Page 55 of His to Break

“Isabella? Did something happen?”

“You could say that.” Leo’s jaw twitches. I am having the worst luck finding a safe topic tonight.

“It’s a pity he won’t see how great this place looks. Emilia’s done an incredible job.”

“Yeah, she’s quite a girl.” Leo smiles fondly and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Alessandro’s a lucky guy.”

“And what about you? Are you a lucky guy?”

Desire flares in his eyes. “I guess we’ll find out later.”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and bat my eyelashes at him. “Why, Mr. Volante, I do believe you’re flirting with me.”

“No, I’m letting you know that the moment we’re alone, I’m going to bend you over and fuck you so hard you forget your own name.”

My cheeks heat and my pulse races. I’m tempted to let him drag me out of here and do exactly what he promised, but I spot his mother and Gio walking into the room. They make their way to the table where Olivia and Emilia are sitting. Matteo and Alessandro are over by the bar, talking to a couple of men I don’t recognize.

When the song ends, Leo and I go to join his family. We greet his mother and Gio and exchange compliments about our appearances. Everyone has put in a lot of effort tonight. The guys are all in tuxedos and even Leo was persuaded into a bowtie. Ava, Olivia, and I seem to have accidentally coordinated with blue gowns. Mine is the darkest shade, an inky blue that’s almost black. Emilia stands out in a white Grecian-style dress that makes her seem innocent, virginal. Considering Alessandro can’t stop touching her, I suspect she’s chosen it deliberately to drive him wild.

“I’m going to grab something stronger,” Leo says after pouring me a glass of champagne. “Gio?”

“I’ll stay here,” Gio says. “You guys will only end up talking business.”

“It’s your business too,” Leo tells him.

Gio shakes his head. “Nah, it’s really not.”

Leo’s expression conveys disappointment and resignation, but he doesn’t try to change his brother’s mind. It’s sad that Gio wants to distance himself from what the family does, but I understand where he’s coming from. There were times when I hated being a Bianchi because of my father’s crimes and I’m sure I’ll have many moments in the future when I wish the Volantes were part of a less dangerous world.

When Leo leaves, we chat about uncontroversial topics. I tell everyone about my trip to the zoo with Leo. As I’m recounting his heroic efforts to retrieve the little boy’s balloon, I notice Ava casting glances across the room. Her attention seems to go to Boris Reznov, the Bratva boss Leo introduced me to earlier. I wonder what that’s all about.

Reznov’s nephew, Piotr, stands next to him. Tall, blond, and broad-shouldered, he’s pretty to look at, but there’s a coldness about him that makes me glad I didn’t go to the Russians in search of a husband. Leo might not be the most affectionate man out there, but at least he’s passionate.

“I need to use the restroom,” Emilia says. She looks over to the bar where Alessandro and his brothers are deep in conversation.

“I’ll come with you,” I tell her.

Gio gets to his feet along with me. “I’ll stand guard. My brothers would never forgive me if something happened to you.”

I want to dismiss his fears that we’re in any danger in Emilia’s hotel, but I suspect Leo won’t be pleased that we’ve left the room unaccompanied. After all, Emilia and Olivia were attacked at a party only a few months ago.

Leo notices us as we’re walking across the room. He takes a couple of steps toward us, but Gio throws his hands up in a gesture that obviously conveys the message he can handle ensuring we get to the bathroom in one piece and Leo backs off.

“Surprised he fucking trusted me,” Gio grumbles.

“Of course he trusts you,” Emilia soothes. “He knows you looked out for me the night my uncle tried to have me abducted.”

Gio doesn’t respond. He walks ahead of us across the reception area, every muscle in his body tense, signaling he’s on high alert. When we reach the restrooms, he comes in with us and checks the stalls. Satisfied there aren’t kidnappers lurking behind the toilet cisterns, he goes to wait for us outside. Emilia rolls her eyes like she thinks it’s overkill, but where she grew up naïve to her status as a mafia princess, I’ve been fully aware my entire life that being part of a mob family comes with some risks.

While Emilia pops into one of the cubicles, I go to the mirror to check that my makeup still looks okay. I refresh my lipstick, Scarlet Seduction, and then run my fingers through my hair.

“You look amazing,” Emilia assures me as she joins me at the sink to wash her hands.

“So do you.” My sister-in-law is a real beauty. As she holds her hands under the drier, curiosity gets the better of me. “What’s the deal with Ava and that Reznov guy?”

A huge grin spreads across Emilia’s face. “You noticed it too? I thought I was imagining things.”

“No, she was definitely checking him out.”

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