Adrian's Pov:
The house is disturbingly quiet. It always is, but this time the air feels tenser. The coffee Lucia made me sits there on the table, long gone cold. I hadn't even touched it.
I left home and had been staying in one of my suites for the past week. I needed space to think. I needed to understand why I had been feeling and acting strangely.
It was because of Elena. I can't focus when I'm around her.
And that day when she asked to swim in the gym, I accepted. But nothing… and I mean nothing in this god-damned world prepared me for what was to come.
She shed her towel and I lost it. It took me everything not to walk up to her, push her against the damn wall, and press into her. To feel every part of her.
I was like a feral man. It was like I had never seen a woman in a bikini before, but I had seen thousands. So why did seeing her affect me like that?
When she walked past me, to the pool, I had caught a whiff of that strawberry, vanilla scent, and I wanted nothing more than to pull her back, and bury my face in her neck till I had had enough of her.
And then she dived into that pool like a pro. And I watched. I watched because I couldn't help it. I couldn't resist no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't take my eyes off of her.
The way she swirled and twirled in that little piece of fabric had turned me on in ways I had never been before. My breathing became unsteady, my chest rising and falling unevenly.
When she came out of the pool, water dripped from her body, flowing along all her curves. Those firm, full breasts, her slender waist and wide hips, down to her smooth legs. Her hair was soaked and I had wondered what it would feel like to thread my fingers through it.
And even after I left, I still couldn't get her out of my mind. She had occupied all my senses. Anytime I closed my eyes, I saw her face. I could smell her, even when she wasn't there. And her voice always rang in my head.
After thinking for days, I had finally come to the conclusion that maybe…. I'm attracted to my wife. To others, it's a normal thing. But me, I can't afford to be attracted to Elena.
It goes against everything I've set out for myself. I don't do attraction. Ever. All the ladies I've slept with were only out of lust. They were all just holes I used to chase down a fucking release.
But from the first day I met Elena, I had felt something. I couldn't explain what it was at first so I ignored it, until I couldn't anymore.
I couldn't ignore it when I had gone back to put a bullet through Matteo's head for speaking to her in that manner. And the fact that I didn't think twice about it bothers me more.
But now, anytime I close my eyes, all I see is her face. The expression she wore while I belittled her. Like she was disgusted by me, probably irritated, or worse, she hates me.
Yesterday, when I got the call from Lucia, that Elena was missing, it was like hell had come loose. My chest tightened so much, it became hard for me to breathe. Fear gripped me, nudging at the deepest part of my mind.
And this was one of the reasons I stayed away from feelings like that. Because from attraction, you'd start feeling other things, and I can't afford to feel. I can't afford to care.
The last time I cared about someone, she got taken away from me. I had never felt pain in my life until that moment. And I never want to feel that again.
I spent hours searching for Elena. I was going crazy. And when I found her in the coffee shop, looking like she was having the time of her life, while my life was being turned upside down, I had lost it.
I said things to her that I can't take back. I was angry, confused. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was scared to death of what might have happened to her.
And I was angry that she made me feel that way. All the feelings I've tried to bury, she somehow brought them back.
My hurt and fear turned into rage.
My jaw tightens.
But I don't regret the things I said. If those words can make her hate me, the better for me.
Only, a small part of me disagrees. That somehow, I don't want her to despise me. But I push that part to the back of my mind.
I reach for my cup of coffee, and make my way to the kitchen.
Pouring the coffee away into the sink, I take a glass from the counter, and pour myself some wine. Coffee is not strong enough.
As I take a sip, I hear footsteps coming from the stairs. I don't need to look to know who it is.
Elena pads into the kitchen and goes straight to the fridge without a word.
It's like I'm not even there. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun, and she's wearing only a T-shirt that stops her mid-thigh.
Is she wearing anything underneath?
My gaze follows her as she works her way through the kitchen.
Part of me wants to hold her by the neck and force her to look at me. But that's just the irrational part of me.
"My father invited us over for dinner tonight," I say, finally.
Her shoulders tense, but she masks it quickly. I wait for her to respond, but she doesn't say anything. She just continues with what she was doing.
"Be ready by 8. Dinner is at his house. You can just pick anything from your closet."
Still no words.
My frustration is slowly slipping. I cannot handle the silent treatment, it's getting under my skin in a way I don't want it to.
"Elena. Don't you have anything to say?"
"Like what?" Her voice finally comes through.
"Would anything I say change anything? Besides, I wouldn't want to be disrespectful towards my dearest husband and my father-in-law."
Before I can speak, she closes the fridge with a thump and walks out of the kitchen.
I lean back on the counter, and down my wine in one go.
What in the world is wrong with me?
*******
She's fidgeting. I noticed the way her shoulders tensed when I told her about dinner, but she hid it quite well though.
Is she scared of father?
"Are you okay?" I ask before I can stop myself.
She takes a moment to answer but then her soft voice fills the car. "Why do you ask?"
"You've been tapping your knees since we got into the car."
She immediately stops the action, but I don't miss the faint blush that marks her face out of embarrassment.
"I'm fine," she bites out, turning to face the window.
I want to push further, but decide against it. I shouldn't have asked in the first place.
The gates to my father's house open, and I drive in.
The dining table is already set by the time we arrive. Father sits at the head of the table, a glass of red wine in his hand, and a smile that barely reaches his eyes.
What a way to welcome your guests.
"Adrian, you finally decided to show up."
I roll my eyes internally. Typical Vincent.
"Father," I greet.
His gaze narrows slightly at me, before shifting sideways. "And you are, Elena." his voice is lower than before. Like he's trying to intimidate her.
Elena shifts slightly, uncomfortable beside me, before bowing her head slightly. "Good evening, father."
Her tone is polite, but somewhat distant.
"Please, have a seat." He gestures at us.
We take our seats across from each other. Her on the left-hand side of father, and I on the right. It wasn't my plan, but she went that way on her own accord.
She's definitely not herself around this man, but still chooses to sit closer to him just to avoid me?
The first few minutes are just a blur of silverware and clinking glasses. Then father starts asking questions. Harmless questions.
About the marriage, how she's been adjusting.
"You must find it a bit strange being married into a family like ours, don't you? It's really not a gentle life." He takes a bite out of his pork, but I sense the intent provocation in his tone.
"I manage," Elena replies softly.
"Mmm," he hums. "I believe with time, you'll get used to it, and everything will fall into place eventually."
"Indeed." Her smile is fake.
Father wipes his mouth with a napkin and sets his fork down.
"So then, when are you planning on giving Adrian a child?"
My grip tightens on my glass, the same time Elena's fork clanks on her plate.
"Father. That is not–"
"Let the girl speak, Adrian."
I clench my jaw, but retreat anyway. He knows what he's doing. Pushing, testing.
"I uhh," she clears her throat, "I think it's still too early. We've been married for barely a month, and besides," her gaze shifts to me for less than a second, "We haven't discussed it yet."
"It's never too early for children, Elena. This is the Mafia. Continuing this lineage should be your first priority as the wife to the don. So take your time, but don't keep us waiting too long."
Her fingers wrap around her fork, twisting tightly. "Yes, father."
It's there. That slight defiance in her voice. Like she wants to say something but she's restraining herself.
"And you," father turns to me with a stoic expression.
"You seem to have gotten thinner. I understand the stress of marriage, but you have to take care of yourself."
I chuckle at his words. "Trust me. I'm the least person you should be worried about, father."
I don't know why he bothers to play his stupid games with me, when he knows damn well it's not gonna work.
"You know, Elena? When my son said he was marrying you, I was not in approval of it."
My jaw ticks. He initiated this whole marriage nonsense.
"Of course the obvious reason was that my family and yours were rivals," he laughs to himself. "I thought you were not going to be good enough for Adrian. That maybe, your father didn't give you a proper raising, given the type of poor decisions he's known to make, and that you were just like all these other girls, clinging to money, shameless sluts."
His words strike a chord in my chest. My gaze shifts to Elena and I notice how her breathing's changed. Her chest rises and falls unevenly.
"But then your good-for-nothing father came to us for a deal, and what could I say? It was a pretty good deal for a real pretty girl." His gaze slides over Elena, head to toe.
My fingers itch. I want to reach across the table, grab him by his collar, and slam his face into his plate of food once, twice, thrice...
"I hope you haven't forgotten your place in this family," his gaze shifts to me for a brief second.
"We could easily replace you and end all deals with your father, so do well to keep in place."
A smile forms on his face. "Now don't frown, Elena. I just gave you advice. We wouldn't want to lose our pretty daughter-in-law after all."
He then goes back to eating his food with a wide smile on his face.
I throw back all the contents of my glass, and slam it on the table.
"Go wait in the car."
Elena's eyes shoot up at me, confused.
"But we're not done with–"
"Car, Elena."
She hesitates, but gets up anyway. Immediately she's out, I lean back in my chair with my hands folded.
"Now let me make something clear, father." I shoot him a glare.
"Elena is my wife, and you will add some respect to her name."
He laughs humorlessly. "You've grown bold."
"And you've grown balls."
"Now listen father," I stand with my hands in my pocket and face him.
"Look at my wife in the way you did, speak to her in that condescending manner again, and I promise you, I won't hesitate to put a bullet through your head, father or not"
"What's gotten over you, son? Elena is just a pawn here. Why are you getting so worked up?"
"I've said all I needed to say." I turn to leave then stop midway. "And thanks for the dinner. It was horrible."
"You've changed, Adrian."
His words root me in place. "Yeah. You should try it sometime." And with that, I'm gone.