What Gio didn’t know, what I never told him—or anyone—was this wasn’t just about me wanting to keep my independence and marry someone of my choosing.
This wasn’t about being stubborn or reckless and not falling in line.
This was also about one man—the only man—I wanted.
Have ever wanted.
Dmitry.
All I could think about was the few letters he’d sent me. All I fantasized about was the one where he’d asked me to keep sending him pictures of myself.
I’d felt the desire woven in those words.
I should tell you to leave me alone.
But I won’t.
My body was instantly lit up remembering those words, re-reading them before I went to bed, before I obscenely touched myself and came with the image of big, tattooed Dmitry looking over me.
I closed my eyes and breathed out, tingles of arousal filling me, claiming me.
So go on, sweetheart, be a good girl and keep them coming.
When I opened my eyes, I stared at suitor number two.
Rocco.
He was hairy, which wouldn’t have been an issue. But watching him pet the patches of thick dark hair that covered his arms as he licked his lips and winked at me when Gio wasn’t watching was a new level of being turned off I’d never experienced before.
The next night there was Bosco.
He was reminiscent of Riccardo in the fact that he talked way too much and liked to stroke his own ego with all his accomplishments.
Stefano was two nights later, covered in so much cologne my eyes watered, and Gio told him to leave before we even sat down to dinner.
By Sunday I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and I could see Gio was as well. But we had one more dinner before calling it a week, and I’d never been more ready for something to be done and over with than I was tonight.
I was expecting another suitor to follow the same lines as all the rest, but Fredo was different. He didn’t brag, didn’t check me out, and was actually respectful.
Although I’d never accept a hand in marriage with him regardless, it was refreshing not to feel uncomfortable because someone was clearly only thinking about fucking you.
We stepped out onto the patio, the chill in the air causing me to wrap my arms around my middle to ward off the coldness. I tuned out Fredo and my brother as I stared at the grounds.
The gardener had come by earlier in the week to winterize the landscape. They’d cleared off all the fallen leaves, pruned the trees and shrubs, fertilized and mulched where needed, wrapped the shrubs, and closed off the fountains at the front and rear of the property.
Everything seemed so cold and dead now.
But it was beautiful. And I’d always felt so empty being here.
I heard Gio’s phone go off and glanced over my shoulder to see him pull his cell out of the inner pocket of his suit jacket. When he saw who it was, he instantly scowled.
“What?” He barked out that lone word, and as the seconds passed, I felt the aggression in my brother rise. “Are you fucking kidding me?” His voice was low but seething.
He had a tightening around his eyes. His shoulders were pulled back as he straightened his spine, and he was clenching and releasing his free hand.
Gio cast a glance in my direction and tipped his chin inside. “Give me a second.” He looked at Fredo, a furrow forming between his brows.
And then he was striding toward the patio doors and stepping inside. He kept one of the French doors open but had his back to us.
I faced forward again, and a moment later Fredo came to stand beside me. We were silent as we both stared out at the property, and it was the awkward kind that filled the space and made you squirm.
It was when I felt Fredo looking at me for long moments that I finally glanced over. I didn’t know what it was, but he had this hard expression on his face, one that he hadn’t presented all night.
One that I recognized because I’d seen it on my father countless times.
Instantly my instincts rose, red flags going off inside of me almost violently.
“You know,” he said in a slimy voice and raked his gaze up and down my body. “Out of all the men who saw you this week…” He glanced over at the doorway where Gio still had his back to us as he muttered.
Fredo looked back at me and leaned forward, the stench of his misogyny hitting me so damn hard. His grin widened, and the patio lighting caught his gold tooth, which made him look even more sinister.
“Out of all of them, I know you will accept my proposal for marriage. I’m the highest ranking out of all prospective suitors, the one with the most power and wealth.” He ran a hand over his mouth before licking his lips. “Your brother would be a fool not to give you to me.”