Page 158 of Girth (Marked Skulls MC 1)
Then one month later, I was born and my father proclaimed his love for her.
“Don’t wait four years like I did. Our marriage was nothing but a required union up until that point. I caused your mother a lot of heartache, and the only reason we didn’t divorce was because your mother literally believed she would be cursed for the rest of her life if we did,” my father said.
I nodded my head, allowing my father to get out whatever emotional dump he needed before we headed out to the car.
I knew what was expected of me and I knew how to treat a woman. Whoever she was, and no matter what she looked like, she would always have my respect. I had no idea if I was ever going to love her, but I knew I was going to respect her. She’d be the woman that stood by my side as I rose the ranks through my father’s business. She’d be the woman to bear me children. She’d be the woman that would keep my house while I was away.
Any woman like that deserved respect from men, even if they were never loved.
We pulled into the Conti estate and the land they lived on was grand. Beautiful landscaping of flowers and trees decorated their front and back lawns. There were rolling hills with the house encased on three sides by thickly-wooded areas. The mansion that rose from the horizon boasted of the wealth this family had, and I grinned as we pulled up to the decadent house.
One day this would all be mine.
“Now remember, Enzo-”
“Yes, Dad. I know. I promise, you have nothing to worry about,” I said.
We got out of the car and I saw the front door already being opened. A man in a tuxedo stepped out onto the porch, holding the door for us as we walked up. I buttoned my suit jacket and smoothed it down, grinning at my all-black choice. It was a signature of mine. I wore it whenever I meant business.
And today, I meant a great deal of business.
“The family is in the sitting room,” the man at the door said. “Down the hall to the right, first entrance on the left.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said. “And I enjoy that colorful bowtie.”
The man grinned at me as my father and I walked into the house.
Our shoes clicked along the marble floors as we strode down the right hallway. The ceilings were vaulted and the colors that plastered the walls were deep and dark. I looked at my father as we came to the entrance on the left, and I paused just before the door to take a deep breath.
I felt my father pat me on the back before we rounded into the room.
“Luca!” Mr. Conti exclaimed. “So glad you could make it tonight.”
“Gino. It is good to see you,” my father said.
The two of them were talking as a movement in the corner of the room caught my eye. I looked up to see what was going on as I waited to shake Mr. Conti’s hand, but the pair of eyes staring back at me were wide. Wide and brown and incredibly familiar.
“Enzo, it is good to see you again,” Gino said.
“Mr. Conti,” I said. “Thank you for having us this evening.”
I turned my eyes back to the woman in the corner as the patriarch began talking to me. I knew I needed to be paying attention. I knew I was probably worrying my father. But as those familiar brown eyes raked up and down my body, I could see the anger growing in them.
“Something in here smells wonderful,” I said. “Is Mrs. Conti hard at work in the kitchen?”
“She always is. I can never pull that woman out of there to save my life,” Gino said. “Tonight’s menu is her homemade lasagna with fresh garlic bread, freshly-brewed tea, and a pointless salad.”
“The salad isn’t pointless, Gino. You need to eat something other than meat.”
I turned my head and watched as Mrs. Conti came around the corner. She was wearing a red-splattered apron and a large smile, and I saw her in her eyes. The woman in the corner who I knew was growing angrier by the second at me. The two of them looked exactly alike, and I took in Mrs. Conti as she shook my hand.
“You are a very handsome young man, Mr. Gambani. You will treat my daughter with respect, I’m sure,” she said.
“I owe her nothing less,” I said with a smile.
“Speaking of our daughter, come come! Serena! Come meet Enzo,” Gino said.
My eyes whipped back over to the corner as she stepped from the shadows. Her long brown hair was piled high on top of her head and those lewd and lustrous curves were covered in a teasing little dress. It fluttered just below her knees and covered her in light lace all the way up to her neck. Conservative, just like her family. But still clinging to all the places I’d had my lips on last night.
Her eyes were filled with shock and disgust as she stepped up beside her father.
“Enzo, meet Serena. Our daughter,” Gino said.
I held out my hand, palm up and waiting for her to slip hers within mine.
“Serena,” her mother said. “Take the man’s hand.”
She slumped her hand into mine before I brought it to my lips for a kiss. I kept my eyes locked with hers, trying to paint the picture that we had never met before. But as my lips connected with her hand, her eyes left mine and attached to the wall at her side.
“Please excuse our daughter,” Gino said. “She seems to have forgotten her manners.”
“She is meeting her husband for the first time. Allow her some time to adjust,” I said.
“Already sticking up for her,” Mrs. Conti said. “I like him.”
I grinned at her mother before my eyes turned back to her, but all she did was nod.
This was going to be a very long dinner.
Chapter 6
Serena
I watched him come around the corner and my heart sank to my toes. Were my parents kidding me? Was this the man they were about to hand me off to? This man who threw his money around and didn’t give a damn about the women in his care? My father was shaking his hand and embracing them like they were already family. Like he had already sold me off to the highest bidder and they were coming to claim their prize.
His lips against my skin were like ice. I knew what was behind them. Nothing but lies and deceit and faked respect. That man had showed me none of it this morning. He thought cleaning my clothes and calling me a cab was respect. But that wasn’t respect. That was neatly getting rid of the mistake he had made the night before. I turned my gaze to the wall, ignoring the verbal jabs of my father as Enzo’s hand wrapped around mine.
I was disgusted that this was the man my parents had chosen for me.
My mother led us into the kitchen and sat us all down for dinner. I knew I would be required to participate in the mindless conversation. I drew in a deep breath as Enzo sat across from me, his eyes dancing along my form as he licked his lips.
Was he kidding me? Did he really think I would be okay with any of this?
My mother served up our plates, walking around the table like she was some servant. If Enzo thought for one minute I would do any of these things for him, he was sorely mistaken. I had a career I loved and a schedule I was already living. I’d bear him one child, no matter the gender, then I’d get on with my life. So, if he wanted a son, he better make our wedding night a good one, because he wasn’t touching me after that.
“Serena, you look wonderful in that dress.”
My eyes rose to Enzo’s as I nodded absently.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Serena?” my father asked. “Do you have something you want to say in return?”
I glared at him before I cleared my throat.
“I like the seat you’re sitting in,” I said.
“We can trade places if you wish to sit here,” he said.
“No thank you. I’ll take it once you’re gone.”
“Serena!” my mother exclaimed.
“Mind your tone, young lady,” my father said.
“It’s fine. I enjoy a woman with a bit of fight in her,” Enzo said. “It would be no fun winning her affections if she gave them to me automatically.”
“Or ever,” I s
aid underneath my breath.
“So Serena, your father tells me you’re a grade school teacher.”
I turned my gaze to Enzo’s father and took a good look at him for the first time. They were eerily similar in a lot of ways. The shape of their eyes and the slope of their shoulders. Enzo was just as big as Mr. Gambani, and it seemed the only difference the two of them really had was their eye color.
He must get his amber eyes from his mother.
“Kindergarten, yes,” I said.
“How long do you plan on working?” his father asked.
“However long she wishes,” Enzo said.
“I can answer my own questions, despite what you might think,” I said.
My father glared at me as his fork dropped to his plate.
“Why don’t we go into the other room?” my mother asked. “I’m sure everyone has something they wish to talk about. Serena might simply feel… overwhelmed with all eyes on her.”
I bit down on the inside of my cheek as my father looked to Enzo’s.
