Bound (The Devil’s Vow #2)

12. His Secret

Chapter twelve

His Secret

The night stretched on, filled with laughter and stories. Fabio entertained us with more wild tales of his escapades. Corrado devoured every dish that came his way, and Stefan maintained his quiet, brooding presence, though even he cracked a smile now and then.

Gianni stayed close to me the whole time.

At one point, Fabio leaned over to me, and kept his voice low so only I could hear. “You know, Erica, you’re good for my brother.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “How so?”

Fabio grinned. “He’s never smiled this much. Not in years.”

I glanced at Gianni, who was in the middle of a conversation with Stefan yet smiling ear to ear.

My heart fluttered.

“I’m glad,” I said softly, more to myself than to Fabio.

“Just don’t break his heart,” Fabio added with a wink. “Or we’ll all be screwed. No one would survive his wrath.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The night passed in a blur of laughter, banter, and food.

Some Made Men came up to give Gianni more praises and me gifts.

The waiters kept the champagne and food flowing so that we never wanted for more.

And as I sat there, surrounded by Gianni and his brothers, I realized something important: I wasn’t just surviving in this world—I was thriving .

This was my family now.

And despite the darkness, despite the crime, blood, and violence that came with it, I felt more at home here than I ever had before in my life.

I. . .finally belonged somewhere.

Now all I needed to know was why Gianni didn’t want me to go into his office, and what secrets he was still holding back from me.

Curiosity gnawed at me, clawing its way into my mind. It was a silent, insistent whisper that grew louder as the night wore on.

What could Gianni be hiding?

He was powerful, lethal—a man who didn’t know fear.

Or so I thought.

But as his laughter died down and his brothers talked on, I could feel a subtle shift in the air. Gianni’s eyes darkened as he gazed at the ring on my finger. The edges of his mouth tightened as if he were lost in thought.

What are the pieces to the mysterious puzzle of Gianni? Do you think I would hate you if I knew?

I couldn’t imagine it, not after everything we’d been through in these few days.

Yet, the hints of anguish in his eyes stirred something uncertain within me.

Fabio made a joke about something.

However, Gianni took my ring hand and gripped it hard as if nervous I would hear his thoughts and run away.

And to my shock, Gianni’s hand trembled a little against mine.

I leaned his way. “Are you okay?”

His voice was strained, and for a fleeting second, he looked more like a man haunted than the formidable Don everyone feared. “I’m fine, Queen.”

“You’re nervous.”

“Tonight is so good. . .I hope. . .we will continue to have good nights like this.”

“What are you hiding?”

He blinked.

“There’s no reason to be nervous if you just say it all now.”

His expression hardened. “This isn’t the place or time.”

I leaned in even closer and whispered in his ear, “Coward.”

He sneered, and then kissed my cheek.

However. . .he didn’t dispute that either. And the way Gianni held my hand, gripping it almost desperately, told me more than he’d ever admit. There was an unsettling fear beneath his calm facade, a darkness in his gaze that I’d never seen.

For a man who wore power and violence like armor, seeing him shaken, even if just for a moment, cracked something in me.

What could possibly make him so nervous—terrified, even?

Stefan asked him something about tomorrow and he shifted his attention to them.

Yet, I watched him talk, and his face was now set into this familiar, hardened mask. Then an odd question hit me.

Am I truly ready to know the truth?

I was little by little beginning to feel comfortable in this life and position by his side. And with the way Gianni was in action, I guessed that once Gianni opened that door—once his secret saw the light—it would change everything between us.

The soft laughter of his brothers and the clinking of glasses drifted around me.

Putting his view back on me, Gianni eased his grip on my hand and traced my thumb. “Do you need anything, Queen?”

“Besides answers?”

The line of his jaw twitched. “Yes. Besides answers.”

“Then, no.”

“I love you, Queen.”

I studied him.

Whatever lay behind those darkened eyes, whatever truth he feared I’d find, it would come out in time.

And for now, maybe that was enough.

“I love you, Don Fortunato. Mr. Devil of Shadows.”

He smirked.

More minutes of fun and conversation passed.

Soon, the gala began to wind down even though the grand ballroom still echoed with the remnants of our celebration.

The chandeliers cast a warm glow over the departing guests.

Sighing, Gianni stood, signaling that the evening was nearing its end. “Until tomorrow.”

His brothers rose too and one after the other, they nodded their heads and said, “Until tomorrow.”

Gianni held his hand out to me. “Come, Queen.”

I took his hand and got up. “Nice seeing you all again.”

“You too, sis.” Stefan nodded. “I’m glad you’re around. It looks like things will be fun again.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Fabio came over and gave me a light hug. “Nice hanging with you, sis.”

“You too.”

“Until tomorrow.”

I blinked. “You’ll be over tomorrow?”

Fabio bobbed his head. “Gianni and I have to deal with something quick. I’m bringing a. . .package that he’ll want to see. . .taken out.”

Gianni frowned. “That’s enough.”

Fabio shrugged. “I said it in a nice way.”

I wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but I think Fabio was talking about bringing a person over to kill them under the castle.

Corrado came up next and waved. “See you later, and don’t forget to put a good word in for me with Melanique.”

I parted my lips to speak, but he’d already headed off with his brothers.

Dude. . .I don’t think Melanique will date you.

Gianni tenderly squeezed my hand. “Now for some private time.”

Smiling, I followed him.

We headed down the stairs and navigated through the crowded room, exchanging polite goodbyes and receiving warm farewells from everyone.

However, instead of taking me back through the grand entrance that we’d entered much earlier, he led me out onto this massive balcony on the side of the ballroom.

Where are we going now?