Chapter 6

ALINA

“I'm the one who packed your bags.” Mother said. 

My tears dried up at once. Why would she do that to me? “I didn't agree to move in with Luca, Mother.” 

She shook her head, smiling sadly. “In the Mafia, it doesn't matter, Alina. You will obey Luca. Whatever he says is the law to you.” 

“But I have so much to do here. I must organize my father's estate. The men are already feeling restless for some direction.” 

“The men will not listen to you, Alina. Not without Luca backing you. And Luca will not back you if you do not obey him. Don't you understand? He owns you now.” 

I backed away from my mother, lifted my wedding dress and ran away. Her words “he owns you now” went around and around my head. 

I hadn't thought this far ahead. I really hadn't expected any of this. My idea of it had been that with Luca’s name, no one would dare command me around. 

But now, it seemed Luca would be giving all the commands. I need to find Pietro. If I am moving into Luca’s mansion, then he is going with me. 

I don't trust Luca completely. 

I find Luca by his car, talking to Marco. They stopped talking immediately I reached them. I nodded at Marco in greeting. 

“I'll move into the house today, but if I do, Pietro goes with me.” 

Luca ignored me, talking to Marco who looked from me to Luca, then back at me. 

“Luca?” I asked sharply. I knew damned well he had heard me. How were we going to stay married if he was going to be treating me this way? 

His jaw tightened, and he turned to me finally. “Sunshine, you didn't have a choice in the matter.” He said smoothly, smiling at me like I was a fly disturbing his afternoon tea. 

“Luca, this marriage is a marriage of convenience, you have no right to command me or control me. I will do as I want.” 

Luca smiled, though his eyes stayed dark like the devil's. “Let's not have a fight on our wedding day, eh. You're mine, Alina. You will be mine forever. We will have many more days to fight. What do you say?” 

I stepped up to him, grinning when his eyes widened for a second. I tilted my head up, biting my lip gently. I felt my stomach twist when his eyes dropped to my lips and Marco stepped away from us. “I ask nicely again, my husband. Can Pietro move in with me because I swear to you, if he doesn't, I will not be going anywhere with you.” 

Luca's fingers pressed under my jaw, and he lifted my face to his. He pressed his lips against mine, his tongue snaking out to suck at me gently. He hissed against my lips. “Who is Pietro?” 

I closed my eyes, and sniffed the air. It smelled like Luca. It made me all hot and heady. “My father's second in command. He has always lived with us.” 

Luca backed away suddenly. “What? Do you think I'll stab you while you sleep tonight?” 

I missed his heat against my skin, his tough hands on my skin. I looked away. Marco was staring down at his phone, typing rapidly, the air was still. Nothing bad changed in the world but I felt like my own world had changed. “No. But I'll feel better if he's there.” 

Luca opened his car door. He slid into the car and called for Marco. After a minute, he looked up at me. His brown eyes were the exact shade of honey under the sun. “Fine. But only because you asked nicely. I'll see you tonight at home. Wear something beautiful to receive me.” 

Marco stepped into the front seat and they drove away. I watched him go, my heart banging against my chest. I couldn't pretend that I didn't know what he meant. 

He was going to sleep with me that night. And I didn't blame him, after all that was our wedding night. 

The only problem was that I didn't know anything about a wedding night. I had never had sex. Not that I was keeping my virginity for my husband, but I just hadn't found anyone I liked enough to share it with. 

And I didn't think that person was Luca. 

I stumbled away from the driveway and walked into the house straight to my room. Luca had asked me to wear something sexy, I didn't have anything like that. 

My room was empty when I walked in. I stood for a moment at the door, completely shocked. Pietro found me there, standing by the door. 

“What happened to my room?” I asked him, barely able to look at his face. How was it possible for it to be completely cleared out? It looked like whoever had done it wanted to clear my entire existence from the house. 

Pietro cleared his throat. “Your mother had it cleared while you were at the wedding. I have your bags in the limousine. We can leave when you're ready.” 

I fisted her hands at my sides. I felt like my head would explode at any moment from the anger boiling in my chest. My mother had no right. “Why is my room cleared?” 

“She’s moved your things to a smaller room down the hallway.” 

I banged the door closed, moving away from Pietro, when his hands held me back. “Leave me.” I snapped at him. 

“We need to leave. You cannot make your mother angry at you. You'll need her to keep track of what happens here.” 

I shook his hand away, breathed in and out for a few seconds to get myself under control, then nodded. Pietro was right. “Bring the car. We will leave now.” 

By the time I left my father's house, all the guests had gone. Valentina had returned to her husband's house and Adriano to boarding school. 

The closer we got to Luca's estate, the more my stomach coiled in fear. I was worried. I didn't know how to please a man in bed and Luca seemed like a man with a world of experience. 

After going through all my clothes, I decided I would sleep naked under the bed. He would just have to understand that my skin was the most beautiful thing I could wear.