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“Don’t you look as beautiful as always,” he told me, giving me a kiss on each cheek and lingering too long. “Demasiado hermosa para las palabras.”
“What do you mean, like do I carry a membership card that says ‘Mafia’ on it?” —Willie Moretti
“I don’t want you to make it a big deal.” “Won’t.” Depends. “Promise you won’t do anything.” “Promise.” Lie.
The old Pronto lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.
“It’s hypothetical,” I said. “Now, say your neighbor’s dog is so . . . cute, and you want him—er, her for yourself.” “I think, if I could, I would rather have a cat,” Nonna answered while looking out the window. “Fine,” I sighed. “A cat, then. You want your neighbor’s cat—” “We’re not getting a cat, Elena,” Mamma said. Oh my god.
“I’ll race you home,” I panted. “No.” Dominic maintained a steady pace, but his shirt was soaked with sweat. “Come on, chicken.” “If I were five that might have worked.” “I’ll tell Papà where your stash of pot is.” He blew out a sarcastic breath, shook his head, and then sprinted. “Hey!”
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.” I swallowed. “And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.” He slammed the door behind him.
The water was running pink. He was washing blood off his hands. “Good day at work?” My tone was sweet and sarcastic. He flicked an amused gaze to me. “And look at how well you play wife. Starting to think I got the short end of the stick.”
“What about her?” “Bitter and bisexual,” Adriana answered blandly, taking a sip of wine from her seat beside me at the island. “How can you tell she’s bisexual?” I asked. “She’s checked out Gianna’s boobs and Benito.” I paused. “Well, her boobs are kind of distracting.” My sister tilted her head, regarding Gianna’s breasts. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Elena’s soft laughter filtered through the room, hitting me in the chest. My jaw tightened. Lorenzo was not that fucking funny.
“And why would it be such a bad idea?” I didn’t look at her, but I felt her sad smile. “Because you’ll fall in love with her,” she said. “And she won’t love you back.”
“You sound angry, Elena.” Nicolas’s voice was tainted with something dangerous. “Maybe you should cool off.” My brows knitted. “What? No—” I never got to finish what I had to say. Because, with one hand on my side, Nicolas pushed me into the pool.
“That was inappropriate,” I breathed while heading to the doors. “Perfectly platonic,” he parried.
I would kiss whoever killed him.
“I said I’ll never hurt you, Elena, but if I find out you’ve touched another man, there is nothing in this world that could save him.”
“How do you feel about pink?” I breathed. One of his hands slid to my waist, searing my skin through the pink scalloped dress I wore. “Never thought about it before,” he drawled, “but I think I like it.”
“I’m not going to run away.” I did that once and it wasn’t liberating; it was the biggest mistake I’d ever made. His gaze was a lit match in a pitch-black room. “There’s nowhere you could go that I couldn’t find you.”
“One day with the Russo and I think my daughter’s gone stupida.” “With your genes?” Nonna muttered, walking inside. “What else did you expect?”
“Ace,” I read when I came across his name already programmed in my contacts. “Awfully presumptuous of you to put your number in my phone.” I turned my head to see a small smile pull on his lips, but his gaze was focused on his work. “You’re a sure thing, wife.”
“Maybe I should stay at home until the marriage,” I offered. “This is your home.” “You know what—” “No.” Okay. Not one for negotiating, it seemed.
I almost didn’t hear him over how shirtless he was.
“I have a superior knowledge in all things cars.” I smiled, because I didn’t even know how to freakin’ drive.
“I think I like the ‘70 the best.” He didn’t look at me, but a sly smile tugged at his lips. “Come a little closer and say that.”
“Tell me,” Sebastian said, “why did you do it?” A heavy silence took over, and my chest tightened at Nico’s cavalier tone. “He had something I wanted.”
“You can’t blame gravity for falling in love.”
I once said that whatever Nico did, he did it with his all. And God, did he ever.
“You’re disturbed,” I breathed. “Do that again.”
I’d let him inside of me. And now I’d never get him out.
I could tell him everything. Bare my soul and be honest. Be an open person and hope that good would win. But maybe I’d always been as manipulative as him. Maybe this was the only way I’d survive him. I slid the ring onto my finger and walked out of the room.
“Nothing.” I shook my head, wiping my eyes. “I’m just being a stupid girl.” His gaze narrowed. “Elena.” I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He smelled like hundred-dollar hair gel and his signature cologne. “I don’t know how you get any women with how much cologne you wear. Could smell you from a mile away.” He hugged me back. “Makes them come in droves.”
“So, what is this?” He wiped a tear off my cheek with a thumb. “Period shit? Aunt Flo in town?” I laughed. “I missed you.” “Missed you too, cuz. Let’s go home.” Home. It didn’t feel right when he said it either.
THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK’S TICKS AND tocks filled the silent room. Mamma took a sip of wine and stared at me. Nonna sat on the adjacent couch, watching me like she knew I’d had mind-blowing, premarital sex last night. I flushed. She smiled like a cat.
She pursed her lips and nudged the plate. “Why don’t you eat the salad?” “For the third time—I’m not hungry.” “It’s the depression,” Nonna whispered to my mamma.
“Why don’t you think I can take care of myself? I can be just as assertive as Adriana.” “Of course we know that,” Mamma said a little too quickly. “But maybe you’re not as emotionally . . . stable.” She closed her mouth like she realized that was worse than saying I wasn’t as assertive. “Keep digging yourself into a hole, Celia,” Nonna muttered, taking a sip of coffee. “You’ll be to China in no time.” I blinked. “Emotionally stable?” Mamma played with her jacket zipper like it had suddenly become interesting. “Maybe that was the wrong term.” “Please, Celia, do explain yourself,” Nonna urged
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“Simply put,” Mamma said, “we don’t think the Russo is right for you.” “We?” Nonna’s brows pulled together. “Who’s we? Don’t put words into my mouth.”
“Even if Salvatore does change his mind,” Nonna said, “I’m sure she’s already as knocked up as your other daughter.” Mamma grimaced. “Don’t be vulgar, Nadia.” “Oh, Madonna, salvami. I wonder how you ever had three children. You’re as squeamish as a virgin.” A headache bloomed behind my eyes and I stood. “I assure you, Nonna, I’m not pregnant. I’ve been on the pill for years.” Nonna shot Mamma a look. “No wonder your daughters are little floozies. You’re practically encouraging them!” My mamma muttered, “Better a floozy than senile,” as I headed out of the room.
They both had their guns pressed against the other’s temples before I could blink. My heart turned to a block of ice. The front door flew open and slammed against the wall. Papà, my brother, and Dominic stepped in. Guns pointed in every direction. Cazzo. I think I really screwed up.
“We are all born mad. Some remain so.”
“I’m sorry,” I breathed. “I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.” He let out a breath in between disbelief and amusement, and I thought he muttered, “So this is the Sweet Abelli.”
He’d done something no other Made Man should do and paraded his mistress in front of his fiancée, and somehow, I had ended up apologizing for the outcome. My nonna and mamma were right. This man would eat me alive.
“Can I ask for something?” “Shoot,” he drawled against my neck. I said it before I could stop myself. “I want Isabel gone.” His lips traced my ear, and seconds passed as I held my breath. “Done.”
“So loyal to your family,” he said quietly. “Yet you listened to me and not your papà. Why? Preventing a war?”
“Maybe I wanted to,” I whispered. He watched me for so many seconds it made my pulse race. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Come on. Let’s go inside.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me along. I followed. He was comfort, security, and need, all in one. It had a name. Home.
I sighed, my hands running down his chest. “My nonna said you only want to marry me for my boobs.” “Not true.” I felt him smile against my skin. “This too.” I yelped at the sharp smack on my ass.
“You gonna keep your mouth from me again?” I shook my head. “Because it’s mine?” “Yes,”
Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bu-bum. His heartbeats raced for me.
I didn’t know what to do with this woman, but I did know I was keeping her.
“Nico, are our families going to kill each other at the wedding?” Amusement rose in me. “Maybe.” She tilted her head, and all of her silky hair slid across my hands. “I don’t think my papà likes you.” I laughed. “I don’t think many Abellis do.” “I do,” she whispered. Fuck. “Yeah?” “Yeah.”
“You hit Luca?” “Yeah.” I’d hit him so hard I was surprised I didn’t break more than skin. Fucker had a hard face.
“You’re not going to stay on it forever.” “No, but I think I’d like to be married first before I even consider it.” I rubbed my jaw. Fine. We’ll discuss it tomorrow then.
