Chapter Twenty-Four Tiernan #2
Chiara opened her mouth to talk, but at this stage, I was past my Ferrante family quota for the year and wanted to get out of there.
I turned to her again. “Either we have words or I’ll just assume you want me to break the happy news about my wife’s incredible wits on a Times Square billboard.
” I withdrew my phone, making a show of it.
“If I move quickly, I might be able to get Post Malone to make an announcement at his Madison Square Garden show tonight.”
Life seeped out of her face in real time as she considered my ultimatum. She knew I’d follow through. I’d done a lot worse for a lot less.
Chiara tipped her head up, a gesture that reminded me of her daughter, rising to her feet. “Follow me.”
We entered the second family room, tackily decorated and full of gold-framed paintings and shiny fabrics.
“Should I call for Imma to make coffee?” she asked, about to take a seat on an upholstered sofa.
“No need. I intend to make it quick.”
“Very well.” She stood up and waltzed over to me, keeping her features schooled.
“You robbed Lila of living a normal life, which is the bare fucking minimum. You made the entire world think she isn’t capable, when in fact, she’s the only child of yours I would let use heavy machinery.”
“I gave her everything she ever needed,” she countered. “My only sin was trying to protect her from men like you.”
“Men like me are unavoidable.” I straightened my cuffs.
“And what would she have done? Go to school? Find a boyfriend?” Chiara huffed. “Why dangle a normal life in her face if she could never truly have it? She’d have been miserable.”
“Her life was miserable. You’ve cut her off from everyone but yourself.”
“She had Imma, too,” she said defensively, hugging herself. “And many tutors. Summers full of culture and fun on Ischia—”
“Nothing to prepare her for married life,” I cut her off.
“If my plan had worked, it wouldn’t have been necessary.” Her hands balled into angry fists. “She wasn’t supposed to marry a psychopathic monster.”
“Yet, here we are.”
“Not for long.” A smile stretched across her lips. “This marriage won’t last.”
“Glad you brought up this subject.” I stepped forward, getting into her personal space. “Because next time you try to conspire to take her away from me, we’ll be doing less talking and more shoveling dirt over your body.”
We stood toe-to-toe. She was small but fierce, like her daughter. Under the coiffed mane, designer dress, and delicate features was a beautiful demon Vello was too much of a coward to unleash. His loss. I wanted to drink from Lila’s darkness in big gulps.
“You want me to believe you’ll hit a woman?” She tipped her chin up in fake bravado.
My mouth twisted with a lazy smirk. “To keep my wife, Chiara, I wouldn’t only hit a woman, I’d chase God himself with a fucking baseball bat.”
“You told Vello you wouldn’t kill me.”
“I lied.”
“You’ll spark a war.”
“This is an incentive, not a deterrent.” I stared deep into her eyes. “Anything else?”
“Stop pretending you care for her.” She pushed at my chest in frustration. I didn’t budge.
“Why? Sore spot?” I tilted my head sideways. She was clearly nothing but an expensive uterus for the don.
She ran a shaky hand over her hair. “Hard to believe Jesus died for your sins.”
“No one asked him.”
“You walked into this family two minutes ago and you already think you know what’s best for her? Tell me, do you have her best interest in mind, now that you’re planning a full-fledged war with the Bratva?”
She had a point. Lila wasn’t my top priority. But she pushed her way somewhere to the middle of the list. Before getting my dick wet, but after taking out the Bratva.
“Don’t pretend you have her best interest in mind.” She pressed on. “She means nothing to you.”
“You’re wrong. She does mean something to me. She’s my best business deal by a long mile, and I intend to keep my end of the bargain.”
“It’s the same business deal Vello made with me, and we all saw how it turned out.” Tears rimmed her eyes. “She deserves someone who loves her.”
“She’ll settle for someone who protects her.
Oh, and I’m taking Imma today if I have to pry her from your cold, dead fingers.
Imma.” I snapped my fingers loudly. Imma appeared from the hallway, sticking her head through the doorframe.
I knew she was eavesdropping, because her face kept poking through the crack in the door when she thought no one was looking.
“Somebody called my name?” Imma asked in faux innocence and a strong Italian accent.
“Pack a bag,” I ordered, not breaking my stare-off with Chiara. “You’re coming with us.”
“Where are you going to house her?” My mother-in-law feigned amusement. “Your shoebox apartment can’t fit a mouse.”
“She’ll take Lila’s room.”
“Right.” Chiara snorted. “And where would Lila sleep?”
“With me.”
“What makes you think my daughter would stoop this low?”
“The fact that she already has.”
Lila tossed, turned, and didn’t sleep all night, but she never left my bed yesterday.
Chiara’s jaw swung open. I reached with one finger, closing it for her.
“Game. Set. Match.”