Page 28 of The Enforcer's Possession
“Of course.”He inclined his head slightly.“Enjoy your evening.”
He disappeared into the crowd.Dante stared at the box in his hand for a long moment, his jaw tight with barely controlled rage.Then, with deliberate precision, he set it on a nearby table without opening it.
“Dante --” I started.
“Not here.We’re not giving him the satisfaction of a public reaction.”
“What do you think --”
“Nothing good.”He turned to face me, his expression hard.“But it doesn’t matter.Marco can send whatever petty threats he wants.You’re mine now.Legally.Permanently.He had his chance and lost it.”
The possessiveness in his voice should have alarmed me.Instead, some traitorous part of me felt… protected.Safe.For all my concerns about Dante’s control, at least he was standing between me and Marco’s vindictiveness.
God.I was already rationalizing.Already making excuses, letting myself believe that Dante’s cage was preferable because at least the bars were prettier.
Dante leaned down, his lips brushing my ear.“Look at me.”
I did.Found his eyes dark with something that made my pulse kick up for entirely different reasons than fear.
“Marco can threaten all he wants.Can send gifts and make veiled comments and dream about what might have been.”His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb tracing my lower lip in a gesture that looked tender but felt claiming.“But you’re wearing my ring.You took my name.And tonight, you’re going to take everything else I give you.”
My breath caught.“Dante --”
“Smile for our guests, princess.”His thumb pressed slightly harder against my lip.“The real wedding begins when we’re alone.And I’m done being patient.”
The words sent ice and fire through my veins in equal measure.I felt my eyes widen, felt my breathing go shallow, felt every nerve ending I had stand at attention.
Dante’s gaze raked over me, taking in every physical response.His expression shifted to something that was pure male satisfaction.
“That’s what I thought,” he murmured.“You’re scared.Should be.But you’re also curious.Wondering what’s going to happen when I finally get you alone.”
“The contract --”
“Doesn’t protect you from me.”He released my face and took my hand instead, lacing our fingers together with a grip that was just short of painful.“It never did.You just needed to believe it did so you’d sign.”
Before I could respond -- before I could process that admission -- he was moving, pulling me with him through the crowd.Not toward Papa or the remaining guests who wanted to congratulate us.Toward the exit.
“What are you doing?”I tried to pull back.His grip tightened.
“We’re leaving.”
“Now?The reception isn’t over --”
“It is for us.”He didn’t slow down, didn’t look at the guests we were passing, just headed straight for the doors with single-minded focus.“I’ve played nice.Smiled and shook hands and made appropriate conversation.I’m done.”
“Dante, we can’t just --”
He stopped.Turned to face me.The look in his eyes made my protests die in my throat.
“I can do whatever I want, Caterina.I’m Dante De Luca.I don’t answer to your father.Don’t answer to the guests or the expectations or the social niceties.”His free hand came up to grip my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.“And right now, what I want is to take my wife home.So that’s what’s happening.”
He released my chin and continued toward the exit, towing me along.I caught a glimpse of Papa’s face as we passed -- his expression tight with disapproval but not stopping us.Saw Mama’s worried eyes.Saw Luca half rising from his seat again before Antonio’s hand on his shoulder kept him in place.
Then we were through the doors, into the hallway, Dante’s security team falling into formation around us without needing to be told.
“My things --” I managed.
“Already being sent to the penthouse.”He didn’t look back.“Everything’s been arranged.”
