Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

LUCA
I was barely off the damn stage with Alina when Victoria slithered over like a snake in silk.
“I only tried to buy the dress as an apology,” she said, voice syrupy sweet, like I hadn’t just watched her try to rip Alina apart with a bid war.
Alina didn’t flinch. She barely glanced at the galling woman. “I don’t care.”
Good.
Victoria blinked, the fake kindness flickering off her face like a blown-out candle. “Well, I was trying to be the bigger person.”
Before Alina could respond, Talciro stepped in from nowhere just like the devil always shows up at the peak of temptation.
“Did you apologize to her?” he asked, eyes flicking between them both.
Alina started to speak but Victoria beat her to it.
“She slapped me,” Victoria said, turning to him like a damn wounded angel. “In the bathroom. I refused to apologize after that.”
Gasps and murmurs came from the guests around us.
“She slapped Victoria? Who does she think she is?”
“How can a woman behave like such a beast?!”
My jaw clenched so tight I felt something shift in the back of it.
Talciro turned slowly, like a judge about to drop the gavel. “Alina,” he said sternly. “I do not condone violence in my home. You slapped her?”
Alina looked stunned. Caught between trying to explain and trying not to scream.
That’s when I stepped forward.
“I don’t take kindly to my wife being disrespected and lectured.” I said, loud and clear. “If she’s not apologized to, we leave. Right now.”
“Why should she be apologized to? She's the one who slapped me. I deserve an apology.” Victoria sniffled softly, looking up with big, round eyes at Mr. Talciro.
“Luca, I respect you, but your wife is not above the rules of etiquette. This is a party for elites, she should be able to act like none or leave.” Talciro snapped.
“Are you calling my wife uncultured?” I stepped into his space and he back away, looking into the distance. I nodded. “I thought so. If you keep badgering my wife, you might not like my reaction. That's my final warning.”
The room fell into a suffocating silence. Half the crowd went still. Some stared at me. Some turned to Talciro like they weren’t sure who they should be afraid of, more.
Alina looked up at me, her eyes wide with something between shock and gratitude.
Good. Let them all know where we stood. I would never allow him to disrespect my wife like that.
She was not apologizing to Victoria even if we had to leave the event.
Before the tension could stretch any further, the grand doors at the far end opened and Analide glided into the room.
Beside her was a man I wished I would never see again. It was that bastard, Ethan. He grinned at Alina, completely ignoring me.
Mr. Talciro said nothing, maybe hoping his daughter would distract me from my anger.
Analide smiled, oblivious or just really damn good at pretending. “Oh, Alina! There you are. Remember my best friend who’s always late?” She gestured beside her. “He’s finally here. Ethan, meet Alina Marino—Mr. Marino’s wife. She’s also my newest staff member.”
Wait. What? Ethan was Analide Talciro’s best friend?
My eyes shot to Alina who looked like someone had slapped her twice.
“Staff member?” I asked under my breath.
Ethan stepped forward and took Alina’s hand before either of us could say anything.
He didn’t shake it.
No.
The bastard brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them.
Soft.
Slow.
Like he didn’t notice the way I was watching his every damn move.
“Charmed,” he said, voice smooth like he knew exactly what he was doing. “You’re even more stunning than Analide described, and than I remember.”
My hand itched for the gun again.
Alina stiffened just slightly but gave a polite smile, pulling her hand back quickly.
Victoria, seeing the sudden change in energy and probably realizing her window for drama had closed, finally spoke again.
“Alina… I’m sorry,” she muttered, low and bitter.
Alina didn’t even look at her. “Thank you.” She answered dismissively.
Ethan grinned wide and wicked. “Well, seems I’ve missed most of the drama. Always do show up when the knives are already back in the drawer.”
The band struck up a waltz from the far end of the room.
Ethan turned to me, full of arrogance and shiny teeth. “Mind if I steal your wife for a dance?”
I looked him dead in the eyes. “Yeah. I do.”
I didn’t give him the chance to respond. I reached for Alina’s hand, wrapped her fingers with mine, and pulled her toward the dance floor.
“Luca,” she said softly, half-protesting.
“No.” I led her straight into the center of the marble floor as couples slowly began to join around us.
“You’ve had enough of them for one night,” I said. “Now, you’re going to let me do what I’ve wanted to do all night; hold you without anyone watching you like a hawk or interrupting me when I only want to talk to you.”
She blinked up at me, cheeks still flushed. Her lips parted but she didn’t speak.
I placed one hand on her waist, the other holding her hand. The music swelled.
We began to dance.
Her body was warm against mine, soft in a way that made me ache. I pulled her closer, not caring who watched, who whispered, who hated it.
“You okay?” I murmured, dipping my head toward her ear.
She gave a small nod. “That was intense.”
I chuckled. “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot Riot. That would have made it even worse.”
She blinked. “You saw him?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed hard. “You didn’t hurt him too badly, did you?”
“No,” I said. “Not yet.”
Her breath hitched.
I tightened my grip on her waist. “But I’ll say this once, Alina, if he comes near you or our family again… I won’t be so generous.”