“Don’t hurt him.” Alessio’s eyes fixed on mine, still with the same anger, and I dropped my hand but remained still. Footsteps resounded and a tall, dark woman in her fifties came running in, then stopped abruptly and cursed in Italian, looking down at the floor.
She had stepped in dog poop, which explained the smell I smelled. Her black flats were now covered in it.
“That’s it,” Alessio growled.
“Tomorrow this thing is gone.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Moretti. I went to his room to clean and it slipped out. I’ve been trying to catch him all day, but he’s too fast. And Daniele hid from me again. I don’t know…” She cast a glance in my direction and fell silent.
Alessio ignored it and walked away. I hesitantly followed him into a magnificent living room with herringbone parquet floors, then saw my husband open the terrace door and leave the dog outside before closing the door. The dog peeked through the glass.
“You can’t do that,” I said, horrified. Sybil gave me a look that made me realize I should keep my mouth shut. Alessio, however, completely ignored my comment.
“Clean up the dog shit,” Alessio ordered Sybil as she moved to a liquor cabinet, poured herself a drink, and dropped onto the cognac-colored leather couch.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the little dog sitting in the November chill with his nose pressed against the window. Sybil scurried away to follow her master’s order.
I remained standing in the center of the living room, uncertain what to do. One thing was certain: I was not going to let that dog freeze to death in the open. Alessio was the master of this house, in the eyes of our society, my master. I approached the terrace door.
“Don’t.” The word, without being spoken aloud, had absolute authority. Alessio was used to giving orders in every area of his life and demanded unwavering obedience.
I did not look in his direction. If I saw his sharp eyes and powerful face, I might lose my courage.
It was not going to happen. It was the beginning of a new life, and if I let myself be trampled, I would be doomed.
“Gianna, don’t.” A warning resounded in his voice. Or what? He got up from the couch when I opened the door and picked up the quivering ball of fluff.
The dog remained silent as I pressed it to my chest. I could feel the fur ruffled from months of neglect. Alessio towered over me, barring my way. I raised my head to meet his furious gaze. “That thing stays outside.” His eyes were hard, but I did not look away. “I gave you an order.” An order?
“It seems I am as badly trained as your dog.” My mother’s words of warning about insolence rang in my head. It was too late, not that I would take anything back. Alessio’s face lit up with surprise and then anger.
“Put him back down. I won’t let you take him in.”
Allow. Order. I was his wife, not his slave. But again, he was Underboss and probably didn’t understand the difference.
“If the dog is not allowed inside, then I will stay outside with him. We can keep each other warm.” I turned to approach one of the lounge chairs, but Alessio’s arm shot out, stopping me. I gasped. Dad never hit me.
My mother did twice. It was not direct experience that made me wince, but I had seen men beat women and children. My uncles, in particular, were violent. It happened often in our circles. Alessio frowned and his fingers closed gently around my elbow. I looked at him curiously.
“That gasp was unnecessary, and I don’t want it to happen again, okay?”
“You don’t want me to react that way, or will I have no reason to react that way?”
A ghost of a smile crossed Alessio’s face before the stern look returned. He leaned down so that we were at eye level.
“You’ll never have a reason.”
“Are you sure?” I said it more to annoy him than anything else, but my words were softened by a small smile.
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” His expression conveyed confusion. Was I an enigma to him? “Now put the dog down.” My smile widened.
“No.” He looked incredulous. Letting go of my elbow, he cupped my chin between his thumb and forefinger and brought our faces even closer together. This time I didn’t blink and realized he liked it.
“I gave you an order. I am your husband and my word is law.”
“I know. And if you insist that the dog stay outside, I will too.” Alessio squinted his eyes. His breath contained the hint of spicy liquor and I felt the mad need to taste it on his lips.
“Do you really think I believe you will spend the night in the cold over a dog?” I stubbornly reciprocated the look. He burst into laughter.
“I think you really could. Your parents didn’t mention your stubbornness when they traded you.”
“They were too eager to marry me off to the cruelest underboss in the Family,” I muttered.
“The cruelest underboss, huh? Is that what they call me?”
“They did, and other people do, too.”
“Why would your parents tell you such a thing about your future husband?” “To set me straight. My mother was afraid you might beat me to death if I was insolent.” Something on Alessio’s face shifted, a shadow from the past.
“They should not have frightened you before our marriage.”
“Is that a lie, then?” I whispered. For some reason his mouth seemed even closer than before.
“There is no scale to judge someone’s cruelty.”
“That means it’s the truth.” He did not contradict me. I could not read the expression on his face.
Acting on impulse, I leaned forward and passed my lips over his, then stuck out my tongue, savoring the liquor that clung to his mouth. Smoky and sweet.
Alessio stiffened, but the expression on his face became even more intense than before.
“What was that?” His voice was a low voice that I could hear all over. “A kiss?” I didn’t have much experience, but I doubted that anyone could ruin a simple kiss.
“Are you trying to influence me with your body?” My eyes widened.
“No. I could smell the liquor on your breath and was curious what it tasted like.” Alessio chuckled. “You are a strange girl.” His mouth twitched.