Page 77 of Secrets of the Brother
And for another man.
Bianca clasped the lapels and pulled them over her chest.
Before she could respond, a hand reached out and pulled the jacket off her shoulders, tossing it back to me. “Thank you for the offer, friend, but it would be a crime to hide such beauty.”
I looked over to see the man from that day in the piazza. Although tall, he was nothing compared to my height. I raised my chin and looked down my nose at him. “I’m not your friend.”
I moved to place the jacket back on Bianca.
She stepped to the side as she deliberately avoided my gaze. Her voice was strained and strangely emotionless. “Thank you, Signor Cavalieri, but I’m fine.”
My brow furrowed as I surveyed her more closely. She was wearing significantly more makeup than usual. The pressed powder made her look pale and ashy. Her hand shook as she drained her wineglass and reached for another from a passing servant.
I took the glass from her hand. Our fingers touched. Her startled gaze clashed with mine.
Fear.
There was fear in their depths.
My shoulders tensed. Something was wrong. Very wrong. “I think you’ve had enough.”
The man she was with wrapped an arm around her lower back as he pressed his glass of wine into her hand and guided it to her mouth. “Bianca is my date, and I will determine when she has had enough.”
My gaze narrowed as I raised my right arm and adjusted my cuff with my left hand. I spoke softly and calmly. “If you don’t get your hands off her. This instant. I’m going to break that wineglass in half and slice your jugular with it.”
Bianca stepped away, breaking the man’s hold for him. She visibly trembled as she lowered her head and rasped, “Enzo, please, I don’t want to draw any attention. It’s fine.”
Keeping my eyes trained on the man, I once again placed my tuxedo coat over her shoulders, covering her breasts from his view. “I don’t think I caught your name.”
He slid his hands in his pockets as he smirked. “That’s because unlike the Cavalieris… I don’t throw it around.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.”
The man tilted his head. “Are you sure? It might prove to be a challenge. From what I hear, you and your family only kill defenseless women.”
There were several gasps from nearby guests, proving our conversation was not going unnoticed. Fuck.
Still, engagement party or not, an insult like that could not go unpunished.
I clenched my fist and stepped forward, pushing Bianca behind me with my other arm.
As I pulled my arm back to throw a punch… a shower of foamy prosecco arched over my head to hit the man square in the face.
The man sputtered, “What the fuck?”
A second arc of prosecco doused me and Bianca.
We turned to see Milana and Aunt Gabriella laughing and cheering as they held up the empty bottles.
“Oops! Sorry! Did we get you?”
“Sorry! These corks just popped!”
As the crowd cheered along with them, Milana sidled up to me. “Kill him later, when there are fewer witnesses.” She then winked and turned back to the crowd as she raised up her arm and yelled, “I’m getting married!”
Cesare broke free from the crowd, snatched her around the waist, lifted her high and spun her around as the guests chanted, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
I pivoted back, but the man was gone.
