Page 13 of His to Break

Vinnie

When Leo told me I could go shopping this morning, I expected him to send me off with a couple of bodyguards and a credit card. Since he took care of me in the shower last night and tucked me into bed, he hasn’t paid much attention to me. Once he’d ensured I was comfortable, he went off to his home office to work. If he joined me during the night, I didn’t notice. He certainly wasn’t lying next to me when I woke at seven-thirty this morning.

We exchanged pleasantries but said little more to each other as we enjoyed a breakfast of pastries and coffee. It wasn’t a companionable silence where two people are so at ease with each other no words need to be spoken. It was tense because neither of us seemed able to come up with anything to say to the other. If the consequences of marrying a stranger hadn’t been clear to me before, they are now.

It came as a surprise when he accompanied me down to the parking garage and ushered me into the passenger seat of a black Range Rover, before getting into the driver’s side. As we drive through the city, flanked by two SUVs filled with Leo’s men, I lean against the window, soaking in the sights.

Though my father rules over a significant part of this city, I’ve never been to New York. On the rare occasions Carlo Bianchi graced me with his odious presence, he visited me in Italy or London. I wasn’t allowed to come here in case anyone learned my true identity. My relationship with my brother has been forged entirely via video calls and brief visits when he comes to the UK on business, but somehow we’ve grown to care for each other.

“Is this Fifth Avenue?” I ask as we pass a store I’ve always wanted to visit.

Leo glances over at me, his brow furrowed. “No, Lexington. Don’t you know this part of the city?”

“I don’t know any part of it. I didn’t grow up here.”

Leo nods as he slows down to maneuver past a truck. “I know. You were living in some town outside of London, right?”

It seems he’s been doing his research. “Yes, Guildford.”

I miss it already. It’s a pretty little town with beautiful historic buildings, a far cry from the modern, bustling Big Apple. Thankfully, I visited London often, otherwise I’d find this city completely overwhelming.

“Right, but I assumed you’d spent time here.”

I shake my head. “My father preferred minimal contact. The only reason he didn’t cast me adrift when I was old enough to leave home was because he planned to use me as a bargaining tool one day.”

Really, I’m lucky to have made it to twenty-five without being bartered to some creep to seal a business deal. I’m not exactly over the hill, but from what I’ve been told, girls in our world are often married off before they can legally drink a toast at their wedding.

“Why’d he pick Umberto Gallo?”

I’d have thought that would be obvious, but I hold back on making a snarky comment. “He wanted to strengthen his ties with Chicago. Umberto’s his cousin, you know?”

“Yeah, we all know about your family’s links with those assholes.” Leo’s mouth twists in distaste.

I wonder whether he’s had a personal run-in with my Neanderthal cousins. Apparently one of them disappeared last year and rumor has it that the Volantes are responsible. I don’t dare ask Leo about that.

“But why marry the old man?” Leo asks. “He has sons.”

“He wants a couple of spares, apparently.” I pick a piece of fluff from my dress. “Besides, his sons are only twice my age. Forcing me to marry one of them wouldn’t be punishment enough.”

“Carlo hates you that much?”

“He’ll hate me even more now I’m a Volante.”

Leo casts me another glance and then nods. “Never forget who you represent. Volantes hold their heads high and take shit from no one. If anyone hassles you, I want to know about it.”

“You’re being very good to me.”

He shrugs as he puts on his blinkers and takes a left. “You’re my wife now. That matters more than your background.” He flashes me a dark look. “But let me make myself clear, principessa. If you betray me or my family, you might not live to regret it.”

Oh, good. We’re back to that aggressive tone. It seems to be Leo’s default setting.

“I won’t betray you or your family,” I assure him.

His lips press into a hard line. “We’ll see.”

I suppose it was too much to hope that he would trust me. There’s no point in making promises that I would never do anything to hurt his family because he wouldn’t believe me.

We fall silent again until the car pulls up outside a fancy-looking store on a quieter street. The façade is white and the name above the door is in gold lettering. Cassandra’s. The window display showcases a couple of beautiful gowns. It looks fancy.

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