Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 200

Dante's POV

Music boomed through the air, bass pounding so loud I could feel it in my chest. Roberto's pool party was in full swing.

I stopped and looked around. This wasn't what I had expected. Young men, shirtless and tanned, sat on lounge chairs or stood in groups around the pool, drinks in hand. Women in bikinis moved between them, laughing.

Guys were smoking cigars, talking too loudly, acting like they owned the place. It looked more like a nightclub than a brunch. Fucking great.

My eyes narrowed as I caught a group near the bar raising their glasses, toasting to God knows what. One of them blew smoke at a woman who giggled and leaned closer.

I wanted to leave already.

"There's Vera," Cesare's voice came from behind me.

I turned. He was pointing across the pool toward one of the cabanas. Vera stood there in a white summer dress, a champagne glass in her hand.

Next to her was another woman, dressed just as nicely, her dark hair pulled back. She was talking to Vera, smiling.

"That's Estelle," Cesare said. "Roberto's wife."

I nodded. I had never met her before. The two women saw Cesare and waved.

I glanced around. Gianna wasn't with them.

"Go ahead," I said. "I'll find Gianna first."

Cesare grinned. "Ah. Of course. Go ahead."

I turned to Bruno, who was standing behind me, looking just as annoyed as I felt.

"Seen Mira yet?"

Bruno's expression darkened. He shook his head.

"Over there."

He nodded toward the far side of the pool. I looked.

Mira was standing near a lounge chair, talking to some guy. He was leaning in close, grinning, saying something that made her smile politely. But I could tell she was uncomfortable.

Bruno's hands clenched at his sides. His jaw was tight.

I got it. I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Go get her. I'll be fine. I'll find Gianna."

Bruno hesitated, looking at Mira again. Then he nodded.

"Grazie."

He walked off, cutting through the crowd toward her.

I turned back to the pool.

Now to find my wife.

My annoyance grew with every second. If Gianna wasn't with Vera or Mira, then where the hell was she?

I scanned the area again. The lounge chairs under the shaded cabanas. The bar. Groups of people standing around talking.

I looked for her dark hair, hoping to spot her buried in a book somewhere, hiding from the noise.

Nothing.

I walked closer to the pool, my eyes still searching.

Then I heard it. A familiar giggle that made me stop.

I looked toward the far end of the pool.

There Gianna was in the water, her hair wet and slicked back, droplets running down her bare shoulders.

She was laughing, her head tilted back, her smile wide and completely carefree.

My body went stiff.

Behind her was a guy. Young, twenty-five at most. Shirtless and tanned.

His hands were on her waist, holding her up as she floated in the water. Her body leaned back against his chest.

Rage shot through me as my vision blurred. My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms.

His hands were wrapped around my wife.

She laughed at something he said, tilting her head toward him. He grinned down at her, his fingers spread across her sides, holding her close.

My breathing stopped. Or maybe my heart did.

I couldn't think past the jealousy burning through my veins. Watching some little boy hold my wife the way only I should.

Then her eyes lifted.

She saw me.

The laughter vanished. Her face went pale. Shock hit her first, then panic.

I started walking toward the pool. Fast. People moved out of my way.

"Gianna." My voice cut through the music. "Get out. Now."

She went stiff in the water.

The guy still had his hands on her.

She tried to pull away, but the water slowed her down. He kept her steady.

"Who is he?" The guy looked at me, his brows pulling together.

He glanced down at Gianna, then back at me. His expression changed. Defensive. Almost cocky.

"Hey, man, you can't speak to her like that."

My hands flexed at my sides.

Every part of me wanted to reach into that pool, drag him out by his throat, and beat him into the ground until he understood exactly who he was touching.

But this was Roberto's house. His party. His guests.

I couldn't make a scene. Not now. Not when everything depended on this alliance. On catching Lorenzo.

I breathed in through my nose and forced my fists to open.

It took everything I had.

"I have to go." Gianna's voice was quiet. Shaking.

She pulled away from him again, but she moved slowly.

She struggled in the water, her arms moving awkwardly as she tried to get to the edge.

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