Page 51 of Bound in Vengeance
"Come, Sienna," Alessandro commands, not even breaking his stride as he stalks straight past us toward the massive front door. "We don't have all day."
Camilla and Daniela instantly wrap their arms around me, pulling me into a tight, protective embrace.
"It's okay," I whisper to them, gently squeezing their hands as we pull apart. "We can go shopping together some other time. I promise."
They both nod, trying their absolute best to hide their disappointment, but I can see it in their eyes. As I pull my purse over my shoulder, I make a firm mental note to buy them each something incredibly beautiful while I'm out, just to make up for it.
I turn and walk out of the grand foyer, stepping into the bright morning air. Parked right in the middle of the circular driveway is Alessandro's sleek, dark sports car.
I walk over to the passenger side, pull the heavy door open, and slide onto the leather seat. Alessandro kills the locks, shifts into gear, and hits the gas, tearing down the paved driveway and through the front gates.
The interior of the car is completely suffocating. Neither of us says a single word, the heavy silence stretching between us like a thin wire ready to snap as he drives us deep into the heart of the city.
Without breaking his gaze from the road, his gravelly voice cuts through the quiet. "We're actually picking out a dress for you to wear tonight. You’re meeting the syndicate elders. It’s time you’re officially introduced to the family as my future wife."
I stiffen in my seat, a sharp wave of disbelief hitting me. I turn my head to glare at his profile. "And I’m just finding out? Great timing. Did you bother to tell my father that?"
He glances over at me, his dark eyes cold. "I don’t need your father's permission for a single damn thing. Don’t piss me off."
I let out a harsh, bitter scoff, rolling my eyes as I lean back against the leather headrest. "Honestly, something must have died up your ass this morning, and you really need to get it checked."
A dangerous, wicked smirk instantly replaces his scowl. He doesn't take his eyes off the road this time, but his voice twists into a suggestive rumble. "If there’s going to be any ass probing, sweetheart, it’s going to be yours. And I’ll be probing it with my cock."
I gasp, my face instantly exploding into a furious, burning crimson. The sheer audacity of his words leaves me completely speechless. I snap my mouth shut and stare violently out the passenger window, refusing to give him the satisfaction of another word.
"Yeah," he murmurs, his low chuckle vibrating through the car. "That’s what I thought."
We drive for a few more blocks before he clears his throat, the amusement fading back into his usual business tone. "Before we go to the boutique, we have to stop at one of my offices to collect something important."
I don’t answer, keeping my eyes glued to the passing buildings, my heart still hammering against my ribs from his shameless threat.
Minutes later, he pulls the car into the underground parking garage of a sleek, towering glass corporate building. We slide into an elevator that takes us straight up to the executive suite. The moment the doors slide open, the atmosphere shifts.
The employees and low-level associates bustling through the corridors instantly freeze. Every single person we pass watchesAlessandro with a heavy, palpable dislike. The air is thick with resentment, but beneath the glares, it is clear that they fear him. They bow their heads and quickly step out of his path like he’s a walking landmine.
Alessandro ignores them entirely, his grip firm on the small of my back as he guides me toward a private corner office. The sheer weight of the hostility in the room makes the hairs on my arms stand up.
Once we step into the heavy security elevator to head to his private floor, I can't keep quiet anymore. I look up at him, my brow furrowed. "What is that about? Why is the tension in there so thick?"
Alessandro leans his shoulder against the elevator wall, crossing his arms as he looks down at me. His expression is completely unbothered. "They’ve never liked me. To the old guard, I was always the bad son. The troublemaker. The liability. My father sent me away to Italy for years to keep me out of sight, while he poured all his attention, resources, and favor into training my brother."
He lets out a cold, cynical laugh. "Now, half the bastards in this building would rather see Luca take over the entire business. They think he’s easier to control. But I refuse to give up what is rightfully mine. I didn't bleed for this syndicate just to hand it to a snake."
The elevator dings, opening directly into his private, minimalist office. He walks straight to a heavy, biometric wall safe behind his desk.
"I know Luca is planning something big," he continues, his jaw clenching as he enters his code. "And I don't trust leaving any vital intelligence in a building filled with people who want me dead."
He reaches into the safe and pulls out a small, sleek, dark blue laptop. He slips it securely into his leather briefcase, snapping the locks shut. "Now that I have this, we can go find you a dress."
“What is that?” I ask.
“This laptop…” he holds up the briefcase. “…is where I store every vital information on the Gallo organization. Our trade secrets, routes, ports, business accounts, banking information, everything is here.”
I shake my head. “Seems dangerous to just leave it lying around.”
He smirks. “I’m taking it home. I have a secure safe there. Let’s go.”
As we turn toward the office door, it slowly creaks open. An older female employee stands in the doorway, her hands trembling as she clutches a stack of folders to her chest. She looks absolutelyterrified, her skin pale as she swallows hard and forces herself to look Alessandro in the eye.
