18 Chapter 8 - Mariano (1)

"We're five minutes away," I tell Duke, one of my men, over the phone before ending the call and sinking back into my seat and watching the lamp posts we pass by on our way home. It's already 30° outside and my body is buzzing.

My jaw clenches at the thought of what's happening at the Morelli house right about now. I can practically hear the chaos from here and we're still a few miles away. I wish I was there to see my father's reaction the second he realizes he's doomed.

But I first had to make sure it was safer for Riri to go inside the house. By the time we get there, my men would already be done with what they need to do. I trust them even if they're only a handful.

I slide my stare to the woman on my right when I sense a dark energy around her. She's looking out the window with a deep crease between her brows. Riri appears pissed off since we left the church. She slammed the car shut and her nose flared like she was about to breathe fire, the little dragon that she is.

If I didn't know any better, I would think that she's disappointed. Did she expect me to kiss her? I don't think she wanted that. I just saved myself from a black eye and a possible knee-to-balls injury. No thanks.

That and the fact that I was so close to actually kissing her. I had to walk out before doing something stupid.

My eyes drift lower, settling on the jewelry on her finger. I chose a classic solitaire diamond ring for her because I think it suits her. She has that air of elegance and sophistication that whatever dress she puts on would always look good on her.

Mine, on the other hand, is a plain white-gold band that somehow matches hers even though I didn't do it on purpose when I picked out the rings a few days ago.

Ree…is now my wife. God, I don't think I'll ever get used to it. She's been a vital part of my plans and now that it has commenced, everything will go both down and uphill from here.

Riri glances in my direction but she quickly darts her eyes back out the window, the crease deepening even further.

My wife is clearly mad at me.

For the past twenty-five minutes, she has been giving me deadly glares that would've already left me bloody if I wasn't so occupied with what awaits me at home. This woman is a spitfire. If I'm not careful, I might just get burned.

"You okay?" I ask just to be polite—okay fine, also a bit concerned. I need her on my side after all. I don't have time to coax her right now.

She rolls her eyes, folds her arms under her full breasts, and continues to ignore me. She's wearing my coat again and it reminds me that I need to make sure her winter clothes arrive tomorrow because Chicago winter is brutal.

I let my gaze wander around her bare face. There's a natural pink flush on her cheeks that she always had even back then. The skin down her decolletage is smooth and flawless, causing my eyes to trail lower, but I catch myself when she fidgets, so I look away.

Why do I have to feel guilty? Looking at my wife should be normal…but nothing about our marriage is normal.

Letting out a sigh, I tap Jax, who's sitting in the front seat, and nod to him. I don't need to verbally express myself to my best friend. He always understands me right away—most of the time anyway. Jax reaches into the glove compartment, retrieves a handgun, and hands it to me.

This catches Riri's attention and she's finally looking my way, her eyes widening in question but I ignore her. I retrieve another gun that I kept tucked in my waistband and then check both of the guns' clips. They're fully loaded.

"You know how to use a gun, right?" I ask, briefly glancing her way.

She blinks fast as if taken aback by the sudden question, her eyes bouncing between my hands, me, and Jax, who's also checking his own piece. "Y-Yeah?"

The car turns into an open gate and we cruise down the driveway, coming to a stop in front of the Morelli Mansion. It was built in the 19th century and is one of the biggest gilded mansions in Chicago that my grandfather—now the former Don—inherited from his wealthy immigrant German stepfather. It's surrounded by trees and high stone walls. I grew up here and I hate and love this place at the same time.

I peer through the window—the one on her side and she squeezed herself towards the door away from me. I pretend not to notice the thousands of questions floating on her face as I give her a gun. Then I stare directly into her eyes as I warn her:

"Don't shoot me. If you do, my men will kill you in the next second you won't even have time to breathe."

Her jaw falls as she subconsciously wraps her hand around the gun. I'm not threatening her…or sort of. I'm warning her that my loyal men would avenge me, so she better not do anything stupid.

I leave her at that and get out of the vehicle from my side, round the car from the back and open her door. She's still gaping at me until I narrow my eyes at her—that seems to snap her out of her trance that she alights the car right away, ignoring my waiting hand.

Ree takes in the mansion in front of her and I can see the gears in her head turn as if she's envisioning her future here with me. I don't know what she thinks of it at the moment and it's making me damn curious.

As she stands there gaping at my house, I wonder if she'll ever get over the massive wall between us. Are you ready, wife?