In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Arousing His Desire

In the grip of Isabella's anxiety and restlessness, the day of Sophia's wedding had arrived.

The evening before the nuptials, Isabella returned to her sanctuary of solitude, only to find Emanuele there, once again. His silent, unannounced appearances left her wondering if he saw her home as an extension of his own.

"Mr. Lombardi, could you extend a touch of courtesy towards my privacy?" Isabella demanded, her eyes flashing irritation at Emanuele.

From that point on, she made it a point to fortify her doors and windows before surrendering to sleep. She even shifted a cabinet to barricade her doorway, haunted by the fear that Emanuele might materialize in her home during the ungodly hours of the night. The thought was unnerving!

Emanuele couldn't suppress his amusement, his smile revealing his mirth. It was as if he found the audacity of a captive bird demanding freedom and privacy from its captor rather amusing.

"I've brought you a set of clothing. Give it a try," Emanuele motioned towards the gift box on the bed, directing Isabella to change into the attire.

Upon opening the box, Isabella was taken aback. It was the latest CHANEL haute couture, a symbol of opulence and grandeur.

The dress was a soft shade of blue, its fabric gentle against the skin, adorned with intricate patterns woven from fine golden threads that shimmered under the light. No woman, least of all Isabella, could resist the allure of such exquisite clothing. She had never laid eyes on such a luxurious brand before.

Isabella found herself caught in the thrill of imagining how breathtaking she would look in that dress.

Emanuele noticed her reaction, and peculiarly, her delight brought him a sense of satisfaction. He hadn't anticipated that a simple dress could evoke such joy in this woman.

Although Isabella was tempted to adorn the dress, she couldn't bring herself to accept this devil's gift, especially when it bore the taint of blood money. She was a doctor, sworn to preserve lives, so how could she accept a gift from someone whose hands were stained with the blood of countless lives?

"I don't want it," Isabella declared firmly. "I've already chosen my attire for tomorrow."

With that, she retrieved her own simple white dress from her closet.

Seeing the elegant yet somewhat modest dress, Emanuele's expression turned stormy. His brow furrowed, he challenged Isabella, "Isabella, have I been too lenient with you?"

His words sent a chill down Isabella's spine. She was genuinely terrified of him.

"If it weren't for your remaining usefulness, you would already be a corpse," Emanuele said ominously.

Emanuele, known for his deep love for family, showed a softer side at home. But outside that circle, his patience thinned, especially for those he deemed worthless. Isabella was an exception, her usefulness keeping her alive. Had it not been for that, he would have eliminated her effortlessly, like squashing an ant, on the night she entered their world.

Confronted with Emanuele's threats, Isabella felt her claustrophobia creeping in. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her panic. She couldn't risk more defiance against this devil. Biting her lip, she agreed to his demands, silently.