Page 38 of His to Wed
“So you didn’t marry me to protect me? You did it to get your hands on the money?”
“No, Emilia.” I get up and approach her slowly and cautiously, afraid she might bolt at any second. She won’t get far but I don’t want to have to punish her for trying to run from me right now. “Your grandfather chose my family to protect you and to keep the business going. I married you because I wanted to.”
“Because you wanted your sons to have wealth and influence, you mean?”
“My sons will have that no matter who their mother is.” My cellphone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it at first as I wait for Emilia to respond, but the ringing is persistent. I take out my phone and see it’s Stefan calling.Fuck!I’ve been waiting to hear from him, but his timing could not be worse. “Apologies,dolcezza. I have to take this call.”
Emilia nods and wanders back over to the window. I step out into the corridor and answer Stefan’s call.
“Were they after my wife?” I demand, by way of a greeting.
“They were,” Stefan confirms. “The guy we caught was a soldier for the Bianchis. Her uncle reached out to them.”
“Which uncle?”
We may have to eliminate them all to be sure of our hold over Conti’s empire, but the one who came after Emilia will receive special treatment before he dies.
“The asshole we caught didn’t know. Believe me, I’d have got it out of him if he did.”
Stefan’s boast is not an empty one. If the guy he questioned knew anything, he would have spilled it to our lead enforcer. He has a way of loosening even the tightest lips. I’m glad he’s on my side because the man is a savage when he steps into an interrogation room.
“Okay. Fill Antonio in.”
My oldest brother is going to be pissed that the Bianchis are involved in this. They’re cousins to the Gallos who were involvedin his shooting. The two families have been working together, trying to push their way into our territory. They want the whole of the East Coast for themselves.
“Sure thing, boss. If it eases your mind, their orders were to bring her back to Italy unharmed.”
It’s a small comfort that the intention hadn’t been to kill Emilia, but it doesn’t allay my concerns. There is no telling what would happen to her if her uncle succeeded in getting her back to Italy. With so much money at stake, familial ties count for little. If I’m going to keep my wife safe, I need to be assured of her obedience. Though she was chastened by the spanking I delivered back at the Westport house and has behaved herself since, I’m not convinced she understands that doing what I say, when I say it, is non-negotiable. I’ll need to reinforce the message. A smile curves my lips. Time to give my bride another lesson in submission.
CHAPTER 14
Emilia
Although I’ve only known Alessandro for a short time, I’m already aware of how prone he is to changes in mood. One moment he can be playful, affectionate almost, and the next he’s ready to show who’s in control. It doesn’t take much to tip him over into stern, domineering mode. When he comes back into the room after taking his phone call, it’s clear whatever news he received was unwelcome. His demeanor has changed. There’s a tautness in his broad shoulders, a hardening of his handsome features. It would be ridiculous to say there’s an intensity about him. Even in his relatively relaxed moments, Alessandro is pretty full-on. But, right now, he’s giving off the darkest, most forbidding vibe I’ve seen from him so far. It both scares and intrigues me.
“Is everything okay?” I dare to ask.
“It will be.” My husband’s tone is ominous. “As soon as you learn to submit.”
“What?”
I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve done nothing to challenge him, behaving with grace even when his brothers upset me. What more does the man want from me?
Alessandro fixes me with a harsh glare. “Strip.”
Though there’s unmistakable command in his voice, I hesitate to obey. Before we were interrupted, we were in the middle of a conversation I had hoped to continue.
“No, we’re not doing this right now. We need to talk.”
“Are you defying me, Emilia?”
His tone should be warning enough to make me do what he wants, but I’m not inclined to comply with his demands when I’m still reeling from what he told me about my grandfather’s will.
“No, but…”
Alessandro is on me in seconds. He practically flies across the room. His anger is palpable, so much so that when his hand reaches out to me, I flinch. The blow I fear doesn’t come. He’s given me no reason to think he would hit me, well, not like that, but for a moment I was unsure. He seizes my chin, fingers squeezing tightly. His touch isn’t gentle, and a whimper escapes me.
“When I give you an order,” he snarls, “I expect you to obey. Now, strip.”
