15

MILLIE
He instructed me to grab a bathrobe, and I quickly complied, hiding my ruined wedding dress and corset. When I returned to the bedroom, Gio was gearing up with his weapons, looking like a formidable sight. I couldn’t help but be curious about what he looked like without the pants.
As the other women came to collect the sheets to check for proof of our consummation, I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. I leaned against the wall, wrapping my arms around myself, worried that they might realize Gio hadn’t slept with me. But he opened the door wide, half-naked and confident, while the women gasped and giggled at the sight.
“We’ve come to collect the sheets,” Gio’s stepmother announced with barely hidden glee.
Gio stepped back, allowing the women in, and their eyes darted between the bed and me. I felt exposed and humiliated, wondering how they could be so insensitive. I looked away, unable to bear their scrutiny. Despite the guests leaving, the corridor and the bedroom were packed with women eager to witness the presentation of the sheets, making me feel like a spectacle on display.
“Only women of marriage age can be present when the sheets are taken down we don’t want to frighten the young girls’ innocent eyes,” said one of his cousins, Nessa, as we stood in the crowded room, waiting for the ritual to begin.
I glanced at Gio from across the room, and we exchanged a brief, knowing look. It was our little secret now, and despite myself, I felt grateful toward him, even though I didn’t want to be. In our world, you had to appreciate even the smallest kindness, especially from a man like Gio.
As Gio’s stepmother Olivia and his cousin Nessa began to remove the bed sheets, Olivia couldn’t resist teasing him. “Gio, did nobody teach you to be gentle with your virgin bride?”
He shot back with a smirk, “My father doesn’t strike me as a man who preaches gentleness.”
Meanwhile, Harper fought her way through the crowd, defying all expectations, and entered the bedroom. I hoped she wouldn’t reveal the truth to everyone, not even to our family. I quickly motioned for her to help me get dressed, and we slipped into the bathroom.
“I hate him, I hate them all. I want to kill him,” Harper raged.
“He didn’t force me,” I reassured her, explaining that it wasn’t as it seemed. I was still a virgin, and Gio had orchestrated an illusion to protect my innocence.
“But why the act?” she asked, puzzled.
“Because nobody can know,” I whispered urgently. “Please promise me you won’t tell anyone, not even Mother or Sienna.”
Harper frowned, questioning Gio’s motives. I defended him, hoping that my husband might be different from the reputation he carried.
“You still have to pretend to hate him in front of others,” I reminded Harper.
“Don’t worry, I still do,” she said defiantly. “He took you away from me, and I can’t believe he’s capable of kindness.”
As I stepped into the shower to wash away the tension, Gio barged in, and Harper confronted him fiercely. I quickly turned my back, not wanting him to see me undress.
“I need to get ready,” Gio grumbled.
Harper was having none of it. “You arrogant asshole, I-”
“Leave!” I shouted, wanting to avoid any further confrontation.
Harper stormed out of the room, leaving Gio and me alone. The door slammed shut, and I hesitated, unsure of what Gio was up to. The sound of running water made it difficult to hear him. I knew I couldn’t hide in the shower forever, so I turned off the water and faced the room.
In the mirror, I saw Gio applying shaving cream to his chin with a brush, but his eyes were fixed on me. I tried to ignore my embarrassment, feeling my cheeks flush. He put the brush down and grabbed a plush towel from the heated rack, then approached me, still dressed in his briefs. I accepted the towel with a quick “thanks” and wrapped it around myself, while he stood there, his eyes wandering over my body, unreadable.
“I bet you’re already regretting your decision,” I murmured quietly, and there was no need to elaborate; he understood exactly what I meant.
Without uttering a word, he went back to the wash table, picked up the brush, and resumed his grooming. I started walking toward the bedroom, but then his voice caught me off guard. “No,” he said firmly. I turned to meet his gaze. “When I claim your body, I want you writhing beneath me in pleasure, not fear.”
~*~
I was already dressed in an orange summer maxi dress and a golden belt to accentuate my waist when Gio stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. I sat on the chair in front of my vanity, putting on make-up, but froze with the mascara brush inches from my eye when I saw Gio.
“Uh, hey, Gio,” I stammered, trying not to stare.
He walked toward the wardrobe and picked out black pants and a white shirt before he dropped his towel without shame. I didn’t look away fast enough and was rewarded with his firm backside. Embarrassed, I lowered my eyes and busied myself with checking my nails until I dared to face the mirror again and put on mascara.
Gio buttoned his shirt, leaving the upper two buttons open. He strapped a knife to his forearm and rolled the sleeve over it, then put a gun holster around his calf. I turned around and raised an eyebrow.
“Do you ever go anywhere without guns?” I asked curiously.
“Not if I can avoid it,” he replied, looking serious. “Do you know how to shoot a gun or use a knife?”
“No, my father doesn’t think women should get involved in fights,” I explained.
“Sometimes fights come to you. The Bratva and the Triad don’t make a difference between men and women,” Gio said with a hint of concern.
“So you’ve never killed a woman?” I asked, curious about his experiences.
His expression tightened, and I could tell he didn’t want to elaborate. “I didn’t say that,” he replied evasively.
I stood, smoothing out my dress, feeling a bit nervous about the upcoming meeting with my father and Agatone Merante after the wedding night.
“Good choice,” Gio commented. “The dress covers your legs.”
“Someone could still lift the skirt and inspect my thighs,” I said jokingly, but his reaction was intense.
“Someone tries to touch you, they lose their hand,” he stated firmly.
His protectiveness both thrilled and scared me. I felt uncertain as I approached him, remembering his words from the bathroom, ‘Writhe in pleasure’. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to trust him completely. Harper’s warning echoed in my mind.
He rested his hand on my lower back as we walked out. “Are you ready for this?” he asked, referring to the gathering downstairs.
“I guess so,” I replied, trying to sound confident.
We reached the top of the stairs, and I could already hear conversation and see scattered guests in the huge entrance hall. I felt appalled by the idea of what some of them might be waiting for.
“Are they all waiting to see a bloody sheet?” I whispered in shock.
Gio smirked and replied, “Many of them, especially the women. The men might hope for dirty details, others might hope to talk about business, ask a favor, get on my good side.”
Dario was waiting at the foot of the stairs, his brown hair messy. He nodded at Gio and then smiled briefly at me. “How are you?” he asked, his ears turning slightly red.
Gio chuckled at Dario’s awkwardness, and I felt a bit embarrassed by all the attention. I instinctively moved closer to Gio, seeking comfort.
“Sebastian and the rest of your family are in the dining room,” Dario informed us.
“Poring over the sheets?” I asked with a mix of humor and dread.
“As if they could read them like tea leaves,” Dario confirmed.
“Come,” Gio said, nudging me toward the double doors.
As we stepped into the dining room, all eyes turned to us. The women were gathered on one side, chatting in small groups, while the men were seated around the long dining table, which was laden with delicious food. I couldn’t help but feel hungry.
Sebastian approached us, holding an espresso cup.
“You look like shit,” Gio teased him.
Sebastian laughed and said, “My tenth espresso, and I’m still not awake. Drank too much last night.”
“You were trashed,” Gio replied. “If you weren’t my brother, I’d have had your tongue cut out for some of the things you said to Millie.”
Sebastian grinned mischievously at me. “I hope Gio didn’t do half of the things I suggested,” he quipped.
I blushed, unsure how to respond to that. Sebastian still made me nervous. He exchanged a look with Gio, who touched my side, causing me to jump slightly.
“Quite a work of art you presented us,” Sebastian said, nodding toward the sheets displayed at the back of the room.
I tensed, unsure of what he meant by that.