Page 22 of Ruthless God

The Lombardi Famiglia was fucking disorganized. My men would have never been so out of control.

Finally, the sound died down as the men walked away when they realized I wasn’t going to put on a fucking show.

Fuckers.

I slowly turned and took in my wife.

She was by the window, looking out at the city. The reflection in the glass showed that lost expression on her face, and I didn’t need to be closer to see she was tense.

I fucking got it.

If I thought our side was filled with traditionalist men, it was nothing compared to the Lombardi’s side. Since I took reign, the old way had slowly been stripped away as the newer generation joined me, even if we still have some men from my father’s time.

Emilio Lombardi was known for his tight grip on traditions.

Traditions that expected the daughters to be kept in cages and be aspristineas possible until marriage.

And I didn’t fucking know what to do with a virgin.

Fuck me, but what the hell was I supposed to do with her?

7

LUNA

I could feelMassimo’s eyes on me. I didn’t dare turn around to look at him. Nerves made it hard to breathe.

I knew this was coming. It was inevitable.

That didn’t make this any easier.

Lina’s words came back to haunt me.

He’ll break you.

I tried to push it off as Lina was only saying that to mess with me. But there was a truth to her words, wasn’t there? Even if it was a tiny sliver of truth. Made men weren’t known to be gentle or careful. Not when it came to their wives.Especiallywhen it came to their wives.

Massimo De Luca would break me.

Even in the reflection of the glass, he made a formidable sight.

He was just too… much of everything.

Too big, too tall, too imposing… toogrotesque.

He came up close to me, placing two heavy hands on my shoulders. I flinched, even if I saw him coming.

“Breathe, Luna,” he said softly, his voice gruff, doing nothing to help with my nerves.

I tried. I really tried to breathe, but the air would not flow in. I turned and grabbed his forearm in a panic, and he let out a small curse, cupping my cheeks in his hands and bending close until I was staring directly into his eyes.

“Focus on me,” he commanded, his voice so strong I couldn’t help but follow. “Now breathe.”

I took in a lungful of air, feeling my chest expanding.

“Good girl,” he cooed, making something inside me settle.

I felt the relief of it so strongly I nearly collapsed against him. His hands were still touching me, the warmth of them doing something strange to my insides.

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