Free Taken - A Gangster Stepbrother Romance by Michaela Adams Page A

it was hard to do while dancing.
     
                  “What? What is it?” she asked.
     
                  When Antonio looked down, the mask had fallen back into place. He smiled but it didn’t reach his cool gray eyes. “It’s time,” he said. “The Cavallis are here. Let’s introduce you.”
     
                  And with a small flourish, he took her smoothly off the dance floor. Emma followed him, her hand tucked into Antonio’s. His grip was tight on hers as if he knew she would bolt if given the chance.
     
                  Emma took a deep breath. She was about to meet her fiancé.
     

Chapter Twelve
                  Emma could hear her pulse rushing against her ears. She was sure Antonio could feel her wrist thumping with her anxiousness. And as if on cue, his hand tightened on hers. But it didn’t feel threatening. It felt as if he was trying to give her courage.
     
                  The crowd parted as Antonio walked swiftly towards the far end of the dance floor. She could barely pay attention to all the people, men and women, who did admiring double takes of Antonio as he passed.
     
                  “Ah Antonio! Antonio! You’re here,” a gravelly voice called out.
     
                  A strong arm pulled Emma forward. He kept her close to him but did not put his arm around her waist as he had been doing earlier. “Frank, good to see you again,” Antonio greeted, shaking the older man’s hand.
     
                  Frank Cavalli. Notorious head of what used to be the Cavalli Family, now the Cavalli Corporations.
     
                  Emma stared at the man. How many times had she seen the man’s face plastered all over the papers? He ran the east coast with an iron first and was constantly pitted against Gabe Del Marco by the media, something that neither man had appreciated.
     
                  A lot of gang wars had been started between these two huge crime organizations. They were the only remaining vestiges of what used to be known as the mafia.
     
                  She could hardly believe she was standing between two of the most powerful and feared crime kingpins in the country.
     
                  “Ah, and so this is the mysterious little Emma Del Marco,” Frank said, rubbing his gray and white stubble chin. He was shorter than Antonio and portly. But his roundness was not soft. He carried his weight like a weapon. He knew he had size and he knew how to use it to intimidate. The man’s features were broad and craggy. There was an old scar running across his nose that gave it a flatter appearance. This was an old gangster who had risen through the ranks through blood and sin.
     
                  Emma shivered.
     
                  “Yes,” Antonio said, eyeing Emma sideways. Did the man miss nothing? “And where is David?”
     
                  Frank looked behind him and called out, “David, come here! Where are you? Come here!” The man clearly did not care about being discreet. Several people’s heads turned at Frank’s loud and gravelly voice. But these people knew his background. Cavalli Corporations or not, they remembered he had been the head of the Cavalli Family and they kept their mouths wisely shut.
     
                  A young man came up through the crowds. He was nearly as tall as Antonio. His figure was lean but nicely built. He looked like a runner. With honey blonde hair and soft blue eyes, he reminded Emma of a sunflower. When David caught sight of Emma, he smiled, revealing dimples. It was crazy to think this man was the son of someone as hard looking as Frank Cavalli.
     
                  “Hello,” he said, extending a hand to Antonio, “I’m David.”
     
                  Antonio shook his hand. Emma noticed the easy charm he had exuded earlier