She frowns. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to teach you a lesson.” I lean close to her and murmur, “If you want to mess with me, Adelina, you’re going to learn there are consequences.”
“Real mature, Matteo. Is this because I danced with Carlo?”
“So you admit it. You liked dancing with him?”
“I never said that. I just think you’re a jealous man who can’t stand the sight of me in the arms of someone else.”
“You’re mine now, Adelina. Remember that. Now come on. Let me show you around.”
I guide her around the courtyard, pointing out the bikes and giving her an extensive history of each of them. She looks more bored by the minute. Good. Let her see what happens when you try to mess with me.
Then I take her inside the meeting house, where only Antonio and a few women are lounging around on the couches. Adelina grimaces when she steps on a piece of trash. “Do you even keep it clean here?”
I laugh. “Sometimes.”
Adelina stops when she sees the half-naked women. “Why are they here?”
“Because we always have women around. They keep my men happy.”
“Are they prostitutes?” she whispers.
“No. Well, not technically. They don’t get paid. They offer their bodies up in exchange for other perks.”
Her eyes widen. “Like what?”
“They like to live on the edge. They get a chance to mean something here. They get to choose who they sleep with. They have a warm place to sleep at night instead of on the streets. We provide them with safety. Perks like that.”
“That’s terrible. Matteo, you’re running a prostitution ring. You’re a pimp!”
I chuckle. “I’m not. Trust me. I’m not forcing these women to do anything they don’t want to do. If any of my men try to get violent with them, I make sure they’re safe. I have no desire to see any woman here hurt.”
“You act like you’re doing them a service. I just can’t get behind this.”
“You don’t have to. This is my place of business. Not yours.”
She flinches. “Fine. I’ll try to remember that.”
A couple of the women huddle together and start whispering, looking at Adelina and me. We’re definitely a sight in my tux and her wedding dress.
“They’re talking about us,” Adelina whispers. “Why?”
“Because they love to gossip, and you’re the juiciest gossip to ever walk through the front door.” I nod at them. “Ladies.”
“Hey, Matteo,” they say in unison.
“They sound like they know you,” Adelina responds.
I wink. “Of course, they know me.”
She frowns, turning her head away.
I see a flash of red near the hallway entrance. Emma is there, wearing nothing but a skimpy bikini top that barely covers her nipples and short shorts that barely cover her ass. She stopsshort when she sees Adelina and me. Then a wicked smile crosses her face and she heads in our direction.
“Hi, Matteo,” she purrs, reaching out and touching my chest. “Who’s this?” She smiles tightly at Adelina.
Adelina shifts closer to me.