Chapter 4

CALISTA

Trepidation made my insides churn as Romans drove us in his Lamborghini back to Evanston, followed by some of his men. I didn't know what his plan was, but my gut told me it was no good.

I glanced at the man beside me. Romano. It felt surreal to think that he was my husband when I knew nothing but his infamous reputation and his name. A strange feeling tightened my chest, but I reminded myself that this was the only way for me to escape Matteo. After shooting him, he would have made my life hell. I couldn't run away. I had tried it before, but I was found, and the days that followed after I ran were a living nightmare.

I took a deep breath to calm my nervousness. It was almost noon, Matteo would be going half mad trying to find me, and me and my stepmother would be happy with me being away.

I knew they couldn't hurt me now that I was Mrs Cappellucci; there were laws guiding the mafia, and our Cost Nostra was a thing to be honored, but I was scared regardless. However, the presence of Roman provided a comfort that dulled some of my fear. I knew he would never let them hurt me again; I didn't know why I was so certain; I just was.

“He can't hurt you,” Roman said without looking up away taking his eyes off the road. My cheeks flamed and I instantly turned my eyes away, embarrassed to be caught staring at him.

“Look at me.” Roman requested in a soft voice one would use on a child. And this is the man whom they said was the devil's recanted? A small smile touched his lips “Are you afraid?”

“No. Yes.” I said in a rush. Roman took one hand off the steering wheel and squeezed my thigh.

“You are now my wife, Callie. He should be scared of you.”

Butterflies erupted in my stomach. A whole swarm of them.

“Callie?”

“Yes.” the smile remained on Romans's lips. “It suits you.” his gaze lingered, and my heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I thought I felt a connection tug between us. I instantly wanted his lips on mine again, his taste was imprinted on my mind. Those whiskey eyes stole the breath away from me. I wanted...him.

“I like it. Callie.” I said evenly and turned away. I couldn't let myself start appreciating his handsome, flawless features and poise that oozed masculine strength and confidence. It was too risky. Roman had made it clear that this was a marriage of convenience; we were to have no personal interest in one another until we figured things out. Not to mention that I still didn't know what he stood to gain from marrying me.

“We're here.” Romans's voice sounded different, more clipped than it had just been. My hands turned clammy as I beheld the manor I had grown up in, the home of the Vitale, which was supposed to be Matteo's by reason of our marriage. The black gates opened automatically, no doubt the men on security duties would have alerted Matteo of our presence.

Roman's Lamborghini screeched to a halt, and beside us were five other cars with soldiers. My heart twisted in my chest as I took in the sight of the Vitale Manor, dull unadorned walls with dry vines snaking up the sides. The inside was as gloomy as the outside. Roman got out of his car with the lethal grace of a panther. There wasn't the faintest fear of being in the enemy territory.

“Mrs Calista Cappellucci.” he offered me his arm when he opened my side of the door. Behind us, his men stood firmly. Their hands placed in thier holster which no doubt, held their guns and weapons.

I took Roman's -my husband's hand. He smiled at me, his amber eyes twinkled and he ran a hand over my hair.

“Umm... Roman ” my voice carried a note of urgency when I noticed Vitale soldiers closing in on us. Roman smirked, aware of them too.

“It's alright, Callie.”

I knew Roman was a feared mafia lord, but I was still apprehensive. Once all the members of the Evanston mob family heard that the Roman was in the Vitale Manor, we would be outnumbered, not to mention...

“What. The. Actual. Fūck?” Matteo's icy voice thundered as he stormed out from the manor doors. His jade eyes as icy as the Arctic. His eyes danced from Roman, who wore a smug smile, to the soldiers behind us, then to me.

“Calista,” Matteo drawled my name with such venom that it had me shifting closer to Roman. There was a bandage around his arm where I had shot him, but otherwise, he was fine.

Roman clicked his teeth, his expression that of utter calm, even though there was a figurative ticking bomb waiting to explode. “If it isn't the Orsini boy.”

Roman kept calling him a ‘Boy’ when Matteo was twenty-eight years old. I guessed it wasn't about age but more about a long-term feud. From where I stood, I could see Matteo's jaw clench in anger. He stepped forward, the soldier behind us all pulled out their guns, and so did Matteo's.

Tension cracked the air, and a beat passed, but neither man did anything but size the other up.

“What are you doing with him? We've been looking for you since....last night.” Matteo said the word ‘him’ with distaste.

Roman placed his hand on the small of my back. Very low, suggestively low. Despite myself, my body tightened to Roman's touch. Matteo's eyes widened, both out of shock and out of fury. He stepped forward, Roman's man inched forward.

“I'd suggest you refrain from what you're planning to do Orsini.” The calmness with which Roman spoke was something to be studied.

“Calista. Come here.” Matteo ordered. Roman's hold on me tightened. Red-hot rage slashed over his face. Although his body was perfectly calm, when he spoke his voice sounded low and utterly deadly.

“Be careful how you speak to my wife.”

I could have sworn Matteo froze into concrete, “Wife? What are you talking about? Calista is my...” Matteo abruptly shut up when he noticed my white dress and the rings on our fingers.

“You married him.”

It wasn't a question, but I answered anyway, tilting my chin up despite the anxiety eating my insides. “Yes. I married him.”

Matteo breathed like an enraged bull “Calista. He's not the man you think he is. Whatever lies he told you...”

“He didn't tell me any lies.” I deadpanned. “And he certainly didn't sleep with my stepmother a night to our wedding.” One of the Roman's whistled, the rest let out a small cackle

Roman's eyes glinted with pride as he glanced at me. “That reminds me, the stepmother. Bring her out.”

I arched a brow at Roman, silently questioning him. He only gave me a small smile before one of the Vitale soldiers led Maria outside. My anger flared when she came out, shivering like a wet bird. Roman tilted his head at one of his soldiers, who brought out scissors from his coat. I barely had time to make sense of the situation before he handed it to Maria.

“Cut your hair. Down to the scalp.” Roman ordered.

Maria, Matteo, and I stiffened. Shock, anger, and surprise on our respective faces

“I would have blown your brains out, but I'm afraid my wife wouldn't appreciate such violence on our wedding day.

Roman yawned when Maria didn't make a move

“As you know, I am a very busy man. I do not have time to waste. Besides..” he cast a loving look at me that would have fooled anyone. “I just married this devastatingly beautiful woman here, and there are other things I'd rather be doing.”

Matteo's jaw hardened so much, it could have cracked. Heat polled in my stomach and settled in my thighs, if only it were true. Romans hands on my body. His mouth on mine. Tangled limbs and breathless pleas. I shuddered. For a split second, Roman's eyes darkened at the corners, like he had been thinking the same dirty things too.

Maria began crying when the blond soldier from the bar took the scissors and cut her hair. “Matteo, stop them,” she begged. But neither he nor any of the Vitale soldiers moved a muscle; they were all too scared of Roman. When the blond man finished, Maria looked hideous. Her brown hair was cut short to her scalp, and she looked older than her thirty-nine years.

“We're done here,” Roman said curtly, but Matteo stopped him.

“It's because of Valentina, right? That's why you stole my Bride. ”

Roman stilled, his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “Do not fūcking talk about her,” he growled. Matteo had the good sense to remain quiet, but I didn't miss the way they held eye contact longer like there was more they'd want to say but couldn't. Matteo took a step back, he couldn't fight Roman. The Capo of Chicago outfit was the most powerful man in Illinois. With his power, influence, and connections, nobody dared him.

Roman hissed and led us to his car. He drive off, leaving an ego-bruised Matteo and an embarrassed-nearly-bald Maria behind.

Roman's calm facade had slipped, replaced by a tension that wasn't there before. I was supposed to bask in happiness over the revenge he had taken for me. But I couldn't stop thinking about who Valentina was and her connection to Matteo.

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