Page 68 of Bound in Vengeance
I stride down to the lower level and into my private study, immediately calling an urgent emergency meeting with Valerio and my most trusted men. Within ten minutes, the room is thick with tension and the scent of bitter espresso.
We immediately dive into the wreckage of the afternoon. We discuss the details of the federal arrest, breaking down exactly how the authorities knew where to look. We analyze the ruined shipment and the specific trail of police evidence. It becomes glaringly obvious that Luca didn't just leak information; he handled the logistics personally to ensure the feds had enough to put me away for life.
"And where is the bastard now?" I bark, slamming my palm onto the mahogany desk.
Valerio looks up, his expression dark. "He vanished the second the alarms went off at the Caruso property. He didn't return to his apartment, his known safehouses are completely dark, and his phone is disconnected."
I lean forward, my jaw clenched so tightly it aches. "Luca's disappearance confirms everything. He knew exactly what he was doing. There is only one option left for us now. We hunt him down. Find him, bring him to me so I can look him in the eye, and be prepared to kill him the second the meeting turns violent. I want his head on a spike for what he pulled on my wedding day."
Valerio nods, already pulling out his phone to coordinate the trackers. "We have men watching the docks, the airports, and every border exit."
But as the hours begin to tick by, the reports come back entirely empty. Luca is nowhere to be found. The bastard has completely vanished into thin air, leaving me with a ghost to hunt down and a dangerous war brewing right inside my own territory.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SIENNA
It’s been an hour since Alessandro walked out, and I’m still seated on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the dark silk sheets, the reality of my new existence sinking in. I protected him. I lied to the federal government for him. But as the adrenaline fades, the cold weight of resentment returns. Alessandro manipulated my entire life to force me to this altar. He expects me to simply bow to his will now that the ring is on my finger.
Well, he is dead wrong.
I stand up, smoothing down the wrinkled lace of my wedding dress, and walk over to the door. I turn the handle, realizing with a little surprise that he didn't lock me in. I overheard Rosalia telling Eleonora her husband used to lock her inside their bedroom when they were newly married.
I step into the quiet, vaulted hallway and head toward the grand staircase. Near the linen closets, two young housekeepers are quietly folding towels, speaking in hushed, hurried whispers. They immediately snap to attention the moment my bare feet click softly against the hardwood border of the rug.
"Mrs. Gallo," the older one says quickly, bowing her head. "Do you need something? We can bring refreshments to the master bedroom."
"No, thank you, I'm alright," I say, offering them a soft, warm smile. I take a breath, keeping my voice gentle but entirely steady. "Actually, I have a small favor to ask. Could you please prepare a separate bedroom for me? Perhaps away from the master suite? Just some fresh linens and a working bath would be wonderful."
The two maids exchange a sharp, panicked look. They glance toward the stairs, as if expecting Alessandro to materialize from the shadows.
"Ma'am..." the younger one stammers, her hands trembling slightly over the towel she holds. "Mr. Gallo... he instructed us that your belongings were to be taken to his suite. We cannot alter his arrangements without his explicit word. He is very particular, and we don't want to get into trouble."
I offer her a reassuring, sympathetic nod, but I don't back down. I have to play the cards I’ve been dealt, and Alessandro gave me a powerful one downstairs in the foyer.
"I completely understand your position, and I promise you won't be in any trouble," I say softly, my tone dripping with polite but unyielding authority. "But remember what Mr. Gallo told everyone downstairs. I am the authority in this house when he is away, and my words carry the same weight as his. He knows how stressful today has been, and we've already agreed that I need my own space to rest for the evening. You can leave the rest to me."
The mention of his speech, delivered with such calm, sweet certainty, works like magic. The older maid swallows hard, looking at my gentle smile and the fierce determination behind it. She realizes that denying the new mistress might be just as dangerous as crossing the don himself.
"Of course, Mrs. Gallo," she says quickly, returning a relieved smile. "Right away. Follow me, please. The violet suite on the east wing is private and completely prepared."
"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it," I reply softly, following them down the corridor.
As we walk away, a wave of quiet satisfaction settles in my chest. I am not ready to share Alessandro's bed. I am certainly not ready to trust him completely. He thinks because I saved his empire today, I am his. But protecting him from the feds was a strategic choice; it doesn't mean I've surrendered.
He manipulated me into this marriage, and I won’t give in immediately like he expects me to. I need boundaries. I need a space that belongs to me. Even though I protected him at thepolice station, I am still entirely unsure of what he truly wants from me—and until I figure out his real game, I will keep him at arm's length.
The maid opens the door to a beautifully decorated, sunlit bedroom with a large vanity and a plush velvet chaise.
"Will this be acceptable, ma'am?" she asks carefully.
"It's absolutely perfect," I say with a grateful smile, stepping inside and drawing the first battle line of our marriage.
Before she can turn to leave, I call out softly, "What is your name?"
She stops, a small, tentative smile touching her lips. "My name is Elena, ma'am."
"Thank you, Elena," I say, keeping my tone warm but firm. "Please ensure my things are brought straight here when they arrive."
