Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Don’t have high expectations. Sometimes she seems like herself, but then—” He leaves it at that.
“Thanks for the warning.”
“And hey, I know I’ve been a fucking dick lately making jokes and all that, but I am rooting for you and Allegra.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. “No kidding?”
“You said you love her. That’s enough for me. If you need help convincing those Rinaldo cocksuckers, I’m your man.”
“I’m not sure your brand of negotiation is going to work in this particular instance, but thanks. I appreciate that.”
“And don’t worry about Saul. He’s already getting over the whole thing. The guy’s annoyed you made him look like an asshole, but he gets it.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“Took a few drinks, but yeah, he admitted he understands.”
“That’s good.” I stare at the floor, tempted to tell Carlo the truth about my relationship with Allegra. Not just the deal we made, but our history, too. Instead, I keep my mouth shut, aware that the more people who know about our history together, the more likely it is that our scheme will get caught.
And if Allegra’s father realizes that our marriage is a sham so she can get out of her responsibilities, he’ll never forgive her.
I keep my mouth shut for once and head off to sit in the garden with Mom.
Allegra isn’t very talkative when I get home. The house is coming together—there are pillows on the couches and small flourishes in each room—but she doesn’t seem satisfied. That night, as we’re getting into bed, I watch her washing her face in the other room and picture this routine for the next year. It’s so simple and domestic, sharing our lives together, getting into bed at a reasonable hour, waking up to her slow breathing in the darkness of the early morning, and it’s more than I ever dreamed it could be. Out in Vegas, I lived like a bachelor, keeping odd hours and doing whatever the hell I wanted.
None of it satisfied me the way lying in bed with my wife does. Even when we don’t fuck.
“I spoke with Renzo and Carlo today,” I say softly once she’s beside me and the lights are off. “About your family problem.”
“And did they have some magical solution?”
“Not exactly. Renzo thinks we need to make some gesture.”
“Brilliant. Amazing. Get that guy a MacArthur.”
“A what?”
“Genius grant. Whatever.”
I smile to myself. “I know you’re being sarcastic, but he’s right. We need to find a way to prove to your father that we’re still loyal.”
“That I’m loyal. You never were.”
“Okay, fair enough. I can at least prove that I’m not trying to undermine his organization.”
“Right. Sorry. I’m being a little harsh. It’s just been tough.”
“You miss your cousin.” For whatever reason. That girl is trouble.
“I miss everyone, but yeah, I miss Sophia the most. She was my best friend, you know? We texted all the time.”
“We’ll find a way to get that back.”
She’s quiet for a second. Then she turns onto her side and looks at me. “What if I don’t want it back?”
I stare at her, keeping my expression blank. “Explain.”
“I love Sophia. I’d do anything for her, no matter what. But she’s so quick to follow my father’s orders. It’s like… our friendship is only acceptable so long as it’s approved from my family. Otherwise, fuck off, Allegra, I’m basically dead to her.”
“I can see why you’d feel that way.”
“Which is so freaking frustrating. I miss her so much, but I also hate her a little bit for going along with this crap. I mean, she could be texting me at the very least, nobody would ever know. She just won’t.”
I’m happy she’s connecting these dots. I’ve been having this exact thought, but I knew I could never point it out to her. “Sophia has her own priorities, just like you do.”
“I just wish I was one of them.”
I say nothing. I can’t begin to imagine how she’s feeling right now. Saul’s angry with me, but he doesn’t hate me. He’s just annoyed that I did something to make him look bad, but like Carlo said, he’ll get over it. He and I are brothers, no matter what, and brothers find a way to move on. That’s what real family does, regardless of who makes what mistakes. Ride or fucking die.
“I have other news that might take your mind off your family,” I say, reaching out to put a hand on her thigh.
“If you’re about to make a sexual advance—”
“I’m saving that for later.”
“Great, thanks for the heads-up. I’ll make sure I’m asleep before then.”
“Seriously, Maddie invited you over for dinner, if you’re interested.”
She seems surprised. “The Don’s wife? I guess I can’t turn it down.”
“You definitely can. Maddie isn’t exactly…” I trail off, not sure how to phrase it without pissing her off.
“She’s not, what?”
“She’s not from a mafia family. I don’t think she has the same ideas about loyalty and honor that we do.”