”
I kiss the top of her head, walk out of the room, and lick my lips.
Every part of Natalia really does taste delicious.
CHAPTER 13
NATALIA
I’m riding shotgun in Luca’s Suburban.
When we walked out of the house and to the SUV, Luca instructed me to sit in the back seat. That felt too mob boss Cristian for me, so I took the front. Luca, a tall guy who appears to be around Vinny and Benny’s age, didn’t physically remove me, like his hotheaded boss would’ve done. He must be somewhat more levelheaded than crazy Cristian.
Luca, who I’ve learned is Helena’s son, drives us to my apartment and goes inside with me. To my relief, there isn’t a raging Vinny waiting. Vinny must assume Cristian isn’t letting me out of his sight now that I’ve become a hot commodity to the psychopathic men in this city. I change my clothes and pack two suitcases, and Luca helps me put them in the back seat.
Now, it’s time to call Gigi.
Something I’ve been dreading all morning.
My new Cristian-provided phone is the latest iPhone model.
I tightly grip the phone as it rings in my ear. I don’t know how much Cristian or Benny has told her about my situation … or me possibly marrying her father.
“Hello?” Gigi answers, her voice bubbly and excited. She might be a Mafia princess, but she has the voice of a Disney princess.
“Hi,” I say, her voice putting me at ease.
“It’s about damn time you called.”
I laugh. “Your father stomped on my phone and threw it into orange juice.”
“Ugh, that sounds like him.”
I chew on my lip. “Did he tell you that …?” My voice trails off, and I wait to find out what she knows.
“That you’re marrying him?” Gigi finishes for me.
“Yeah … that.”
“He didn’t. Benny did.”
“Are you okay with that?” I gulp. “Do you think it’s weird?”
Luca snorts, providing his answer to that question, and I glare at him.
“You’re marrying him so you don’t die. I’m plenty okay with that. It’s not like you two will actually date and be intimate.” She squeals. “I’m trying to clear my schedule here to come home for the wedding.”
I’d love to see Gigi, but the only plan I want to make now is to stay alive. Unfortunately, Cristian seems to be my only savior. I’m not sure how Cristian could be referred to as a savior. The man is far from a saintly Samaritan.
He’s my monster in shiny armor.
My guardian devil.
“Let me know when,” I tell Gigi. “We’ll pick you up from the airport.”
“Who’s we?” Luca snaps.
“You and me.” I motion back and forth between him and me. “Or whichever babysitter I’m scheduled with for the day.”
Gigi tells me about Italy, rants about wanting her father to torture Vinny, and lists her plans for us when she returns home.
When I end the call, I look at Luca and say, “We need to make a quick pit stop.”
Luca shakes his head repeatedly. “Nah, I was told no pit stops.” He pushes his black Ray-Bans up the bridge of his nose.
“But—”
“No.”
“The pit stop is my father’s home. Cristian won’t mind.”
“Cristian minds anytime we don’t follow orders.”
“We’ll be ten minutes, max.”
“No.”
Groaning, I text Cristian.
Me: Tell Luca to let me stop by my dad’s house.
My phone beeps with a response minutes later.
Cristian: Is that necessary?
My father needs to know I’m getting married, for fuck’s sake.
Me: Yes! Either have Luca take me or I’ll steal another truck and go there on my own.
Luca’s phone rings, and he side-eyes me after looking at the caller’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” he answers before pausing. “Yeah, okay. Got it.” He ends the call and glances at me in annoyance. “He said you can have five minutes.”
I tighten the seat belt across my body. “I’ll take as long as I damn well please.”