The drive to the house was silent, Lorenzo looking out one window and I the other. My legs were crossed, my arms folded over my chest, while he sat manspread with his arms also folded over his chest.

The ride was even more awkward, because Javier was sitting across from us, his honey brown eyes bouncing back and forth between the two of us.

"This little feud you two have going on is adorable, truly adorable," he said with an annoyed chuckle. "But you have a job to do. And it must be done tonight."

"I'm not doing shit with him," I said stubbornly.

"And I'm not doing shit with her," he barked back, equally as stubborn as I.

Javier groaned in frustration and sifted a hand through his hair. "I'm sure you two don't need a lesson on how babies are made, but it does require you two to 'do shit' with one another."

Neither of us responded. We had made up our minds. Not even the thought of a possible war taking place could convince us to participate in something as intimate as sex.

When the driver pulled up to the front of the house, I didn't bother waiting for him to open my door. Stepping out of the vehicle and slamming the door shut, I grabbed my belongings from the trunk and headed inside.

I paused in front of the entrance, a group of men camped out in the wide open kitchen decked out in black decor. Lorenzo seemed to also be fond of the color black like my brothers. Or maybe it's just a Mafia thing. Who knows.

Some of them were familar as they had attended the reception, while the others were unfamiliar. They all stopped talking to turn and look at me.

Once again, I had unknowingly placed myself in the spotlight. I could hear them mumbling something about me being hot and praising their boss for bagging a hot woman.

One looked directly at me as vulgar words left his mouth. "All I need is one night with her," he said with a devilish grin. "I'd fuck her like the little whore she is." All the men broke out in a fit of laughter, which angered me to my core.

I dropped my belongings and swiftly approached the man who made the filthy remark. They were all too busy laughing to notice that I had snatched the kitchen knife off the table.

Before there was any time to react, I stabbed the man right in his hand. He howled out in pain, the knife having pinned his now bloodied hand to the kitchen table.

The men around him gasped in horror, their eyes wide as they focused their attention on me. "Does anyone else have anything they would like to say?"

They just blinked at me, taken aback. When no one spoke, I clasped my hands together and smiled. "Good, then we understand each other."

As I was walking back to the entrance to grab my things, Lorenzo and Javier walked in. They paused, taking in the scene in front of them, the man I stabbed still wailing in pain.

"What happened here?" Lorenzo asked calmly, a brow raised and his eyes now on me.

"Apparently, your men think they can just make comments about fucking me and I won't retaliate."

"Damn. That is so fucking hot," Javier groaned, earning a glare from his friend.

Lorenzo's eyes floated back to his men, sheer terror in their eyes. I didn't know if they were afraid of my actions, or more afraid of what their Boss was going to do.

"Clean that shit up, Rafael," he said, his tone and manner still dangerously calm. "You're getting blood on my floor."

"Mi dispiace, capo(I'm sorry, boss)," he replied with a pained groan as he ripped the knife from out of his hand and began cleaning up the mess I made.

Lorenzo didn't even look in my direction, as he shifted past me and disappeared down a hall.

Javier sighed, shaking his head in disappointment at his friend's lack of manners. "I apologize for his cold behavior. He's not very good at socializing, as you can see."

"I've noticed," I muttered with a roll of my eyes.

He smiled his gorgeous smile and took my belongings from me. "Here, let me to take you to the room you'll be staying in."

"It's not with Enzo, is it?"

Javier laughed a deep throated laugh. "I'm not stupid enough to have you two in a room together after your exchange at the club awhile back. I don't need you two trying to kill each other in your sleep."

Thanking him and mentally sighing with relief, I followed him up a flight of stairs and down a hallway. He stopped in front of one of the bedroom doors and opened it.

Stepping aside, I walked into the room, my attention immediately drawn to the windowpane displaying a view of a beautiful black rose garden.

Javier joined my side to see what had caught my attention. "Ah, the rose garden."

"It's so beautiful."

With the petals as dark as night and the fluff of white snow on the ground, the contrast was positively stunning. I couldn't stop smiling. I wanted to explore the unique looking garden.

"Very. Black flowers were his mother's favorite flower. And so the garden is Enzo's favorite place to escape."

"To escape?" I questioned. "From what?"

Javier opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a knock, followed by a woman's voice. "Housekeeping."

"I better go check on Enzo."

I nodded and he left, as the housekeeper walked in. She shut the door behind her and strolled over to the closet.

"Hello Mrs. Fierri-Sinisi. My name is Greta, and I will be assisting you upon Mr. Sinisi's request."

She was so small compared to me, who stood five foot seven in height. She had blonde hair that was neatly slicked back into a bun and kind brown eyes. From the looks of it, she had to be in her early thirties.

"Nice to meet you, but I don't need any assistance. So can you please tell Enzo to shove it up his ass?"

She blushed at my words. "I'm sorry, but I cannot say that Mrs. Fierri-Sinisi."

"I'll tell him myself then. You may go." When she didn't even budge, I sighed and asked, "okay, what exactly did Enzo send you to me for?"

"Mr. Sinisi is very particular about how he wants you to look and act for tonight's dinner."

"Excuse me!?"

The petite woman gulped, trembling in fear where she stood. I apologized and lowered my voice. My intention wasn't to frighten her, but Lorenzo just makes my blood boil.

We just got married and he's already trying to control me. "What's so special about tonight's dinner?"

"A few people he conducts business with will be attending tonight's dinner to discuss the future of your marriage."

Greta grabbed something from within the closet and laid it out on the bed. It was some boring, royal blue, long sleeved dress that covered even my neck and ankles.

"I'm not wearing that ugly ass dress."

Picking up the dress and handing it back to Greta, I opened the suitcase full of clothes Autumn packed for me. I had to dig under all the lingerie and sex toys to even get to the dresses.

Finally managing to dig out the dress I had in mind, I splayed the dress out onto the bed and nodded in approval.

Greta leaned over my shoulder and glanced down at the dress. "Uh, I don't think Mr. Sinisi would approve of a dress like this."

"That's the point my dear friend."