Page 20 of Deadly Vows

Being Luca’s wife means attending important dinners with him. Not only is he in line to take over his father’s empire, but he also gets to know potential clients for that day. Luca hasn’t told me much about the man he is going to meet this afternoon, but he seems strangely excited about the dinner. So I can only assume it is someone important, especially if he is inviting the man to our home.

Luca enters the room just as I finish zipping the dress I decided to wear tonight. His head is down as he fixes the cuffs on his suit. He’s a very handsome man, a fact I’ve acknowledged from the day we met. But the wickedness that follows him is something else entirely. As if sensing my gaze, he lifts his own, our eyes meeting. Luca smiles as he pulls his jacket from where it hangs on the hooks, approaching me.

“You look beautiful, Elise,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Damn, if I’m not the luckiest bastard in the world.” His lips press against my throat as he continues to eye me in the mirror before hovering near my ear.

“I wish I had time to show you how lucky I feel.” He accompanies his words with a wink before turning away from me to mess with his hair in the mirror.

“I got a call from the director. He has a few more auditions tomorrow, but he thinks you’ll be up for first chair,” he says.

My heart beats faster in excitement. I didn’t think Luca meant it when he mentioned getting me an audition. But he actuallydid what he said he would, and I did very well at my audition. But I can’t tell Luca how excited I am about the news. He would just use it against me. So I nod, returning to fumbling with the remaining ties of the loose dress I’ve been forced to wear. More anger washes over me as Luca continues to ready himself for dinner. He doesn’t have to worry about wearing proper clothing that doesn’t rub against his skin like I do.

He lives without care or regret.

“I want you to be on your best behavior tonight. Our guest is very important. I would hate to embarrass you in front of him because you pull something like you did at the restaurant,” he says.

“Okay,” I say softly.

Luca is behind me, gripping my jaw tightly. He watches me in the mirror, his eyes holding unsung promises.

“I mean it, Elise. Don’t push me.”

Chapter Nine

Elise

I stand on the left side of the table awaiting Luca’s arrival. Luca’s right-hand man, Romelo, stands behind the table, and Luca’s other man, Nicolai, stands by the door. I recognize Romelo from my wedding weekend. He notified Luca of family business and wedding affairs, and was also present during my father’s murder. Nicolai, however, I only saw for the first time the day of my father’s death. I recognize him because of his brilliantly blue eyes and pale blonde hair. He doesn’t seem like a man who would be caught up in our world, but I am sure he was born into it, as are all of us.

I make sure to plaster on a smile as the muffled sound of Luca speaking fills the air. Luca rounds the corner with a chilling expression as he looks at me.

“I’m sure you two need no introduction,” he says, gesturing to me.

My stomach drops, my smile falling from my lips as Grigori rounds the corner with Luca, a stoic expression on his face. Heshifts his eyes to me but doesn’t react outside of narrowing his gaze. My mouth suddenly feels dry as Luca gestures for Grigori to sit, pulling my chair out for me.

“Best behavior, Elise,” Luca emphasizes his threat by pushing a loose curl out of my face, reminding me of just how far he’ll go to get my obedience. I shudder, forcing myself to take a seat, ignoring the scowling man who was once my father’s right hand.

“Grigori, I am happy you agreed to my invitation. I told Elise just the other day that I was looking to appoint someone as the new head. And who better than the man who served her father even in his final days? I’m sure you tried to convince him of the futility of his plan, right?” he asks.

Grigori continues to look at me as he speaks. “No. I believed in him and his plans. We all did.”

Luca chuckles, bringing the drink poured for him to his lips.

“All of you? You mean, everyone in the Trovoli family?” he asks.

Grigori nods.

Luca continues to eye him before leaning back in his seat with a terrifying, “Hm.”

The staff decides to enter the room with plates, setting the table, but Grigori doesn’t look away from me. I’ve never liked Grigori. He was terrifying in my eyes. He always followed my father’s orders regardless of the wickedness behind them, and to my own detriment. I am sure Grigori always saw me as a hindrance to my father’s role in our family. I don’t think Luca invited him here to speak with him about taking over. I think Luca invited him here to give him his last meal and possibly squeeze some information out of him while doing so.

No matter his motivations, I am sure Grigori isn’t leaving here alive.

“So what have you truly brought me here for, boy? I am sure you didn’t do it to be kind,” he says.

“I told you, I wanted to give you an opportunity to pledge your loyalty elsewhere. Otherwise, I won’t be able to allow you to live. And since you’ve shot your mouth off about the rest of your clan, I won’t be able to let them live as well,” Luca says.

Grigori releases a bitter chuckle, eyeing me.

“But you’ll let Eli’s flesh and blood live? You’ll allow her a place at your table, by your side, although—”

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