“We have to do something,” I replied. “We can’t let them maintain a presence in Boston any longer. They’re getting stronger by the day, and inaction makes us look weak. It’s now or never, and they’ll never give us a better pretext than this.”
The twins exchanged glances. I couldn’t let this go on any longer, either. Every moment of inaction mademelook weak too.
“If you two want to back out on this, now’s your chance. You can walk away right now, but Ariana is staying put. She’s too valuable. I’m taking her to the ball tonight with you or without you. Make your choice, and follow it through.”
“No, Padrino,” Dante replied. “We’ll go.”
“Remember what we agreed on before this whole deal started,” I went on. “Ariana is a means to an end. She’s a tool. She isn’t here to make us even softer. Is that clear?”
Dominic nodded. “Yes, Padrino. The family comes first—always.”
I turned to Dante. “Is that understood, Dante? I need to hear you say the family comes first—before Ariana.”
He dipped his chin. “Yes, Padrino. The family comes first.”
He said the words, but something in his eyes told me a question still hung over his head. If the shit went down at the ball and the Vittorios really put Ariana in danger, would Dante put the family above her safety? Would I?
I waved at them. “You two go get ready to go. We’ll leave at seven-thirty.”
They left the office, and the minute I was alone, all my own doubts came crashing back in on me. I could tell myself all year that the family came first, but I no longer believed it.
I would throw the whole empire to the dogs for her, but she didn’t want me. I should resent her for that, but I couldn’t. I only ached to make her look at me the way she looked at the twins. Why did I have to be born king? It wasn’t fair.
I went back into the security office and switched on the screen. Ariana sat in the chair with her arms and legs wrapped around Dante.
Her face shone up at the security camera in an open-mouthed gasp of pure rapture. At least someone could make her feel like that. Someone could give her the happiness and pleasure I couldn’t.
I switched over to the camera feed of her room. She stood in front of the dresser mirror in her bra, panties, and thigh-high stockings while she did her makeup.
She looked so immaculately stunning like this. Her ass curved outward when she leaned close to the mirror, just perfect for bending over and fucking.
She straightened up to examine her face. Her graceful neck sloped down to her shoulders and even farther toward her cleavage. Did she still carry the marks from Dante’s bites? Did he leave stripes on her inner thighs from the ruler?
My cock started to harden, and I turned off the feed again. I couldn’t think about that, or I wouldn’t be able to concentrate at the ball, either. I had to get my head back in the game.
Ariana was a means to an end. She was a tool. The family came first.
All those words sounded hollow to me now. None of them were true. She started out as a means to an end, but she wasn’t anymore. The twins no longer saw her as that, and I couldn’t, either.
Chapter16
Ariana
Luca helped me out of the limo, and I took one last check of my costume in the car window. I wore a bustier-top gown that swept the floor. Gems, gold and silver thread, and pearls studded the skirts and flashed in the lights coming from the mansion entrance.
The mask covering my face flared in two huge peacock-feather wings rising over my head. One of Luca’s family heirloom broaches hung between my cleavage.
The guys looked stunning in perfect tuxes and elaborate masks. I would never be able to miss them in a crowd.
Luca kept hold of my hand as we headed up the sweeping mansion steps. I tightened my grip on him as adrenaline poured into my veins. Here we go. This was the moment we’d been preparing for all week.
Luca squeezed my hand back, and that moment of instant connection made me look up at him. He didn’t look like the big, bad mob boss in his mask. His eyes gleamed out of the black velvet holes dotted with diamonds and onyx chips.
I knew those eyes. He was just Luca, the boy I loved. That pressure of his hand told me he would never let anything happen to me.
The twins flanked us, and Dominic started talking fast in my ear. “You remember what Luca told you. We’ll be giving you plenty of space so the Vittorios get overconfident, but we’ll never let you out of our sight. One of us will always be watching. We won’t let them take you off the property.”
“Thanks,” I gasped. “Don’t leave me alone.”