Page 27 of His to Break

Vinnie gasps. “Did he kill her?”

I shake my head. “He fucking should have, but he showed mercy and banished her instead.”

Thankfully, Vinnie decides not to probe any further. My feelings about my sister-in-law’s punishment are conflicting. Some days, I want to drive out to the beach house and shoot Isabella in the face. Other days I remember the girl from Matteo’s class who was always hanging around us and I want to understand why she let our enemies into her home so they could shoot my brother.

“So, can John handle cooking for eight?”

“No. He’s not really a cook. He’s just been filling in. My housekeeper moved to be close to her sick father. I haven’t replaced her yet.” Louisa was with me for years and we’d got used to each other. The thought of hiring someone new doesn’t excite me. Perhaps I can ask Vinnie to handle it. “Don’t worry about the food. I’ll organize something.”

“Okay, thanks.” Vinnie sips her champagne. We don’t talk for a minute and then she grins. “Want to dance?”

I look around the room. Although there’s enough space between tables, there isn’t a dance floor.

“I mean down there.” Vinnie gestures toward the stairs leading down to the main area of the club. “Where all the fun kids are.”

Though I can see how eager she is, I shake my head. “I can’t keep you safe in that crowd.”

Her face falls and I feel like a total shit. I heave a sigh as I realize it’s going to be hard to deny this woman anything. How the hell has she burrowed under my skin so quickly?

“Okay, we’ll dance, but stick close to me at all times and if I say we need to move, you don’t question it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vinnie’s being sassy, but when she calls me sir, my cock sits up and takes notice. In return for taking her out tonight, she promised to submit to me. I will definitely take full advantage of that. For now, however, I have to put aside thoughts of making her kneel before me. We’re in a public place, on enemy territory, and I can’t let my desire for my wife distract me.

Setting my champagne glass down, I get up and offer Vinnie my hand. She takes it, entwining her fingers with mine. I lead her downstairs onto the dance floor. It’s way too crowded for my liking, but Vinnie couldn’t care less about the crush. She lifts her arms and starts wiggling her hips.

It takes an immense effort not to laugh at her. As she shakes her ass, apparently to some tune in her head and not the one that’s playing, there’s no hint of the grace she usually carries herself with. She flings herself around the floor, her enthusiasm making up for what she’s lacking in finesse. She crashes into a short, dark-haired man who turns to yell at her, but instantly accepts her apology when he sees me glowering at him.

I wrap my arms around Vinnie’s waist and pull her flush against my body. We move as one to the pounding beat of the music.

“That’s better,” I murmur.

Vinnie tips her head back to glare at me. “Are you saying I can’t dance?”

“I’ve seen giraffes with better moves.”

“Oh, really?”

Vinnie pouts adorably. I hold her tighter as she tries to wriggle out of my grasp. I relax when I realize she’s just trying to turn within my embrace. Pressing her back against me, she wriggles her hips, brushing against my cock. It seems my woman has some moves, after all.

As we dance, I sense a shift in the atmosphere. Tension ripples through the air around us. Over the years, I’ve become attuned to danger. I turn and come face to face with Daniele Bianchi.

He doesn’t bear much of a resemblance to his younger sister. His hair is light brown, and his eyes are hazel. He’s obviously Carlo Bianchi’s son. Vinnie must take after their mother. Daniele looks pissed, but when Vinnie sees him, she launches herself straight into his arms. His facial expression softens fractionally as he pats her back and pushes her gently away from him. He’s no doubt aware that we’re attracting attention. Men like us are careful not to reveal our attachments to others. It puts them at risk.

“You need to come with me.” He moves his jacket to the side, just enough for me to glimpse the gun in his underarm holster. I’m not armed, but I could punch him in the face and relieve him of his weapon before he knows what’s happening. He’s tall and muscular, but he’s never really got his hands dirty, not like me.

With Vinnie next to me, I refrain from unleashing my violent side. I don’t want her to see it, ever. I can’t let her be tainted by the darker parts of our world.

“Lead the way.”

Wrapping my arm around Vinnie’s waist, I hug her to my side as we follow Daniele back up to the VIP section. We pass a couple of my men who’re here in case I need backup and I shake my head to let them know they’re not required.

Daniele leads us through a door at the back of the room and along a darkened corridor. We enter a sparsely decorated office, and he takes up position behind a wooden desk. I don’t know if he’s putting space between us to feel safer or if he’s trying to make himself more powerful by emphasizing this is his domain.

“You need to take my sister and get the fuck out of here.”

“Daniele!” Hurt leaches from Vinnie’s voice. “I haven’t seen you for months.”

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