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

was missing. Instead only a cool politeness remained. “Hello, it’s good to finally meet you,” Antonio said. He made a gesture towards Emma. “May I introduce you to Emma, my stepsister.”
     
                  David smiled and extended his hand towards Emma. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Emma,” he said.
     
                  Finally meet you. So he was clearly aware of why they were meeting. Nobody was in the dark here. Emma felt her stomach knot.
     
                  David certainly wasn’t terrible to look at. Handsome, even. He had a lightness about him that seemed incongruous considering his father and his family’s background. No one would’ve ever guessed David had mob relations. He seemed too sweet, too innocent.
     
                  But she didn’t know him. She hadn’t even spoken a word to this man yet and she knew they were already engaged to be married. Suddenly, the magical air of the evening twisted and transformed into a suffocating box of unavoidable fate and responsibility.
     
                  “Don’t just shake her hand, boy!” Frank said good-naturedly. “Go take her out on the dance floor for a spin!”
     
                  David chuckled. “Would you like to dance?” he asked politely.
     
                  Emma remembered how Antonio hadn’t even asked if she wanted to dance. He had merely guided her onto the floor and pulled her into his arms, leading her effortlessly.
     
                  “Sure,” she said softly, putting her hand in David’s.
     
                  On the floor, David pulled Emma close but not too close. He held her hand and led her around the floor, smoothly and expertly. He was a good dancer.
     
                  “You’re very good at this,” Emma said hesitantly, feeling they should have some kind of conversation. Looking off her shoulder, she saw Frank and Antonio engaged in what looked like a serious conversation.
     
                  You got what you wanted, right? This is what you wanted me to do—hold up my responsibilities as a Del Marco. Right? Right, Antonio?
     
                  She wasn’t sure why she felt so wounded or hurt.
     
                  “You’re not too bad yourself,” David said graciously. “How are you enjoying the evening?”
     
                  It was great. Until he threw me into another man’s arms. “Good. It’s exciting,” Emma said, trying to sound more enthused. “I’ve never been to Hastings before.”
     
                  David made a face and then laughed. “Well, enjoy it then because the amusement wears off pretty fast,” he said. “I prefer something a little more low key. You know, just a few millionaires in a room at a time kind of thing.”
     
                  Emma choked on a nervous laugh. She had conjured up all these images of what she imagined David Cavalli to be. A man who would agree to a mob wedding without ever even meeting the girl—he had to be cold, callous, and unfeeling. She imagined a younger Frank Cavalli.
     
                  But David was nothing of the sort. He was tall, handsome, and sweet. He seemed so relaxed and unassuming as if he was just glad to be there. Emma was confused.
     
                  “You…” she started, unsure how to word her thoughts, “You realize why we’re meeting tonight, right?”
     
                  David smiled gently. “Yes I do,” he said. “We’re meeting who we’re engaged to.” His smile and his eyes gave her a warm look of understanding. Emma felt a sudden ease in her. Someone was in the same boat as she was. Someone understood exactly how she was feeling.
     
                  “You don’t feel…awkward?” she asked as they spun around the floor, the melodic music drifting around