Page 42 of Bound in Vengeance
A small, dangerous smile touches my lips, even though the last thing I feel right now is humor. I lean just an inch closer into her space, my voice a dark purr. "I’m going to thoroughly enjoy dealing with that attitude of yours, sweetheart. Keep it up. See where it gets you."
She rolls her eyes at me one last time, clearly refusing to let me intimidate her, and turns her head away to stare out the window into the passing darkness.
The rest of the drive passes in a heavy, suffocating silence.
Finally, the grand, towering, iron gates of Belvedere Manor loom ahead through the midnight fog. The entire perimeter is crawling with private security—men in tactical gear carryingautomatic weapons. Up front, Valerio slows the sedan to a crawl as a guard steps up to the window.
Invitations are being collected right here at the main gate, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I’m in no mood, and certainly in no physical condition with my stitched arm, to stand in a crowded line at the front door.
Sienna reaches into the folds of her dress, pulls out the crisp Caruso invitation, and hands it to me. I pass it forward to Valerio, who rolls down his window and presents it to the guard. The man scans the heavy cardstock, verifies the Caruso seal, and looks briefly into the dimmed backseat.
I breathe a quiet sigh of relief when he nods, stepping back to wave our car through. The iron gates grind open, and we roll smoothly onto the grounds of the manor.
The tires roll over the smooth stone driveway, finally coming to a halt beneath the massive, columned portico of Belvedere Manor. Valerio kills the engine, stepping out to open the door for us.
I slide out of the leather seat first, adjusting the cuffs of my suit jacket. I turn, offering my hand to Sienna as she exits the car. She glares at my open palm for a fraction of a second, her jaw tightening, but she plays her part. She places her small, gloved hand in mine, her fingers surprisingly warm.
Locking her arm securely in mine, we walk up the grand marble steps and through the towering double doors into the party.
The space inside is breathtakingly massive, an opulent labyrinth of soaring gilded ceilings, grand archways, and a sea of high-society figures dressed in diamonds and tuxedos. The low murmur of a hundred dangerous conversations hums beneath the live classical music.
Sienna leans in close, pretending to admire a sprawling crystal chandelier, but she gives a sharp, subtle yank on my arm to get my attention. "The place is huge," she whispers, her voice barely a breath against my ear. "How are you going to find what you're looking for?"
A quiet strike of approval hits my chest. I'm thoroughly impressed by how she didn't mention any names. She didn't say Luca, and she didn't specify anything in particular. She’s intelligent, sharp, and proves with that single question that she was truly bred for this dark world. In a treacherous snake pit like this, even the walls have ears.
Keeping my face entirely impassive, I look straight ahead into the crowd. "I'll find it. I just need a little time."
She nods, accepting the answer.
As a waiter glides past us carrying a silver tray, Sienna smoothly reaches out and grabs two flutes of champagne, handing one over to me. She takes a slow sip, her assessing eyes scanning the room over the rim of her glass, but when she turns back, she catches me staring directly at her. She quirks a perfectly manicured brow.
"What?" she demands softly.
I take a slow sip of the crisp alcohol, my eyes never breaking contact with hers. "This reminds me of the night we first met."
Her expression instantly sours, a flash of irritation crossing her beautiful features. "Don't remind me. I’ve been doing everything in my power to forget that awful night."
A rare, genuine laugh rips out of my throat at her bluntness. The sheer defiance in her is intoxicating. Stepping directly into her personal space, I wrap my good arm firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against my side. She tenses up immediately, her breathing hitching, but she knows better than to make a scene in public. She doesn't pull away.
Leaning down so my lips are brushing the shell of her ear, I let my voice drop into a rough, wicked purr. "You came for me so hard on that night, Sienna. So hard your legs were shaking and you could barely walk. I’m willing to bet that if I take you upstairs to one of these empty rooms right now, you’d want a repeat performance."
Her face goes taut, and she places a hand against my chest, trying to subtly push me back. "Leave me alone, Alessandro."
"Tell me, sweetheart," I whisper, my hand pressing deeper into the small of her back, forcing her hips to align with mine. "If I sink my fingers under your dress right now... Will I find your panties completely wet for me again?"
A violent, scorching crimson stains her cheeks, her wide eyes darting around to see if anyone heard.
Looking at the beautiful, guilty heat radiating off her skin, a dark, primal hunger violently shifts inside me. I could, right then and there, that I am ready to ditch the entire reason I came to this manor tonight.
The syndicate, the vengeance, Luca—I am ready to throw it all away for an hour just to drag her into the dark and show her she’s not as immune to me as she likes to fucking pretend.
Someone clears their throat directly behind me.
The spell snaps.
I turn my head angrily, a lethal reprimand on the tip of my tongue, but I relax a fraction when I see it’s Valerio. He doesn't say a word, but his expression is tense, his pointed gaze staring hard at a specific spot across the crowded ballroom.
I follow his line of sight, completely tearing my attention away from Sienna.
