Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 185

Anna's POV

"Innocent." Caesar rolled the word around like he was tasting it. "And that was enough? To make you forget everything?"

"I didn't forget." Dante's voice went hard, dangerous. "I'll never forget what Lorenzo took from me. But killing Gianna wouldn't bring anyone back. It would just create another victim. Another life destroyed by that bastard's actions."

The staff returned with the first course, and for a moment the interruption felt like a break, but I knew Caesar still had more to say.

He watched as the plates were set and more wine poured. Then he picked up his fork, a faint smile still on his lips.

"Eat, eat." He gestured to the food. "Vera's chef has outdone himself tonight."

We ate in tense silence for a few moments. The food was exquisite, but I could barely taste it. Dante's hand stayed on my thigh under the table, his thumb tracing small circles. It was meant to comfort, I suspected, but it only reminded me how fragile our situation was.

"You know," Caesar said suddenly, making me jump, "when Dante first called to tell me he was married, I thought he'd lost his mind. I thought perhaps grief had finally broken him."

He looked between us, his expression unreadable.

"But seeing you together, I can see something there. Whether it's love or something else, I'm not yet sure."

"It's love," Dante declared. "I know it's fast. I know it seems impossible given our history. But it's real."

Caesar leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass.

"My nephew has given up a lot to be with you, Gianna. His revenge. His original plan. Years of anger and pain, all set aside."

He paused, his eyes narrowing.

"But what about you? Do you love him?"

My heart hammered in my chest. Dante opened his mouth, starting to say, "Uncle..."

But I placed my hand on his, cutting him off.

"I hated him at first." My voice trembled. I kept my eyes on Dante's face, unable to look away. "The night he raided my home, when I saw him shoot my father, I was thrust into a world I never asked for. A world of violence and blood and fear."

My throat tightened with emotion.

"I was terrified. Alone. And then I was sold like cattle at an auction, like I was nothing."

Dante's hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently. I drew strength from the touch and continued.

"When Dante bought me, I thought it was over. I thought he'd kill me, or worse."

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I didn't bother to wipe it away.

"I hated him for what he'd done. For destroying the only life I'd ever known, even if that life was a cage."

I glanced at Caesar, then back at Dante. His grey eyes were fixed on me intensely.

"My father, he locked me away my whole life." I took a shaky breath. "I was nothing more than property."

The words spilled out faster now.

"I'm horrified by what he did to Dante's family. By the pain he caused, the lives he ruined. But I can't change that. I can't undo it."

Another tear slipped down, and Dante's thumb came up to brush it away. The touch was so gentle it made my chest ache.

"Dante saw me when no one else ever did." I met his grey eyes, letting the truth tumble out. "In the middle of him tearing down my walls, I fell for him. For his danger, his charm, his strength. For the way he protected me, more than my father ever could. The man who could have killed me but chose to save me. Who gave me a choice when no one else ever did."

The dining room went silent. Even the staff paused.

Dante's hand slid into my hair, tilting my head back, and when he kissed me, it was desperate and tender, nothing staged.

When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, his hand still tangled in my hair.

"Cristo," Caesar breathed, awe in his voice. "Now that, that is a love story."

He shook his head, smiling.

"Lorenzo's daughter and the man who swore revenge on her family. The girl he could have killed but saved. The man she should have hated but loved instead."

He raised his glass.

"Shakespeare couldn't have written it better."

Vera dabbed at her eyes. "That was beautiful, Gianna."

"A toast," Caesar said. "To love that conquers hate, to loyalty forged in fire, to Dante and Gianna."

We raised our glasses. Dante's arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me close.

"To family," Vera added.

"To the De Luca family," Cesare cheered, his eyes on me. "And to our newest member. Your loyalty and love, it's real. I see that now."

His hand came around, warm fingers sliding my hair to one side, baring my neck and shoulder. The simple gesture sent heat spiraling through me.

"Let me."

"I can..."

His fingers brushed mine aside, finding the zipper. One smooth pull and it slid down, the dress loosening around my ribs.

"There." His hands lingered at my lower back, fingers splayed against bare skin. "All done."

"Thanks." I clutched the dress to my chest and began walking toward the bathroom.

"I'll just..."

His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against him. Against bare skin and hard muscle and heat.

"Where are you going?"

My breath hitched. "To take this off."

"So take it off." His lips brushed my ear. "You're holding it right there."

His hand reached for the place where my fingers gripped the fabric.

"I prefer the bathroom."

"Why?" His thumb traced slow circles on my hip through the silk. "I've seen you naked, Gianna. Several times, actually."

Heat flooded my face. "That's not..."

"Not what?" His other hand came up, fingers trailing along my bare shoulder where the dress had slipped. "We're married. We share a bed. There's no reason to hide in the bathroom."

Because if I undress in front of you right now, I might do something stupid. Might turn around and kiss you and beg you to touch me.

"Fine." The word came out meaner than I intended.

I felt his smile against my neck.

"Get to it?"

"You want a show? You'll get one."