Chapter 8
Aria
As promised, we went on an amazing honeymoon travelling all over Europe, hitting some of the places that have been on my bucket list for years. Even though Eric was planning a weekend in New York City and there were a few things I wanted to see, it just didn”t feel like a romantic honeymoon.
We spent Christmas in Paris and enjoyed the Eiffel Tower all decked out with Christmas lights and visited the Notre Dame Christmas Market. I wanted to go ice skating but couldn”t because I was pregnant, so he promised to bring me back again once the baby was born.
We celebrated the New Year in London with a breathtaking midnight firework shower before coming back home.
Matteo was true to his word. There was no sex on our honeymoon. It was like going on a vacation with a friend. Eventually, I ditched the pillow wall, and he stayed to his side of the bed for the most part. Every now and then I”d wake up and our feet would be tangled together, but otherwise he would give me my space.
He, of course, had a few Christmas gifts for me, mostly jewelry. They were stunning pieces, and I told him they were too much. His response was that he was going to make sure his wife has pieces to show off. Then he made sure of it.
I felt bad that I didn”t have anything for him. He said the only thing that I could give him that he wanted was answers. When I asked what type of answers he meant, he spent the whole day asking me questions.
He said he wanted to learn everything about me. Favorite food, favorite drinks, what I do when I”m bored, what I like to read, what movies I liked, favorite childhood memories. The types of things you would normally know about someone that you were dating, much less someone you married.
Now that we”re home, I have been quite unsure of what to do with myself. All I know is Matteo”s mission to figure out who killed his father. His friend Orlando, and his wife Ruby have been around to help.
Ruby, much like me, is also a mafia princess and had been locked away. She was imprisoned for years, not a few weeks. Orlando helped free her, and they have been together ever since. Though not without some trials along the way. The mafia life isn”t easy.
I found their love story absolutely fascinating. Childhood friends and then he built an entire empire to protect her. Who wouldn”t fall in love with that?
My phone goes off with a text from my husband with an address. In an hour, he wants me to meet him there.
It”s not far away. So, I take my time doing my hair and putting on some makeup before I join my guards, who are waiting by the door for me. The nice thing is they are also my personal drivers. I hate driving around Chicago, so it”s a win for me.
Matteo has even more bodyguards around me than my father used to by at least double. But he recently lost his father, so I understand it. He”s being very careful right now.
When I asked him about it, he said that I am free to come and go as I please, but the bodyguards were not negotiable. Especially once it became public news that I was carrying his child. So far, I”ve been able to hide my pregnancy pretty well, but my stomach is getting a little baby bump. I don”t know how much longer we can keep it a secret.
The car pulls up in front of a beautiful, abandoned storefront in a nice area of town. It”s one of those eye-catching main streets with all sorts of shops and bustling activities. There are cafes, coffee and flower shops, all with some historical aspects. The way it’s designed everyone is enticed to come and spend the day.
The bodyguards lead me inside the building, and I walk in, finding my husband standing with his own bodyguards in the middle of a big empty room.
”What do you think of the building?” he asks, holding his arms wide as if showing it off.
”It”s beautiful. Why?” I ask. Though I can’t help wondering what he”s going to do with the building.
”I bought it for you so you can turn it into the bookshop you mentioned,” he says.
As I stand there staring at him, my jaw literally drops open. How did he remember? I mentioned it in passing the first night that we were together. How I would love to have my own bookstore and plan community events with it. It”s something that is impossible. When you work in the mafia or are the daughter of a mafia don, it is simply not possible. But when you”re the wife of a mafia don, it’s even less feasible. So, I know there”s no way I heard what I thought I heard.
”What?” I ask a little too stunned to put any more words together.
”Our first night you mentioned this is what you would want to do if you could do anything. I”m not saying it”s going to be easy, and you will have to have bodyguards stationed around you constantly. But it”s yours to build your bookshop any way you want.
There”s a room upstairs that I think would make an amazing event room. And there”s even an office with a great view out the back. This was your dream, and I don”t care if it makes money, as long as it makes you happy.”
”But Mafia wives don”t work,” I say still shocked.
”I”m giving you the choice because I want you to be happy. And that”s more important to me. You will find I don”t fit the traditional mold of the head of the family. Don”t get me wrong. If I need to be, I can be ruthless, but not with those I care about.”
Turning, I look at the building and examine the massive room we”re standing in. Then I start to picture it. I can see where the checkout counter would be, and the rows of books and a cute little reading area, maybe a great little place for coffee. There”s so much history in this building. The details around the windows are absolutely stunning. While things like the windows are new, the hardwood floors are original.
I can”t believe he”s giving me a choice. I thought when I walked down the aisle and said I do, my life would be over. That I would do nothing but sit around. I would always have to do whatever my husband told me, which is usually to sit there and look pretty, smile and keep my mouth shut. Oh, and give him babies. At least that”s the life I would have had with Eric, I”m sure of it.
My mouth is curving into a smile when a beautiful blonde walks down the back stairs, causing me to freeze in my tracks.
”Holly, this is my wife, Aria. Aria, this is Holly. She is the interior designer that I hired to help you put this place together. All the bills go to me. But she goes through you for approval on everything,” Matteo introduces us.
Holly gives me a genuine smile, coming over to hug me.
”Aria. It”s so nice to meet you. I was just upstairs, taking measurements and I can”t wait to hear your plans for this building. Your husband told me you want to have a bookstore,” she says.
She”s nothing but friendly and her focus is on me, but this woman is absolutely gorgeous.
Suddenly, I feel completely self-conscious because she doesn”t have an ounce of spare fat on her. And this man just watched me eat two separate dinners last night because of how hungry I was.
”Get that thought out of your mind, baby girl,” Matteo says in a stern voice.
When my eyes snap over to him, there”s nothing but heat in his eyes as he stares at me.
”What thought?” I ask.
”I”ve come to know you pretty well. So I know exactly where your thoughts are going. I was very particular about my requirements for an interior designer. I knew that you wouldn”t want some beautiful woman flirting around me. And there was no way in hell I was putting a guy around you to flirt with you. So, Holly, here was a great find. She”s an amazing interior designer, and she”s also married. Her wife is her business partner.”
As soon as I hear the word wife, my body relaxes, and they both smile at me.
”Holly has also worked with your parents on a project. So you two should work together very well. Right now, I have a meeting that I need to attend. But have fun talking and making plans and I will see you at home.”
When he gives me another smile, he turns to head out the door, but I walk over and stop him.
Things with us have been more like friends. He doesn”t push his luck, and he waits for me to make the first move, then he follows my lead.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I stand on my tiptoes and pull him in for a kiss. Without any hesitation, he holds me close, taking control of the kiss. Though it”s way too short. Then he backs off sooner than I”d like, but I understand we have an audience.
”Thank you for this. You have no idea what this means to me.” I tell him for just us to hear.
”You”ll soon learn that I will do anything for you, baby girl. Take your time and make sure that it”s exactly what you want. Like I said, it doesn”t need to make money. It just needs to make you happy.”