“You’re not going anywhere,” I informed her. “This is your home now, with me. Luca took you from me, but he’ll live to regret that.”

She swallowed hard, but she kept her defiant posture and stared me down. “My husband will kill you if you touch me.”

I reached for her, and she flinched. I touched her face without hesitation, tracing the line of her cheekbone before running my thumb over her lush lips. The brazen way I handled her with such intimacy made her tremble, and the sight went straight to my head: a high that was my drug of choice.

“No, he won’t kill me,” I informed her. “And he’s not your husband anymore. I am.”

She blinked, jaw dropping for a moment. “You’re insane.”

“No, my dear. I’m not. We’re getting married. You were always meant to be mine, and we’re sealing our union today.” I took my hand from her face and gestured to her right, where I’d laid out the white gown that I’d chosen for her. “Time to get dressed.”

She froze, wide eyes fixed on the dress, as though it was a snake that might strike at her if she made a sudden movement. “I’m already married to Luca.”

“Luca won’t be a problem soon,” I assured her. “We’ll make it legal once I’ve removed him as a threat. But the ceremony is happening now. I won’t wait to have you as my bride. I won’t let him take one more thing from me.”

She fisted her shaking hands at her sides and set her jaw with defiance. “If you want to rape me, you don’t have to humiliate me first.”

Anger tightened my gut. “Is that what Luca has taught you to expect? Did he rape you on your wedding night?”

The bastard might be noble, but he was entitled. I hadn’t expected him to abuse Nora, but I wasn’t all that surprised that he would take what he wanted from her as her husband.

She paled. “My wedding night with Luca is none of your business.”

I scowled, and she edged back an inch. “So, he did force himself on you. Don’t worry, little bird. I’ll make him pay for that too.”

“It wasn’t like that,” she insisted. “And you won’t make him pay for anything. He killed those two men you sent after us. He risked his life to save me. He won’t stop until he gets to me, and he’ll make sure you scream before you die.”

“Then what was it like?” I ignored her threats. She was right: Luca would come for her, and I would be ready. He wouldn’t win. “What did your dear husband do to you on your wedding night? Was he your white knight then?”