Page 21 of Wicked Bloodlines

“Wednesday and Thursday,” he confirmed, lowering his voice slightly. “The Adriatic Star comes in at 2 AM Wednesday, followed by the Northern Light on Thursday evening. Better timing than docking during business hours when the regular port staff are all around.”

Sofia nodded thoughtfully. “And you handle the customs paperwork personally? That must require tremendous attention to detail.”

“For shipments of this value, absolutely,” Christian replied, clearly enjoying her attention. “We process everything through the secondary checkpoint at Pier 17. Keeps things… discreet.”

I felt a flicker of annoyance. Christian was giving away operational details to a woman he’d known for all of ninety minutes, simply because she smiled at him and acted impressed. If this had been a real security breach rather than my future wife, we’d have a serious problem.

“You’ve thought of everything,” Sofia said with just the right note of admiration, before turning to Roberto, another associate. “And you coordinate the trucking logistics, correct? Matteo speaks highly of your efficiency.”

Roberto, not to be outdone by Christian, launched into an explanation of transportation routes and timing that revealed far more than was prudent in mixed company. As he spoke, Sofia’s hand moved to my thigh under the table, a subtle squeeze that felt like a private joke between us. She knew exactly what she was doing, and that I was on to her.

The pattern continued through dessert. By the time coffee arrived, Sofia had extracted specific details about security protocols, shipment contents, and transportation routes from every man at the table, all without asking a single direct question that would raise suspicion. Had I not known better, I might have missed what she was doing entirely.

“To Matteo and Sofia,” Vincent, my father’s old friend and our customs broker, raised his glass in a toast. “May your marriage bring strength to both families.”

Everyone at the table raised their glasses. Sofia leaned against me slightly, a perfect picture of a woman in love. She tipped her face up toward mine, those amber eyes glittering with something that might have been triumph.

“Thank you all for the warm welcome,” she said, addressing the table but maintaining eye contact with me. “I look forward to being part of this family in every sense.”

The double meaning in her words hit me like a physical blow. I wrapped my arm around her waist possessively, playing my part while my mind raced. If she could extract this much information in one dinner, what else had she learned during her time with us? What would she do with it? The evidence against her father suggested one motivation, but I couldn’t afford to assume anything with this woman.

As the evening wound down, handshakes and embraces were exchanged. My associates, hard men who rarely trusted outsiders, treated Sofia like she’d always been one of us. Vincent kissed her cheek. Christian held her hand too long. Roberto promised to have his wife call her about charity functions.

“Your fiancée is exceptional, Matteo,” Christian murmured as we prepared to leave. “Beauty and brains are a rare combination in our world.”

“Don’t I know it,” I replied, watching Sofia charm the remaining associates across the room. The black dress clung to her curves as she moved, drawing every eye in the place. Yet it was her mind that had proven most dangerous tonight.

When we finally made our exit, I guided her through the main club floor with my hand pressed firmly against the skin of her lower back. The possessive gesture wasn’t just for show anymore. The primal beast in me needed to mark her as mine, especially after watching her work her magic on my associates.

In the relative privacy of the entrance vestibule, I pulled her against me, my mouth inches from her ear. “You’re fucking good at this, aren’t you?” I murmured, my voice rougher than intended. Half accusation, half admiration.

She turned in my arms, her smile never reaching her eyes as she replied, “You have no idea.”

The car pulled up outside, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from hers. I recognized what had been building all night was a dangerous mix of desire and wariness, respect and suspicion. Sofia Marchesi might be the perfect partner for a man in my position, or she might be the instrument of my destruction. The terrifying part was how much I wanted her either way.

The ride back to Villa Luca passed in silence. Sofia sat beside me in the back of the car, the streetlights painting her face in alternating bands of light and shadow. Neither of us spoke.

The car rolled to a stop in the circular drive. I didn’t wait for the driver to open the door, stepping out and circling around to Sofia’s side. She placed her hand in mine as she emerged, her skin cool against my palm. We walked through the villa’s entrance in silence, nodding to the night staff who knew better than to engage us. My hand found the small of her back again, guiding her up the grand staircase toward the east wing.

At her bedroom door, Sofia turned to face me. Her amber eyes held mine for a long moment, unblinking and unafraid. Whatever she saw in my expression made her lips part slightly, her chest rising with a deeper breath. The most becoming and intriguing blush suffused her neck and the tops of her breasts. She didn’t invite me in with words. When she turned and opened the door, stepping inside, she left the door open and strolled inside, her hips swaying enticingly with each step.

I followed her, closing the door and turning the lock. Sofia stood watching me, waiting.

I crossed the distance between us in long, quick strides. I found her mouth with ease and thrust my tongue deep, all the tension of the evening igniting. She responded immediately, her fingers twisting into my hair as pulling me closer with surprising strength. I backed her against the wall beside her bed, finding her hips and gripping hard enough to leave marks through the thin fabric of her dress.

“You were fucking brilliant tonight,” I growled against her mouth, sliding one hand up to grasp her chin, holding her face steady as I stared into her eyes. “Every man at that table would have told you state secrets if you’d asked.”

Surprise flashed in her eyes, then a fierce pleasure at the recognition. “Is that a compliment or an accusation?” she breathed, her voice husky with desire.

Instead of answering, I kissed her again, deeper this time, my tongue claiming her mouth while my hands worked at the zipper of her dress. The fabric slid away with a whisper, pooling at her feet to reveal black lace lingerie that made my breath catch. I stepped back just enough to take in the sight of her. All those curves and pale skin in the dim light from the bedside lamp make my mouth simply to God water.

“Turn around,” I ordered, my voice rough with need.

She raised an eyebrow but complied, facing the wall. I stepped closer, gathering her hair in one hand and moving it aside to expose the nape of her neck. I pressed my lips there, feeling her shiver as I moved my other hand down her spine.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

“Taking my time,” I murmured against her skin. “Something we haven’t done yet.”