“Fuck!” Cassio snarled. “Sybil, didn’t I tell you to keep the goddamn dog locked away?”
My smile died. He bent down and tried to grab the dog’s neck, but the tiny thing snapped its teeth and bit his finger. Fury flickered across his face, and he finally managed to grab the dog and lifted it into the air. The dog squeaked once then fell silent and hung in Cassio’s grasp. My husband looked as if he considered putting it down with his gun or strangling it with his strong hands.
I touched his arm, terrified for the helpless animal. “Don’t hurt it.”
Cassio’s eyes snapped to mine, still with the same anger in them, and I dropped my hand but stood my ground.
Steps rang out and a tall dark-haired woman in her early fifties came running then stopped abruptly and cursed in Italian, looking to the floor. She’d stepped in dog poo, which explained what I’d smelled. Her black flats were now covered with it.
“That’s it,” Cassio growled. “Tomorrow this thing is gone.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Moretti. I went into its room to clean and it slipped out. I tried catching it all day, but it’s too fast. And Daniele hid from me again. I don’t know—” She glanced my way and fell silent.
Cassio ignored her and stalked away. I followed hesitantly into a magnificent living room with herringbone parquet, then watched as my husband opened the terrace door and dropped the dog outside before closing the door. The dog peered in through the glass.
“You can’t do that,” I said, horrified.
Sybil gave me a look that conveyed I should keep my mouth shut. Cassio, however, ignored my comment altogether.
“Clean the dog shit,” Cassio ordered Sybil as he moved to a liquor cabinet, poured himself a drink, and sank down on the cognac-colored leather sofa. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the small dog sitting in the November cold with its nose pressed to the window. Sybil scurried away to follow her master’s command.
I stood in the middle of the living room, not sure what to do. One thing was for sure: I wouldn’t let that dog freeze to death outside. Cassio was the master of this house, in our society’s eyes—my master.
I walked over to the terrace door.
“Don’t.”
The word, without being said loudly, held absolute authority. Cassio was used to giving orders in every area of his life and expected unwavering obedience.
I didn’t look his way. If I saw his sharp eyes and powerful face, I might lose my courage. That wasn’t going to happen. This was the beginning of a new life, and if I let him trample all over me, I’d be doomed.
“Giulia, don’t.” Warning rang in his voice. Or what? He pushed off of the sofa when I opened the door and picked up the shivering ball of fluff. The dog remained quiet as I pressed it to my chest. I could feel matted fur from months of neglect.
Cassio towered over me, barring my way. I tipped my head up to meet his furious gaze. “That thing stays outside.” His eyes were harsh, but I didn’t look away. “I gave you an order.”
An order? “It seems I’m as badly trained as your dog.” Mother’s warning words about insolence rang in my head. It was too late, not that I would have taken anything back.
Cassio’s face flashed with surprise then anger. “Set it back down. I won’t allow you to bring it inside.”
Allow. Order. I was his wife, not his slave. But again, he was Underboss and probably didn’t understand the difference. “If the dog isn’t allowed inside, then I’ll stay outside with it. We can keep each other warm.” I turned to walk over to one of the lounge chairs, but Cassio’s arm shot out, stopping me.
I flinched. Father never hit me. Mother did twice. It wasn’t firsthand experience that had me wince, but I’d seen men hit women and children. My uncles, in particular, were of the violent sort. It happened often in our circles.
Cassio frowned and his fingers gently closed around my elbow. I regarded him curiously. “That flinch was unnecessary, and I don’t want it to happen again, all right?”
“You don’t want me to react that way or I won’t have reason to react that way?”
A ghost of a smile crossed Cassio’s face before the stern look was back. He leaned down so we were at eye level. “You won’t ever have reason to.”
“You sure?” I said it more to annoy him than anything else, but my words were softened by a tiny smile.
“Absolutely.”
“Good.”
His expression conveyed confusion. Was I that much of an enigma to him? “Now put the dog down.”
My smile widened. “No.”
He looked incredulous. Releasing my elbow, he cupped my chin between his thumb and forefinger and brought our faces even closer. This time I didn’t flinch, and I could see that it pleased him. “I gave you an order. I’m your husband and my word is law.”
“I know. And if you insist that the dog stays outside, I will too.”
Cassio narrowed his eyes. His breath held the hint of the spicy liquor, and I felt the crazy urge to taste it on his lips. “Do you really think I believe you’ll spend the night in the cold for a dog?”
I stared back stubbornly.
He barked out a laugh. “I think you might actually do it. Your parents didn’t mention your stubborn streak when they bartered you away.”
“They were too eager marrying me off to the cruelest Underboss of the Famiglia,” I muttered.
“The cruelest Underboss, hmm? That’s what they call me?”
“They did, and other people do too.”
“Why would your parents tell you something like that about your future husband?”
“To get me in line. My mother worried you might beat me to death if I’m insolent.”
Something on Cassio’s face shifted, a shadow of the past. “They shouldn’t have scared you before our wedding.”
“Is it a lie, then?” I whispered. For some reason his mouth appeared even closer than before.
“There’s no scale to judge someone’s cruelness.”
“That means it’s the truth.” He didn’t contradict me. I couldn’t read the look on his face. Acting on impulse, I leaned forward and brushed my lips across his then darted my tongue out, tasting the liquor clinging to his mouth. Smoky and sweet.
Cassio stiffened, but the look on his face became even more intense than before. “What was that?” His voice was a low rasp that I could feel everywhere.
“A kiss?” I didn’t have much experience, but I doubted anyone could mess up a simple kiss.
“Are you trying to influence me with your body?”
My eyes grew wide. “No. I could smell the liquor on your breath, and I was curious how it tastes.”
Cassio chuckled. “You are a strange girl.” His mouth twisted. “Woman.”
He looked down at the dog in my arms. It was snuggled against me peacefully. Without a word, Cassio turned around and returned to his glass of whisky on the table. I stepped inside and closed the door. Stroking the dog, I followed my husband.
“What’s its name?”
“Loulou,” Cassio said, a strange note to his voice. I stopped beside him.
“Can I have a sip of your whisky?”
Cassio’s eyes bored into me. “You’ve never had whisky before?”
“No. My father didn’t allow me to drink alcohol. I had my first glass at our wedding.”
“Many firsts for one day.” A small shiver passed down my spine at the contemplative growl. “You aren’t old enough for hard liquor.”
My lips parted in indignation. Was he serious?
He downed the remains of his drink, and before I could say something snarky, he cupped the back of my head and pressed his lips to mine. Gently at first, his eyes searching mine. I grasped his bicep and stood on my tiptoes—his permission. Then he really kissed me, his tongue stroking mine, discovering my mouth. The taste of whisky swirled in my mouth, intoxicating—not as much as the kiss though. God, his kiss set me aflame.
When he pulled back, I was dazed. Only Loulou squirming in my other arm brought me back to reality.
Cassio glanced over my head. “What is it, Sybil?”
I whirled around. Sybil hovered in the doorway, wringing her hands and looking anywhere but at me. She must have caught us kissing, and even though we hadn’t done anything indecent or forbidden, considering that we were married, acute embarrassment washed over me.
“The children are asleep, and I cleaned up. Is there anything else you need from me?”
“No, you can go.”
His clipped voice rubbed me the wrong way. Even if Sybil was working for him, that didn’t mean he had to sound like a drill sergeant. Sybil nodded and with a fleeting smile at me, she left.
“Can I see your children?”
Cassio’s brows furrowed. “The dog stays here, and we have to be quiet. I don’t want them to wake.”
“Where should I put Loulou?”
“We lock it in a room because the thing can’t behave itself.”
I pressed my lips together, following Cassio as he led me into the lobby and motioned at a door.
I pushed it open and my heart clenched. It must have been a storage room before, judging by the small window and shelves lining the walls. A torn apart basket, a litter box, and two empty bowls were the only indication that a dog lived here. There were no toys. I picked up one of the bowls and handed it to Cassio. “Can you fill it with water?”