9 The Devil You Know Luciana POV I stand in front of the mirror in my floor-length gown and I can't help but wonder what tonight will bring. What will the men be like? My mind automatically goes to Enzo. Why couldn't he have just kept his d**k in his pants? I never wanted this marriage, but I had accepted that maybe he and I could make it work. That over time, even if he couldn't love me, there would be strong affection and respect between us. A knock on the door brings me out of my inner monologue. Gia steps into my room wearing a beautiful floor-length purple gown. Purple is her favorite color. "Are you ready, Luci," she asks. "As ready as I'm ever going to be Gia." I move toward the door just as Vivi pops her head inside. I smirk as she gives me a cat call. Vivi's gown is a dark blue with a beaded bodice. We make our way down the stairs and toward the ballroom. My mother and father are waiting in the hallway. "There they are my beautiful principessas. I feel like I'm going to have to threaten to shoot more than one man tonight," he says. My mother slaps his chest, and he presses a kiss on her temple. My father grips her hand and pushes open the doors. We follow our parents inside. I'm shocked to see how full the room is. I knew that most families would be represented, but this is a little overwhelming. My father ushers us over to a table that is surrounded by his men. I know my father and all those present tonight were stripped of their weapons at the door, but he takes his family's safety seriously. There is always somebody who wants the power my father wields. Even though the men in this room report to him, it doesn't make them trustworthy. My father loves the saying to keep your friends closer but enemies closer. I look around, noticing a lot of handsome men. I'd like to say one catches my eye but all I do is compare them to Enzo. "F**k, I hope the ba**ard papa picked for me f**ks up like Enzo did," Vivi says, eyeing a large man with black hair and muscles for days. He is a little too much for my taste, but my sister has a thing for big men since she is so tiny. A familiar deep masculine voice saying my name has my heart starting to beat faster. I turn just as Marco and Enzo come to stand in front of me. I'm grateful when my father comes to stand beside me. Despite my best efforts, I can't stop myself from looking at Enzo. He is wearing a dark suit and his jet-black hair is slicked back. His face is cleanly shaven and his dark eyes solely focused on me. "Marco and Enzo, I wasn't expecting you to be joining us tonight," my father says, his eyebrows raised. Something in his eyes lets me know he's lying. He knew they would come. Is he still expecting me to pick Enzo? "Don Rizzo, even if my son has lost his chance to be your beautiful daughter's husband, our family wanted to show our support. We are hopeful she will find a suitable husband among the families here," Marco says. I force myself to look toward the other tables. "Luciana, I was hoping I could offer my apologies in private," Enzo says. I turn my head back toward him and offer a sickly sweet smile. "That's not necessary." I whisper the next part so only my father, Marco, and Enzo can hear. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to mingle to find a suitable husband that can actually keep his d**k in his pants when I'm not around." My father coughs, but I can tell he's trying to cover a laugh. Enzo's jaw tightens before I turn to welcome our guests. By the time I make it through the room, I had five proposals and one proposition which didn't end well for the man when Herbito heard him. Needless to say, he was escorted not so gently from the estate. 1/3 I step into the hallway intending to use a private bathroom when a strong hand wraps around my arm and pulls me into a large linen closet. I'm just about to scream when a hand goes over my mouth. "Don't scream Luciana, it's me. I just want to talk." He slowly removes his hand from my mouth, and I'm tempted to kick him in the balls, but instead I take a step back from him. "What the f**k do you think you're doing? You have no right to put your filthy hands on me after touching your wh*re." He looks shocked by my language. His eyes darken, and he takes a step toward me. I back up until my back hits the shelf. Not because I'm afraid, but I don't trust myself to be this close to this man. "It seems I've misjudged you, Luciana. You are far more brazen than the little mafia princess you pretend to be," he says. He reaches up, wrapping his hand around my throat and I swear I fight the urge to moan as he squeezes it lightly. "Had you given me a chance to explain, you'd know I didn't f**k Amelia. The only one I want to f**k is you, my bride." I force myself to look in his eyes as I speak my next words. "I stopped being your bride the minute you intended to f**k the blonde bimbo. Please don't insult me by using schematics. You would have f**ked her if you hadn't gotten caught. I would think a mafia boss would have more control than a teenage boy when it comes to keeping his urges in check, but obviously I was wrong." A devious smile spreads across his face as he leans closer to me. "I must say I like your feisty side Luciana." Before I can tell him to f**k himself, he holds me in place as she slams his lips down on mine. At first I fight against him, but it doesn't take long for me to give into the kiss. Now who doesn't have control over her urges? What the f**k is wrong with me? This man doesn't possess an ounce of control over his d*ck and yet everything in me wants to find out if he f**ks as well as he kisses. He runs his hand down my chest, caressing the skin just above my breast. When the haze of lust finally starts to dissipate, I bite down on his lip before I push him away from me hard. He stumbles back but he quickly rights himself. He smiles as he wipes the blood from his lips. "You were meant to be mine, Luciana. If you even think about picking one of these ba**ards out there, I will put a bullet in their heads. I have apologized for my thoughtlessness, which is more than I would do for any other person on this planet," he says. "Now you and I are going to go back out there and tell both our fathers that the betrothal will proceed as arranged. I know you want me, Luciana and I sure as f**k want you. We are a perfect match. We will lead my family together. We will have strong children. I promise you will be happy," he says. "You mean when you aren't f**king wh*res you'll f**k me? No, thanks." "You keep surprising me, Luciana. Once I have my ring on your finger, yours is the only p**sy I will f**k," he says. He must think I'm stupid. That doesn't mean he will be faithful. I smile to myself because I have no problem taking everything from him, including his title, if he betrays me. "Fine, I will marry you, but understand this, Enzo. I will honor our vows as long as you do. I also won't give myself to you completely until I know I can trust you." "Have you ever f**ked another man, Luciana?" I see a flash of jealousy in his eyes as he waits for my answer. No you will be my first everything if you prove to me that you will be a good husband. I will be a good wife and partner to you as long as you reciprocate the loyalty. If you cross me though, Enzo, you will be sorry." I can see in his eyes that he doesn't believe me, but I mean every word. He really is the one I want, but I have a feeling he is going to test me. I realize once I have his ring on my finger my father will be of no help, but I'm a Rizzo. I don't need his help to beat my enemies. Enzo thinks I have been raised to be the perfect bride, which I have in many ways. What he doesn't realize is that I've also been raised by my father. 2/3 9 The Devil You Know +15 Points) He offers me his hand and I place mine in it. He brings it to his lips and presses a firm kiss on the back. "You won't regret this, Luciana. I promise that we will have a good life together." "I hope for your sake you're right." In my head I've already guarded my heart from letting him in anymore than I already have. I'll agree to this because the devil, you know as they say, but I won't truly trust him until he proves he is a man of his word. He leads me back out to the party where my parents are sitting alone at our table. As we approach hand in hand, my father raises an eyebrow in my direction. When we reach the table, Enzo takes a knee in front of my father, reaching for his hand. He presses a kiss on my father's ring before he does the same to my mother as his queen. He stands pulling me to his side. "Luciana and I have had a heart-to-heart, Don Rizzo. We have decided to move forward with our betrothal," Enzo says. "Yes father. I have explained my conditions for us to have a good marriage and Enzo has assured me he is willing to abide by them." "Good, this pleases me, Enzo. That is my principessa and you would do well to remember that from this day forward," my father says. "Of course, Don Rizzo, she is meant to be my queen and I will treat her like one," Enzo says. I want to roll my eyes, but I fight the urge. Enzo leads me to the dance floor where he pulls my body flush with his. "I meant what I said to your father, Luciana. You are my queen. I will never let anyone disrespect you," he says. Only time will tell if he stays true to his words, but I know one thing for sure, I'll stay true to mine. 11