Page 95 of Auctioned To Her Dad's Mafia Enemies

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The ballroom is as breathtaking as it was forRosita’s wedding, with chandeliers casting golden light over the polishedmarble floor, flowers tumbling over crystal vases, and candles flickeringromantically. Except, rather than my sister gliding around the dance floor inthe arms of her husband, it’s Aemelia dancing with Alexis, her hair spilledloose and lightly curled down her back, the sleeves of her dress removed toreveal thin straps that show off her radiant olive skin.

Her face is alight with happiness, her bodymoving seductively, and Alexis is enraptured as he guides her, taking his turnfor a first dance. The band plays a soft, romantic melody meant to slow theheart and heighten the moment. Alexis twirls her, dipping her low beforedrawing her back against his chest, his lips grazing her temple in a gesturethat’s both possessive and reverent. She laughs, like the soft chime of silver,her eyes glimmering in the golden glow.

I sip from a tumbler of aged whiskey, lettingthe burn settle deep in my chest as I watch my wife move between my brothers,my heart clenched in something primal and reverent. Aemelia Venturi. She’s nolonger our captive. She’s no longer a pawn. She is our queen, our mosttreasured possession, mine to protect until my dying breath.

“She’s beautiful,” Mama murmurs beside me,placing a weathered hand on my forearm. I glance at her, noting the soft smileon her lips and the approval in her deep-set eyes. I place my hand over hers,engulfing it.

“She is,” I agree, my voice thick with pride.

“And she’s yours,” she adds, squeezing my armgently. “This responsibility you’ve taken is not just a game, Luca. She’s yourfamily now. Our family. She carries the Venturi name. She will birth theVenturi legacy.”

I catch sight of Mama’s wedding band, which isstill wedged tightly onto her finger. Her marriage was the catalyst for ourexistence, and now, our marriage will bring more children to the bloodline—thenever-ending cycle of life. “I know, Mama. She’s safe with us.”

“It is not just about safety,” she says, hergaze sharp, knowing. “A woman like that needs more than protection. She needsdevotion. She needs a home. You have given her your name, but now you must giveher a life. A future.”

A future. I sip my drink, letting the weightof her words settle over me. My world has revolved around vengeance, blood, andduty for so long. But now, I have something beyond that. Aemelia is my future,our future. She is the reason I will wake up every morning with a purposebeyond the family business.

“You’re taking her away?” she asks, though shealready knows the answer.

“Tonight. We leave for the Maldives after thereception. I want her to have the honeymoon she deserves.”

My mother smiles approvingly, lifting herglass to her lips. “Good. A woman should know luxury. She should know what itmeans to be adored.”

Adored. The word perfectly fits with how I feel about Aemelia.

I turn my attention back to my wife just intime to see Antonio take her from Alexis, his hand settling on the small of herback as he leads her into a slower dance. He presses his forehead to hers,whispering something that makes her blush and smile, her fingers curling intothe lapel of his tuxedo.

A flicker of possessiveness rolls through me,but it is quickly replaced by satisfaction. We’re not like other men in ourworld. We don’t fight over our woman. We share, we protect, and we love.Together.

The night continues in a blur of laughter,wine, and celebration. Aemelia never leaves my sight, moving between me and mybrothers and greeting our guests with the grace of a queen. When the time comesto cut the cake, she looks up at me with eyes so full of light that I think Icould drown in them.

“You ready to leave after this?” I murmuragainst her ear as we make the final rounds of the evening.

She nods, her fingers tightening around mine. “Yes.Take me away from here, Luca.”

Minutes later, we slip out, escorted by ourmen through the back entrance of the grand estate. A sleek black car waits forus, its driver already at attention. Antonio and Alexis climb in behind us,their hands resting protectively on Aemelia’s knees as she leans into me,exhaustion and excitement warring in her eyes.

The drive to the private airstrip is silent,filled only with the quiet hum of the engine and the sound of our kisses as wepass Aemelia between us, hungry for our wife. Our private jet is waiting whenwe arrive, and the crew is already prepared for takeoff.

Aemelia’s breath catches as she steps onto theplane, taking in the plush leather seats, the dim golden lighting, and thebottles of champagne chilling in a crystal bucket. “This is… incredible.”

Alexis grins, pulling her onto his lap as hepours a glass. “Only the best for our wife.”

Antonio sits across from them, his gazesoftening as he watches her. “We want you to have everything you never hadbefore, Aemelia.”

I sit beside her, tilting her chin toward meso she has no choice but to meet my gaze. “From now on, you’ll never want foranything again,mi amore. The worldis yours.”

She swallows hard, her fingers tighteningaround my wrist. “I already have everything I need. I have you.”

I grip her jaw in my hand, staring into theeyes of the woman who’s found her way into my heart. “You were never meant forthis life., but you were meant for us. You’ll wear our name before the world,Aemelia Venturi. And in private, you’ll wear nothing but our marks.”

Her smile illuminates the universe.

The engines roar to life, and as the planeascends into the night, carrying us toward the sun-soaked paradise of theMaldives, I know with certainty that the war we have fought, the blood we havespilled, was all worth it because it has led to this.

To her.

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