Page 62 of Bound in Vengeance
She isn't with her sisters anymore. Now, she's trapped near the edge of the pavilion, talking to a small group of older syndicate women. I don't care who they are. I need to touch her. I need to feel her skin against mine to remind myself that she belongs to me now.
She spots me stalking across the lawn toward her, and her dark eyes instantly narrow in warning.
“Excuse me, ladies,” I rumble, stepping into the circle and smoothly slipping my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my side. “I need to borrow my wife.”
The older women instantly coo and giggle, whispering to one another about a young man in love, completely blind to the tension vibrating between us. I don't pay them any mind. I guide Sienna away from the crowd, my grip firm and unyielding.
She tenses hard against my chest, leaning her head up to whisper sharply, "What is this about, Alessandro?"
"I'm going to punish you for this dress," I murmur down into her ear, my voice low and dark. "And I can't wait until we get home to do it."
Before she can open her mouth to fire back a response, an annoying, grating voice cuts through the air behind us.
"Congratulations on the wedding, you two."
We both turn around to find Luca standing there, his hands shoved casually into his pockets, that same mocking grin plastered across his face.
I don't respond. I just glare at him, my arm tightening around Sienna's waist as a protective instinct rears its head. Sienna,however, remains a professional. She keeps her composure and is gracious enough to offer a polite nod. "Thank you, Luca."
Luca’s smile turns a fraction sharper, his eyes lingering on her provocative dress for a second too long before meeting mine. "Enjoy the afternoon. After all, the best is yet to come."
He gives us a brief, cryptic nod and walks away, disappearing back into the crowd of guests.
Sienna frowns, watching his retreating back with a look of deep suspicion. She turns her head to look up at me. "What does that mean? What is he planning?"
I shrug, though a dark knot forms in the pit of my stomach. "Who knows. Luca likes to hear himself speak." I look down at her, letting the irritation from the dress and the sudden interruption take over. "Come on. I want to leave this party now."
Sienna pulls back slightly against my arm, her chin tilting up defiantly. "I’m not ready to leave yet, Alessandro. I want to spend more time with my family."
I let out a low, mocking laugh, my eyes raking over her face. "Are you scared, Sienna?"
She scoffs, her dark eyes flashing. "Scared of what?"
I hum, leaning down just enough so my lips brush the edge of her jaw, my voice dropping into a dark, suggestive rumble. "Scared of what I’ll do to you when we’re finally alone."
She rolls her eyes, trying to look completely unfazed, though I can feel the rapid beat of her pulse against my hand. "What is there to be scared of? Isn’t it just sex?"
A dangerous grin pulls at my mouth. I lean closer to her ear, letting my tongue lightly lick the sensitive shell of it before whispering, "There are many more things aside from sex that I can do to your beautiful body, sweetheart."
Sienna sharply sucks in a breath, a bright, helpless pink flushing over her cheeks.
But that beautiful, heated moment turns sour in a fraction of a second.
Suddenly, high-pitched alarms erupt from the perimeter of the property, cutting through the music and the laughter. Before anyone can even process the sound, the heavy iron gates are rammed open, and a fleet of black SUVs screeches onto the lawn, kicking up sand and dirt.
"Federal agents! Nobody move! Stay where you are!"
Dozens of armed police officers and FBI agents flood the space, weapons drawn, jackets flashing yellow letters in the afternoon sun. Complete and utter panic explodes across thebeach. Women scream, glasses shatter against the pavement, and senior members instantly reach under their jackets for their pieces.
I immediately shove Sienna behind my back, my hand flying to the gun holstered inside my suit jacket as the entire wedding reception turns into a war zone.
"Hands where we can see them! Step away from the weapons!" a lead agent bellows through a megaphone, his tactical rifle pointed straight at my chest.
Within seconds, tactical gear completely encircles the pavilion. The agents push past the screaming guests, marching directly toward me with a warrant in hand. They don't hesitate. They shove me against the nearest pillars, kicking my legs apart and ripping my piece from my holster.
As they slap the heavy steel cuffs onto my wrists, the lead agent reads the charges. It’s federal drug trafficking. Racketeering.
The words echo in my ears, and a cold realization washes over me. This is Luca. This is exactly what the bastard meant when he said the best was yet to come. He didn't just sabotage that shipment to cost me money; he redirected the entire paper trail and physical evidence straight to the authorities, neatly wrapping me up in a bow for the feds.
