Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Rosalie ignored her demand and hooks her arm in Selena’s and drags her out of Roman’s office.

Roman walked after them. “Rosalie…” I called out to her.

Rosalie paused and turned to him, he nearly flinched at the face she made when she faced him. His words were caught in his throat.

He watched as Selena fought in Rosalie’s arms, but Rosalie had a strong hold on Selena, so her fight was more comical than anything. Rosalie was tiny compared to Selena, yet she overpowered Selena.

When he didn’t say anything, she continued walking with his former mistress into the dining hall.

He and his wife hadn’t had a talk about their or rather his former lovers and if he was seeing anyone. He realized they haven’t actually sat down and spoken since they’ve wed over a month ago. 

He wanted it that way, she was supposed to be nothing but a mere tool so he could have a meeting with the elusive Nightshade. Elena, his sister-in-law, promised if he wed her sister, she would set up the meeting with Nightshade, yet a month later and he was still waiting. 

His marriage to Rosalie was a means to an end. A marriage arranged for his benefit and the Bianchi family benefit. 

Yet now watching his wife speak up his mistress. Roman’s instincts screamed at him. His instincts told him, there was more to his supposed sweet and innocent wife. Behind those sweet smiles and innocent eyes, was a darkness that called out to him. 

For the last month observed her in front of his family. She never backed down, even when his sister would try to embarrass her or his father would make a comment about her family. 

He didn’t understand how he could take the comments from his aunt about how he got the short end of the stick for marrying the ugly Bianchi. In his opinion, he got the better Bianchi. He didn’t trust Elena, he didn’t want her in his house when he was sleeping. She was vindictive and the viper was dumb enough to try and kill him in his sleep. 

He watched as each memory of his family assessed his wife, he only let their comments slide because he wanted to see how she would react. He was sure she would jump up and run away in tears, yet she took every snide remark and insult with a bright smile on her face, never once losing her temper with them. 

She quickly became accustomed to who to trust in his family and who to watch out for.

He watched her handle his uncle Salvatore, a man after his seat at the head of the table. He didn’t say much to her. But he’d watch his wife with calculating and lustful eyes. It set Roman on edge. 

Salvatore was a master strategist known for his ruthless efficiency, he knew his uncle saw her as a potential threat, a wild card that could put him once again at the back of the line. Once he and Rosalie had a son he would lose his place within the family. Roman’s father Vincenzo stepped down as Don three years due to a health scare. He stepped up in his father’s place to hold down the fort. Vincenzo didn’t trust his brother the same way Roman didn’t trust Salvatore.

Roman watched his quiet disapproval was evident in the he looked at Rosalie. Salvatore saw her silent independence, her refusal to be intimidated by his tricks. He knew he needed to keep his wife safe from his uncle and the rest of the world. His wife was his weakness. 

A way his uncle can get to him. Roman found himself admiring his wife’s resilience. 

Roman was brought out of his thoughts when Selena started moaning loudly. 

He frowned. “What the hell is going on with you?” he asked but she ignored him. 

Selena began pulling down her dress, showing she was naked underneath it.

Roman wasn’t sure what was going on with her, but when she jumped onto the table and started dancing on his dining table, he jumped into action. He got one of the staff members to bring a towel to cover Selena. 

Did she have wine? He’d known Selena to be a good drinker. 

When he made eye contact with Rosalie, he was watching Selena with interest. Something in her eyes alarmed him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something about the way her eyes sparkled at Selena told him something he didn’t understand.

“I’m going to have one of my men get her home. She’s drunk. And I a meeting in a half an hour…” he told Rosalie. 

Her eyes moved to him. She tilts her head to the side slightly. She smiles sweetly. “I’ll be in my room. Let me know if I should bring your guests anything…” she stands and walks out of the room. 

Selena was squirming in his arms. “Hot…” she moans out.

He wanted to know what the hell his wife was up to up he needed to worry about his mistress embarrassing herself.

Once he got Selena escorted out, he returned to his office. He needed to get his head screwed on straight. He needed to speak to Elena, his sister-in-law promised him a meeting with Nightshade, a skilled assassin. He wanted Nightshade on his side. He didn’t need her working with any of his enemies or worse someone who wanted him dead. He didn’t like any loose ends. It was why he was hunting her down. He believed it was a woman because women preferred poisons over men. 

Though he was starting to care for his wife, Roman couldn’t pass on his wielding such a powerful asset. Many believe the Bianchi family is aligned with the poison fairy. That was until six months ago when the entire Bianchi family was poisoned. They were rushed to the hospital. He believes Rosalie must have found her family and rushed them to the hospital; it must have scared her. She doesn’t seem like someone accustomed to death. 

He believed Elena would arrive before anyone else. And he was right because she walked right in without so much as knocking on his office door. 

She sat down, her nose high a cocky smile on her face. 

He glared at her. “Where is my meeting with Nightshade?” he asked her. 

Elena’s smile fell and she frowned. “You haven’t met her?” she asks. 

Roman frowned. “Stop messing around…” he warned. 

“Isn’t my sister lovely?” Elena asks, her cocky smile back in place. 

Roman didn’t answer her right away. Roman’s nights were filled with meticulous planning, his days a careful balance between maintaining his public image as the unyielding Don and his private observation of his own wife, while privately investigating Nightshade.

“I didn’t marry your sister because she was lovely. I married her because you demanded it. Marry, your sister and I’ll have a meeting with Nightshade. So, Elena, before I put a bullet in your head. Get me that meeting…” Roman warned. 

He thought back on his wife, every time he watched her, whether it was at mealtimes, watching her while she interacted with his staff or his family, no matter how small, it fueled his obsession, drawing him further into her orbit. He learned a lot about his wife, yet there was so much he didn’t know about her. Like why her family hid her away. Why she wasn’t good with words? Yet she was better quiet. She showed her strength in silence.

“Remember my sister is dear to me Roman. If she’s unhappy you might be Nightshade’s next target…” Elena warns. 

Roman ignored it. There was no way Nightshade could get into his compound. “If she’s so unhappy, you can have your sister back…” Roman warned her. 

For the first time Elena’s composure cracked. “I’ll get you the meeting…” she stuttered out.

Roman wondered if it was her fear of Nightshade or if there was more. He was sure there was no way she feared his wife. 

Before he could question her, his men came in and they had business to sort out.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Rosalie and the weird interaction with Selena. He’d forgotten to ask about if the chefs served something stronger than wine or champaign. He knew Rosalie didn’t drink, it was something he picked up on, on the first night. She drank water when the rest of his family was downing champaign and wine like it was their full-time job.

He’d watched her every night after that as well, she never drank any alcoholic drink. So, he had his servants serve her juice. So, she had something other than water to drink at dinner.

He was so busy thinking about Rosalie he didn’t notice what Selena was drinking. But he knew he’d need to speak to Selena. He needed to make sure she understood they were done.