It’s a reminder that I’ve married a man I don’t actually know.
13
Renato
“Come, we have a wedding feast already prepared.” I lead Maddie to the dining room. Oscar and his wife follow, his men hanging back as my men eye them with nothing short of pure malice.
“We wouldn’t want to impose,” Oscar says as he chooses a seat at the table and completely fails to pull out a chair for his wife.
“Clara.” Claudio hurries up and pulls out her chair.
She gives him a thankful look as she sits.
“You arrive to a wedding uninvited on the same day my father’s will is read–are you certain you didn’t want to impose?” I sit at the head of the table and pull Maddie into my lap.
“Oh.” She smiles and gets comfortable, her ass pressing against my erection in a perfectly maddening way.
Oscar shrugs. “Sometimes business needs to be addressed even in the midst of family scandals.”
“Scandals?” Claudio pours himself a double whiskey as Oscar heaps food onto his plate.
“Yes. Your father dying so suddenly, and now Renato has made the foolhardy decision to marry some waif he only just met.”
I’ve already had enough of his bullshit. “Oscar, I would suggest you watch your tone. If you want to refer to my wife, you may call her Mrs. Carloni.”
“I would never want to insult anyone.” Oscar smiles and forks a large piece of spare rib into his mouth. His wife picks at her food. “I’m a man of peace. I only wished to congratulate you on your new bride. Nothing more.”
I pluck a piece of fresh bread from the table, butter it, and hold it to Maddie’s mouth. She opens for me, her pink tongue inviting. When she moans, I shift in my seat, my cock pressing even harder against her warm ass.
Antony is at the dining room door, tension all through him as he keeps an eye on Oscar’s men. The Ferrars family is clever. They’re known for their slyness, and I suspect Oscar’s visit here is just part of some overarching plan. But that isn’t going to stop me. I’m taking the reins of this family, and now with Maddie at my stop, we’ll be unstoppable. It won’t be long before I’m grinding Oscar under my heel.
Claudio takes the seat beside Clara. “I know you know about the will,” he tells Oscar. “But now that Renato’s married, he’s satisfied the conditions my father placed on him. It’s done. Renato is in charge.”
“Of course.” Oscar holds up his glass, and one of my employees fills his glass with wine. “I only want to ensure that our business relations continue on as they always have.”
That’s a laugh. The Ferrars have been trying to wedge a knife in my father’s back for years. We only do business with each other in order to keep the peace. Their drug pipeline from Colombia counts as only a fraction of our dealings, but we maintain that portion of our business to appease all the families.
“Our business is continuing as it always has. There’s nothing to discuss.” I run my hand down one of Maddie’s thighs and use my other hand to feed her another piece of well-buttered bread. Oscar is a distraction, a damn time suck when I know exactly what I want to be sucking. The tender flesh between Maddie’s legs is practically calling out to me, but I have to sit here and listen to this snake.
“Actually, I wanted to discuss the terms. Now that your father’s gone, I feel like it’s a good time to get a better handle on our books.” He drains his glass, then shoots a glare at the server along the side wall. “Now!” he barks. His wife jumps and winces.
I scowl. Her reaction tells me all I need to know. Oscar hits her. Claudio and I exchange a glance. His eyes are narrowed, and he looks more pissed than I’ve seen him in quite some time.
The server rushes over and fills Oscar’s glass.
“You don’t have to be rude.” Maddie shakes her head. “He’s not your personal servant.”
“Excuse me?” Oscar’s eyes widen.
“Yes, that’s exactly what you should’ve said.” Maddie smiles, innocence all over her. “Next time you want more wine, just turn and say ‘excuse me,’ and he’ll come right over. It’s so much more polite that way, don’t you think?”
Clara stifles a laugh behind her palm, but she cowers when Oscar turns his glare on her. “Is something funny, my love?” he sneers.
“N-No.” She shakes her head.
“Now you’re being mean to her. What’s your damage, mister?” Maddie’s indignation is almost as hot as it is well-warranted.
Oscar seems at a loss for words, his mouth hanging open as he stares at the pink-haired angel in my lap. I feed her a juicy bit of prime rib and dab the sauce from her plump lips.