Becoming Mrs DeLuca novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30

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Chapter 30

VALENTINA

I asked quietly. “Is that why he’s so thin? And why he doesn’t talk?”

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Adrian’s Adam’s apple bobbed once. When he looked at me, his eyes were like stone, the hardness of a man who refused to break again. “Yes.” His gaze shifted back to the boy, then to me. “See if you can get him to eat more than a few bites of food.”

I nodded, though my insides churned.

He scanned my face, and his eyes lingered on my scratched cheek once more. “This was a mistake.”

Me. He meant I was a mistake because I wasn’t what he’d expected. But he and his family weren’t what I’d expected either.

So many things needed fixing in this house. Stefan, the boy with a trauma because of his mother’s death and his father’s possible involvement. Sofia, who wailed the second I touched her. Milo who’d never learned to be a family dog. And Adrian who dealt with demons I had no clue about.

He rubbed his hand over his stubble then sighed. “This isn’t one of the dresses I bought for you. You can’t wear this when you meet your bodyguards.”

I glanced down. I wore black tights, a black pleated miniskirt with suspenders, and a yellow cashmere sweater. It wasn’t fancy, but certainly nice enough for a day at home. “I don’t see why I need to dress up for them.”

Adrian’s eyes flashed. “Valentina, please don’t test my patience. Not right now. I didn’t marry so I’d have another stubborn child to deal with.”

Gritting my teeth against a snappy comeback, I turned around. I didn’t want to fight with Adrian, but I wouldn’t change into one of those stuck–up dresses when there was absolutely no reason to do so. I didn’t get far. An arm wrapped around my stomach and sharply pulled me back so I was pressed to a hard body. His palm pressed flat against my belly, holding me in place as he leaned down. “You will change now.”

The command was low, rough, and absolute. It rolled through me, leaving goosebumps in its wake— half thrill, half fear.

“What is your problem?” I asked.

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “My problem is that you keep disobeying me. And that skirt—” his gaze dropped, moving down my legs, “-is far too short when I’m not around.”

A surprised laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. “This?” I gestured to myself. My mother was one of the most conservative women I knew, and even she had never accused me of dressing provocatively. The skirt might be short, yes, but my tights were completely opaque and my sweater was plain enough to look almost modest. Nothing about this screamed sexy temptress.

But Adrian’s face was all hard edges. “I’m not joking,” he growled.

The laugh slipped out again, this time softer but no less incredulous. “You’re being unreasonable.”

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Chapter 30

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His eyes narrowed, and then he moved. One moment I was standing there, trying to hold my ground, and the next he had turned me around, one arm banded tight around my waist, the other cradling the back of my head. It wasn’t gentle, not even close. It was control, possession, pure dominance.

“Don’t fight me on this, Valentina.” His voice was low and dangerous, vibrating against my skin. “Not this. I won’t have you walking around in that skirt when I’m not with you. Do you understand?”

His grey eyes were intense, sharp with a possessiveness that was as unsettling as it was consuming. For a second, the words tangled on my tongue. I wanted to argue, to tell him he was being ridiculous, but the faint sound of Stefan’s game drifting from the next room snapped me back. His son was there. Listening and watching.

I swallowed and forced my voice to stay calm. “Understood.”

His grip lingered for a beat, like he didn’t quite trust my compliance, before he finally released me.

“Now let go of me,” I added, more bravely than I felt.

Adrian stepped back, his expression still stormy, but he didn’t stop me as I turned and walked into the bedroom. My heart was hammering in a strange mix of anger, fear, and- God help me- something else entirely. Closing the door behind me, I headed for the wardrobe to change, already tugging at the hem of the skirt that had sparked this fire.

When I came downstairs, I’d swapped the skirt for long black dress pants and a tucked–in blouse. The fabric felt stiff, the cut felt too mature for me- as if I were playing dress–up in someone else’s clothes. Adrian gave a short, approving nod, clearly satisfied, but inside I felt like I’d been stuffed into a costume.

“My men are waiting in my office to meet you,” he said, already steering the morning along.

“What about Sofia?” I asked, glancing toward the sound of faint clattering in the distance.

“She’s with Sybil in the kitchen. After I introduce you to your bodyguards, you’ll need to bring Stefan down. He can’t hide in his room all day.”

“I should take him shopping soon. Most of his clothes don’t fit anymore.”

“Then do it. Domenico and Elia will go with you.”

Adrian’s hand pressed lightly against the small of my back, guiding me down the corridor. As we passed the room where Milo was shut away, the dog barked and scratched at the door.

Adrian huffed. His displeasure was obvious, but he said nothing.

The heavy wooden door to his office opened, and the room that greeted me was nothing like I expected. It was elegant, with a polished oak desk that was sleek and smooth, while tall windows framed a perfectly manicured garden outside. The green lawns and sculpted hedges looked like something out of an English estate- untouched, almost staged. It was beautiful, but it looked lifeless.

Two men rose from their chairs as we entered. Adrian didn’t remove his hand from my back, keeping me anchored beside him. He motioned toward the older of the two.

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Chapter 30

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“This is Domenico.”

The man stood tall despite his age. He looked like he could be in his mid–sixties, but his posture was as rigid as a soldier’s. His short gray hair was cropped neatly, his shirt was crisp and ironed within an inch of its life. His eyes held no warmth, only disciplined watchfulness.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. De Luca,” he said.

Mrs. De Luca. I glanced at Adrian, wondering when I’d finally feel the truth of it sink in: that I was his wife

now.

“And this,” Adrian continued, shifting his attention, “is Elia.”

The second man was nothing like Domenico. He looked young- no older than twenty–five- he had wavy light–brown hair brushed casually back, and his clothes clung in a way that showed off a well–built frame. His smile was quick, easy, and almost disarming. Respectful, yes, but relaxed enough to make me blink.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

Adrian’s eyes flicked to me expectantly.

“Nice to meet you too,” I replied, a little too quickly.

Domenico was exactly the kind of bodyguard I’d pictured Adrian choosing for me: a stern, seasoned guard, safe from inspiring any dangerous thoughts. Elia, though- he was the opposite. He was young and attractive, and obviously charming. He was the sort of man my husband would never want me near, let alone assign as my bodyguard.

Unless…

Unless this was Adrian’s way of proving something. A test. But for whom? For Elia- to see if he dared step out of line? Or for me- to see if I would?

With Adrian, there was no such thing as coincidence. He thrived on control. Even this had to be deliberate.

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