Chapter 5

ROMANO'S P.O.V.

I have met a fair share of women in my life.

At the age of thirty-three, I was already weary of them. They all wanted the same thing, love, affection, and all that romantic büllshīt I couldn't give.

I've never believed in coincidence or fate, but what happened today seems like such.

Calista Vitale.

The very surname I've hated my whole life. And worse, she was the bride of Matteo Orsini, the other name I hate as much as Vitale.

I saw her walk into my bar in the early hours of this morning, looking every bit of the angel she is. Pale skin, silky mahogany hair that cascaded over her shoulders and stunning blue gray eyes that gleamed of innocence. The kind I was supposed to keep my tainted hands from.

I watched her half an hour and I could tell something was off with the way she drowned the alcohol. It wasn't my nature to pry into the lives of strangers, no matter how breathtakingly beautiful they were. I was Romano Cappellucci, the aloof businessman or mafia boss, whichever you will.

My initial reaction would have been to ignore her, but there was something about Calista that pulled me like a sailor to a siren's call.

Beautiful, enchanting, disasterous.

I've seen cute women, pretty women, beautiful women. But there was beautiful, and there was her, I couldn't resist Calista, and the minute I knew who she was. It was it.

A long sigh worked its way out of my throat; I tried to focus on the road rather than the woman sitting beside me. Her soft floral scent, her short, cute sighs.

If this were a real marriage...there were so many ways I would have marked her, made her mine and mine alone. Starting with exploring the lushness of her lips and the sweet taste I can't get out of my fucking mind.

“Dammit.” I cursed, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. I shouldn't be thinking about her like this, I shouldn't be thinking about her at all. Calista is a means to an end. A way for me to move Matteo in his face.

I only married her to use her

“Is something wrong?” her concerned voice plucked me away from my troubled thoughts.

“No,” I replied softly, which was a stark contrast to my personality. I was standoffish and blunt. Romano Cappellucci never spoke softly, unless it involved his wife.

I have a wife

Despite myself, I almost laughed. My Nonna has been on my neck for years, begging—demanding that I get married soon, and while I loved my grandmother and would do anything for her, I never indulged the thought.

But seeing that opportunity this morning, the bride of my long-time enemy and daughter of Chicago's mob enemy. It was the perfect convenience.

“You seem tensed,” she said. My focus was on the road, but I could feel her stare burning through me.

“It's nothing.” I took a bend, my eyes briefly snapped towards her and my breath caught in my throat. What is it about this woman that makes her look so damm enthralling each time I look at her?

“Callie.” her nickname rolled out of my tongue before I could stop myself. She let out a soft gasp, and I swear it took all my self-control, and then some, to not park my car in the middle of the road and kiss her senseless.

This isn't good. I have never met a woman who made me almost lose my composure, and I've known Callie for less than twenty-four hours. I prided myself on being a man who was not carried away by women, and I wouldn't change that.

Nothing would change that.

“Remember what this is,” I said, my voice even; my mind was anything but. That small sound from Calista made me feel hot for no reason, it wasn't even a physical touch.

“This is a marriage of convenience. So do not expect fancy dates or sweet nothings. I do not indulge in useless romantic activities.” I needed to set out boundaries clearly, for both our good.

Calista's eyes narrowed to slits. “Of course. How could I forget when you made it very clear, Romano” she threw me a small tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.

She had fire in her. And I shouldn't have liked that as much as I did.

“Roman” I supplied. “Call me Roman”

Her eyes widened but she said nothing else and I continued.

“You'll have you room and I'll have mine. I know I said we would have no romantic relationship, but if you're ever in need of the physical ones, feel free to seek me out”

Calista's expression morphed from shock to astonishment and then into indignation.

“I will not come to you for anything!” she snapped. Her blue-gray eyes came ablaze with anger. “Be rest assured that I expect nothing from you except your protection.”

I smirked at her spirit. I suddenly wanted to strip all her layers till she laid bare before me. An image popped into my mind about stripping her literally, but I quickly shoved it in a box.

“So women say. But by the time you come begging for my cock, I will remind you of this.” I was pushing us both, there was no way this would end well. The rational thing would be to keep her safe while I fabricated my plans, but a little teasing wouldn't hurt. Right?

Calista shook her head; her nails dugged into her palm in suppressed annoyance. “You would be the one begging for a taste of me first.”

My lips twitched into a wicked, dark smile. She said it with such self-assuredness I was suddenly ready to take her up on a challenge.

“How about a bet?” I proposed as I took another turn. We were in Chicago now.

“A bet,” she repeated, looking uncertain. Calista reached out a pulled her hair out of her face. My eyes zeroed in on it. I could imagine those slender fingers wrapped around my...

“What kind of bet?” she sat up, getting more interested.

I tried to focus on what we were talking about “Instead of different rooms, we'll share a room. And the first person to lose their cool and make a move loses the bet.” it was a stupid idea, something that would benefit us in no way, but I couldn't help it back down. I blame it on my competitive spirit.

“And is there a time frame for this bet?”

“A month.” I could keep to myself for a month. A month was good.

Calista mulled over it for a moment. “And if neither of us loses?”

“Then you win. You can move out, and I’ll never bother you again.” I glanced at her, letting my next words drip very low. “But if I win, you’ll give me anything I want.”

She lifted her chin high in defiance “And if I win, you'll give me anything I want.”

This was not a good idea, but I found my self chucking dryly. “Deal”

My car screeched to a halt in front of my Villa and Calista's streched out a delicate hand. “Deal”

I took her hand, and a bolt of heat shot through me. Her pulse thrummed against my skin, steady and intoxicating.

For the very first time in years, I doubted myself.

One month.

That’s all it would take for her to fail. I could keep to myself for one month.

“Deal,” I murmured.

Her lips curved in the faintest smile. “Deal.”

And as her hand slipped from mine, my body instantly warmed.

Revenge was supposed to be cold, but few hours meeting Calista, and she was already making me burn