Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

All evening, I kept an eye on my wife. She wasn’t comfortable with my close
proximity. Her trembling during our dance had made that clear. That reaction
didn’t bode well for tonight.
After her dance with my father, Giulia hurried out of the room, and Father
came over to me. “Would you excuse us for a moment, Luca? I need to have a
word with my son.”
“I’ll dance with Aria.” Luca gave us a curt nod before he headed over to his
wife.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your girl is terrified. She’s trying to put up a brave front, as she’s been
taught, but I can see it in her eyes.”
My gaze rested on the door through which Giulia had disappeared. “Don’t
call her my girl, Father. It makes me feel even older.”
Father chuckled. “Maybe it’s good that you do. That you remember you’ve
been given a wife who’s been a child not too long ago, that you need to be good
to her.”
I frowned. “I have no intention of not being good to her.” Being good to her
would be difficult, no doubt.
“Maybe you should tell her, talk to her before tonight. It would be wise to
take some of her fears away in advance.”
My mouth tightened. “Father, I’m not going to discuss my wedding night
with you.”
Father smiled. “I’ll thank you for that. Go talk to her, Cassio. Do your old
man that small favor.”
“When she returns, I’ll have a quick word with her.”
“Cruelty has a place, Cassio. Marriage isn’t it.”
I had enough. “Do you want to have another talk about Gaia? Today?”
“My concern is that you forget that Giulia isn’t Gaia.”
“It seems you know my wife better than I do.”
I walked off, even if it was disrespectful, but Father was no longer
Underboss. I didn’t need his guidance in that regard, nor in my marriage. Mia
gave me a hard look from across the room and slipped out as well.