Page 84 of Claimed At First Sight

Vittoria pales as silence settles around us. Her father’s attention sharpens considerably.

“Has she offended you?”

“She questioned me inappropriately regarding private matters.” My voice remains even. “I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior.”

Understanding settles across the capo’s face. Beside him, Vittoria realizes this isn’t about manners. This is a warning.

“Father, I only—”

“Enough,” he hisses.

The single word slices cleanly through her protest. His gaze returns to me.

“You have my apologies, Don Maximo. It won’t happen again.”

A tense beat passes, then Giulio turns toward his daughter.

“You will return home now.”

Humiliation washes over Vittoria’s face. Good. Lessons that sting tend to last longer.

She opens her mouth like she wants to argue, but one look from her father kills the impulse. Without another word, Bellandi escorts her from the ballroom himself.

Gabe joins me moments later, handing me a glass of whiskey. Having seen me return with Mia earlier, he gives me a conspiratorial smile.

“What was that about?” he asks. “Has she not taken the hint?”

“Apparently not.” I take the whiskey from him. “Somehow she convinced herself that standing beside me entitled her to more.”

She pushed because she wants power, or more likely her father does.

Mia pushes too. But for entirely different reasons. She resists because it’s in her nature, not because she wants something from me. Quite the opposite, actually.

Gabe smirks. “Mia’s defiance doesn’t seem to bother you.” Not a question, but a statement.

No, it doesn’t. If anything, I respect her more for it.

“She has intelligence beneath the rebellion,” I say. “Instinct too. She knows when to provoke and when to retreat.”

I take a slow sip of whiskey, savoring the burn.

“That kind of fire doesn’t concern me. It can be directed. Refined.”

Claimed.

The final word stays in my head. Gabe grins as if he heard it.

“Be careful, brother. Even contained fires can get out of control.”

“Not in my hands.”

I clap him once on the shoulder before heading toward the staircase leading to my private quarters.

The moment the doors close behind me, I loosen my tie and remove my cufflinks. Stepping to the window, I look out onto the garden. The greenhouse lights are dimmed now, glowing like banked fire in the darkness.

I stare at it a little longer before pulling the drapes closed.

I should be thinking about alliances, stability beneath my new reign, and the ongoing issues with the Romeros. Instead, my thoughts drift to Mia.