Two Dangerous Men

“Where have you been, Luca?”

I immediately stepped aside to let my so-called soon-to-be husband into the house.

Luca walked past me without answering.

“Watch your tone with me,” he said sternly, heading toward the stairs.

I clenched my jaw.

“I’m going to be your wife. I should at least know where you’ve been all night.”

He stopped halfway up the stairs.

“I’ve been handling the dirty work.”

I almost laughed.

“Oh, please, Luca. I know you’ve been fucking other women all night.”

His face changed instantly. The lazy amusement disappeared.

I barely had time to breathe before he turned around and came back down the stairs.

He took a step towards me, then another.

Every instinct in me screamed to move, but I refused to give him the satisfaction.

That was until he stopped directly in front of me.

I took one cautious step backward.

Then another until my back hit the wall.

Luca planted one hand beside my head and leaned closer.

His breath smelled like alcohol. I could also perceive the lingering scent of a woman.

“Listen carefully, Sofia,” he said, his voice frighteningly calm. “Do not mistake that ring on your finger for permission to question me.”

My stomach tightened.

“This marriage is a contract. Nothing more.”

His gaze hardened.

“But we can….”

“You don't get to demand my whereabouts. You don't get to interrogate me. And you certainly don't forget who you're talking to.” He cut me off .

“Watch that tone next time, and don’t forget whose family you are from,” he added as he stepped away from me. I released a breath.

I hated him, he always makes me feel so small.

“I don't want you bringing home an STD,” I muttered. “It's not like I care what you do.”

Luca chuckled.

Not because anything was funny. Because apparently my words were beneath him.

His eyes moved over me with a look that made my skin crawl.

Then his gaze stopped at my neck. He stared at it.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Shit.

Enzo.

Had I missed something? Didn’t I cover the marks properly?

Has Luca seen the marks?

I instinctively touched my neck.

Luca's eyes narrowed.

“Where's Enzo?”

My blood ran cold.

“Why did you send him to keep me company?” I asked quickly. “I'm not a child, Luca.”

“Of course you're not.”

His gaze lingered on me again.

I hated him.

I hated the way he looked at me.

“Where is Enzo?” he demanded again.

My pulse jumped.

Oh, God!.

He knew.

“Luca.” Enzo answered from behind me.

I turned around.

He looked completely composed.

Not a trace of last night's showed on his face.

Anyone looking at him would have thought nothing had happened.

Luca looked toward him.

“Your team has a game tomorrow against the Chicago Bulls.”

“Yeah.”

“Damn it. Why didn't you tell me?”

Luca's irritation shifted from me to his cousin.

“I would've sent one of my men to watch over Sofia instead.”

Enzo's eyes flicked toward me.

Only for a second.

Then they returned to Luca.

“It's fine. I'm leaving for Chicago by noon.”

Luca sighed.

“I would've loved to watch you play, but I've got a billion-dollar company to run.”

Then he looked at me.

An idea seemed to occur to him.

“So my wife will go to my place.”

My head snapped toward him.

“The fuck?” Enzo muttered.

Luca's eyes narrowed slightly.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Enzo said.

I stared between them. Luca folded his arms.

“You're going to Chicago with Enzo.”

“No.”

The answer came out before I could stop it.

Luca's gaze snapped toward me.

I swallowed.

“Why not?” he asked.

Because being alone with Enzo was the last thing I needed.

Because I knew exactly what happened when we were left in the same room.

“I can watch him play on TV,” I said instead.

Enzo's head turned toward me.

His eyes warned me not to say another word.

Luca smiled. The fuck is he smiling for?

“Problem solved.” It’s better if you see it live.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Familiarize yourself with your sister-in-law.”

I noticed how Enzo's jaw tightened.

“She doesn't need to familiarize herself with me.”

Luca raised an eyebrow.

Then Enzo made the mistake of speaking again.

“We already did that last night.”

My heart stopped.

Luca's expression changed.

For one terrifying second, I thought the room had gone completely silent.

Then Enzo calmly added, “She was waiting for you when I came. We talked for a while.”

He told the lie so smoothly I almost believed it myself.

Luca studied his cousin for a while.

Enzo stared right back at him. This is awkward.

Two Verdi men.

Two dangerous men.

Finally, Luca looked away.

“Alright.”

He walked towards the stairs.

“I'll freshen up.” “Sofia, bring your ass up here. Let me eat your pussy before you leave,” Luca yelled.

My cheeks heated in embarrassment. Why would he say that in front of his cousin?

“You are disgusting, Enzo yelled after him. I heard Luca laugh before he disappeared upstairs.

“I won’t let him touch me with that contaminated tongue of his, I murmured to myself. I glanced at Enzo, and he was already staring at me with anger and irritation.

His eyes practically screamed murder.

“What?”

His jaw flexed.

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

He stepped closer. body instinctively went rigid.

“Whatever game you're playing, Sofia, stop.” He whispered. 

“I'm going to Chicago with you.”

His expression hardened even more.

“Exactly.”

He walked past me without another word.

I watched him disappear down the hallway.

Jeez.

He hated me.

At least, that was what he wanted me to believe.

Because Luca had just handed me a ticket to Chicago with the one man I was never supposed to want.

And somehow, I had a feeling Chicago was going to make everything much worse.