Page 28 of The Runaway Bride

“Please stand.” I’m not sure whothis is, but I don’t want him on his knees in the middle of the luncheon.

“I am here after gainingpermission from the Boss. With your permission, I would like to removeFrancesca from the table and room.” I look at Francesca, who has her head downand is looking at her hands.

So, this is the soldier that thelittle bitch belongs to. “You know she has disrespected a wife?” I raise aquestioning eyebrow.

“Yes, Mrs. Vincholetti. She willbe removed from the house and the country. I will not allow any form ofdisrespect.”

Turning, I give Vin a small smirkwhile my back is turned to the man, which has Vin lift an eyebrow, but I turnback to the man with a perfectly set face. “You do know that taking a mistressis disrespecting your wife, don’t you? If Nico ever dreamed of doing that tome, I’d cut off his man parts and feed them to him in a stew specially madejust for him.”

The man swallows hard, and givesme a nod because I’m sure he dares not say another word. Vin snorts with a hintof amusement and disgust at the soldier. Tia and Lily return and take theirseats, and I see Tia is dying to know what is going on, but keeps quiet.

“You are dismissed, but deal withit.” I look at the woman who has raised her head and is looking daggers at theman. Oh, I can see she’s going to be trouble. “You cause any problems,Francesca, and I know a man who can get rid of you before you can say help.”

The man grabs Francesca’s arm andquickly drags her out of the room. I give Vin a look as he follows them out,and he nods to let me know he’ll make sure they both leave without causingtrouble.

Ollie, I can see, is doing hisbest not to laugh at the fiasco. But he is professional, so maintains hisstance, although I see his eyes twinkling.

Standing in front of everyone asthey have quietly watched the show, I take a deep breath before speaking. “Goodafternoon, everyone. In time I’m sure I will get to know you all, who you arewith, married, or other, but what I won’t put up with is disrespect to me, oranyone else.” I take another breath, and meander around the room, giving eyecontact to those that dare look me in the eye. “As the Don’s wife, I have apower of my own, which can help or hinder you. I want to make the women’s worldwithin the mafia a better place. With that in mind, I need your cooperation. Ifyou can help me that is excellent, but what you cannot do is get in my way. Ifyou do that, I’ll make sure you pay for it, and so will Nico. Do we allunderstand each other?”

A chorus of ‘Yes, Mrs.Vincholetti’ rings around the room, and satisfied, I take the time to speak toeach of the tables, and log the ones I will need to be aware of.

The door opens and Nico walksinto the meeting, striding over to me, oozing his confident charm, which Iadmit he only saves for me. Wrapping his arms around me, he kisses methoroughly before looking around the room at all the women.

Tia is giggling because she knowshow Nico is with me, and when they say newly married, I’m sure Nico is the onethat made the rules.

Nico wraps an arm around my waistand tucks me into his side before turning to the women. “Any of you causestrouble for my wife and I’ll not only make you pay, but your man, too. You havesomeone here that will help you mold your place in our world. Don’t waste thisopportunity because if I take it away, be assured you will never get it back.”

Walking out of the room, makingsure I’m not escaping him, we quickly climb into the Escalade. Tia is rushinginto the vehicle and turns to Nico, scowling at him. But Nico doesn’t care atall. He secretly likes Tia. She gives him hell at times, but he finds itamusing. Not too many people have the nerve to do it, so it’s refreshing. Well,that’s what he tells me.

Nico

The last six months have been wonderful. Everything within the family has beenquiet, with no sign of dissent.

Bruno has settled into being my Underboss as though it wasmeant to be his position all along. He and Tia are loved up and I’m happy thatthey have become a loving couple. Watching Tia, I can see she needed tobelong,and being Elli’s sister has brought that feeling for her. She quickly getsinvolved in anything she can, and she’s learned how to use a weapon, much toBruno’s dismay.

Looking at the clock in my home office, I see it’s nearlytime for our evening meal. Quickly making my way to the dining room, where Ihope my wife is already going to be.

“I’d like some peanut butter cookies.”

Yasmine is nodding her head at Elli, who is sitting at thedining table ready to eat. I walk towards her and seeing me, Elli jumps to herfeet, ready for the hug and kiss I always give her. But she sways and seeingher eyes roll back, I dash to catch her before she hits the ground.

“Get the doc here now. I’ll take her to our bedroom, buttell her to hurry,” I shout as I rush away with Elli in my arms.

Laying Elli on our bed, I push her hair gently off her face.I make a dash to the ensuite bathroom and grab a damp cloth. Wiping gently overElli’s face I murmur for her to wake up.

A gentle tap on the door before Yasmine walks inside. “Thedoctor will be here in ten minutes. She was already in the medical room,thankfully.”

The medical room is a room we altered when we purchased themansion. It’s for any of our soldiers that are based here. Of course, we wantto keep most of our medical needs away from prying eyes, and that was an easyway of doing it.

The doctor rushes into the room and gives me a respectfullook before turning to Elli. “What happened?”

Now, when I married Elli, I employed an extra doctor, afemale, because I was not having a man looking at any of my wife’s privateareas.

“Could you please wait either over there, or in the hallwayplease, Mr. Vincholetti? I only ask as I need room to move while I examine yourwife. Is it correct that she jumped up quickly from the table and fainted asYasmine stated?”

“Yes,” I respond as I step to the other side of the bed fromthe doctor, but no way am I leaving the room. Elli mumbles something and slowlyopens her eyes. I grasp hold of her hand and murmur sweet nothings to her,doing my best to let her know I’m here and she is alright.

The doctor asks Elli a lot of questions while saying, “Ah,yes, okay,” to herself more than to us. “I’d like to do a test if you would,Elli. But we’ll need to go to the bathroom. Then I’ll take a blood sample ifthat is okay, so I can quickly run some tests.”

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