Chapter 10
TEN
Lissia
Lorenzo’s presence unsettled me or maybe it was the encounter with Danny, my father’s death, or Nico leaving. Any of those events would be enough to send me running to my therapist. But I couldn’t help shake the feeling that this uncertainty was something else entirely.
“Hey.” I let go of Marchello’s hand and gave Lorenzo a hug.
“Hello, sweetie.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” It was still awkward when people offered their condolences. I wasn’t sure how to process the loss of my father given how we had left things before his death.
“I apologize for not being there for the funeral.” He released me from his hold.
“That’s okay.” I didn’t believe Lorenzo felt much sympathy that my father was gone, but he genuinely cared for me. “The flowers you sent were beautiful.”
“I also want to extend my congratulations on your recent nuptials.” He glanced at Marchello. “I trust you’re taking very good care of your stunning bride.”
Marchello said, “I’m doing my best.”
“Does that mean she’s not cooperating?” Lorenzo smirked. “How shocking.”
I hooked my arm in Marchello’s. “I’m doing the best I can. My husband has a lot of patience when it comes to me.”
“You’re worth it.” Lorenzo winked. “Let me know if he steps out of line. I’ll take care of him.”
“What brings you here?” I asked. “I have a feeling this isn’t a social call.”
“I have an opportunity I’d like to discuss with your husband.”
“Ricardo is here.” Marchello nodded toward the bar. “Why don’t you go keep him company?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” I asked.
“Not at all,” Lorenzo said. “But I do have some business to discuss. Can you give us a few minutes?”
“Is it dangerous business?” The unsettled sensation in my gut intensified.
“Lissia.” Marchello pressed his lips together and gave me the I’m not in the mood for your nonsense look . He pointed toward the bar. “Ricardo. Go.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” I kissed Marchello’s cheek.
“Don’t leave that bar area,” Marchello said. “Because I’m not as patient with you as you think.”
“I won’t.” I waved goodbye before scampering off. Whatever Marchello and Lorenzo had to discuss wasn’t my concern. At least not at the moment.
“How’s it going?” Ricardo asked as I walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?” I gave him a hug. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
“I heard about the commotion from some of the guys, and I came to lend some moral support in case you needed it.” He kissed my cheek, then pulled out the stool next to him. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” I sat down. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“What else are friends for?” He nodded to the empty bar. “The staff have left, but I can make you a drink while you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“I’m good for now.” I patted his hand as he sat. “Why do you think something is bothering me?”
“I can see it all over your face. It’s more than the stuff you’re dealing with, but even if it isn’t, you have to take the time you need to heal.”
“I can’t really pinpoint what’s wrong. I’m struggling, and I don’t like it.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Is it?” I traced my finger over a cocktail napkin. “I’m all over the place.”
“As you should be.”
“I guess.”
“You’re mourning the loss of your father. You were given some pretty shitty information about him and his business dealings, not to mention what he had planned for you.” He loosened his tie. “You haven’t even had time to accept that you’re married. Why wouldn’t you be overwhelmed?”
“I keep reminding myself that things have been crazy.”
“It didn’t help that Danny showed up here to torment you and provoke Marchello.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “The guys said Marchello lost his cool.”
“Can you blame him?”
“Under the circumstances, no.”
“You don’t know the half of it. I screwed up.”
“How?” Ricardo gave me a gentle smile. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t mean to do it.”
“Did Marchello see things that way?”
“Not at first, but he went easy on me because he’s afraid I’ll shatter.” I banged my hand on the bar. “I don’t want to be this person. I’m tired of feeling sad, guilty, and so not like myself.”
“You have to be patient with yourself.”
“Marchello knows I’m capable of dealing with all of this shit, but he’s being so careful with me. I appreciate it, but I want us the way we were.”
“Give it a few days. You’ll get back to normal.” He tugged on the end of my hair.
“Danny called me the night of the funeral and threatened to kill Marchello.”
“Why can’t that asshole leave you alone?” He slapped his hand against the bar.
“He’s one more burden my father left me to deal with,” I said. “Danny thinks I owe him for everything he’s lost.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“I didn’t tell Marchello he called. Does that sound like myself?”
“Well, I guess that depends on your motive for not telling him.”
“That’s the thing.” I glanced at Marchello and Lorenzo, who were still deep in conversation. I may have said I didn’t need to know what they were discussing, but I wanted to know. “I didn’t have a motive.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Marchello?”
“With everything going on, I forgot. Then when Danny didn’t call back, I put it out of my mind. I thought he would leave me alone.”
“But he showed up here to cause trouble.”
“He was so blatant. Like he didn’t care what he was doing. He wasn’t afraid of Marchello.”
When Danny pointed his gun at Marchello, I wanted to drop to my knees out of fear. I couldn’t breathe. Losing Marchello wasn’t an option.
“I’m sure that isn’t true,” Ricardo said. “Danny is just desperate, which makes him even more dangerous. If he feels like he has nothing to lose, he’s going to become more aggressive.”
“You’re not reassuring me.”
“I’m reminding you that you are dealing with ruthless men who will stop at nothing to get what they want. You have to be smart.”
“I am smart.”
“Forgetting to tell Marchello that Danny called you was not a smart move.” He held up his hand before I could argue. “I know you’re not feeling like yourself, but you have to use your head. You’re not married to a car salesman.”
“I know.” I rolled my eyes. “I made a mistake during some strenuous circumstances.”
“I’m not disputing that.” He motioned toward Marchello. “You can’t keep things from your husband. He doesn’t deal well with betrayal.”
“I would never betray him. He knows that.”
“You’re an Accetti now. You have to start acting like one.”
“You’re right.” I loved Marchello with everything I had, and I wanted to be the wife he deserved. “Thanks for coming here to check on me.”
“I’m always going to be here.” He hugged me. “You’re going to get back to feeling like you. Be kind to yourself.”
“I’m lucky I have you in my life.” I kissed his cheek. “You have the best taste in shoes.”
“I’m learning all about style from you.”
“Maybe we need a shopping spree.”
“Will it make you feel better?” he asked.
“Shopping always makes me feel better.”
I stared at Marchello. The prominent tension in his jawline told me everything I needed to know about the discussion he was involved in. Lorenzo didn’t come bearing holiday cheer.
“How about that drink?” Ricardo stood and walked around the bar. “I’ll make you anything you want.”
“I don’t really feel like drinking.”” I thought for a moment. “It’s December.”
“Don’t remind me. I have to start Christmas shopping and decorating. There’s so much to do.” He perused the bottles of alcohol on the shelves behind the bar. “I hope Nico can be home for the holidays.”
“Hmm…” I took out my phone and opened my calendar. “Oh?”
Is this why I’m off?
“What?” Ricardo’s voice held alarm. “Is it Danny again?”
“No, but I have to tell Marchello something.” I hopped off the stool. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“Don’t get yourself into trouble,” he called as I raced over to Marchello.
Marchello and Lorenzo were still talking, and neither seemed too concerned when I had joined them again. They were probably done talking about the part I wasn’t supposed to hear.
“After hearing all of that,” Lorenzo said to Marchello, “you must understand why I require your presence in Miami.”
Miami. That sounds interesting.
“I do,” Marchello said. “But now is not the best time.”
I inched closer to Marchello, brushing my fingers along his hand.
“I realize your father has left again and you’re running things here, but coming to Miami will be beneficial for your business. These contacts I want to introduce to you are interested in what you can offer here in New York. It could set up a lucrative partnership for you.”
“I appreciate that, but with my father not being around, Milo trying to get this club up and running, the dealership, and protecting my territory, I don’t know if this is the right time to leave.”
“It would only be for a few days,” Lorenzo said. “You should seriously consider this.”
“I can go with you,” I blurted because I was excited by the notion of getting away for a bit. “It could be a getaway for us.”
“I’ll set you up in a private villa.” Lorenzo smiled. “I’ll treat you like royalty.”
“I’m in.” This was the chance I needed to get myself back to normal.
“No, you’re not,” Marchello said with that stern, scary glare of his. “This is an opportunity my family should explore. I can clear a few days from my schedule and make the trip.”
“You’re making the right decision,” Lorenzo said.
“It has to be brief, though. I’m needed here.” Marchello glanced at me. “I don’t want to be away longer than I have to be.”
“If you’re worried about me, then let me come with you,” I said. Didn’t that make sense? “I want to go with you.”
“Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you were in Miami?”
His body tensed and heat radiated from his flesh. If I pushed him now, he would blow, but some things were worth the risk.
Aren’t they?
“I’ll be safe with you,” I said. “Danny is here in Manhattan, and my father is dead, so…”
“She has a point.” Lorenzo motioned toward the bar. “I’m going to get a drink while the two of you work this out.”
“There is nothing to work out,” Marchello said.
Lorenzo strolled over to the bar and shook Ricardo’s hand.
Marchello turned to me. “You’re not going.”
“You’re not being reasonable.” I pushed my hair from my face. “We just got married. You should want me to be with you.”
“I do want you to be with me.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“No. Nothing is fucking settled. For once, why can’t you do what I ask?”
“Because you never ask. You demand.”
He took my arm and led me back to the dark hallway where I had encountered Danny.
“I need to assist Lorenzo with some business. He wants me to meet with members of a cartel that I have not vetted yet. It would be irresponsible of me to take you back to Miami after what happened last time.”
“If it’s so irresponsible, why would you go?”
He threw his hand in the air. “Haven’t we been through enough these past few months? Why haven’t you learned that every time you go rogue on me, our lives blow up?”
“Why haven’t you learned that’s who we are?”
“That isn’t who we have to be.” He ran his hand along his jaw. “I’m not doing this with you. Not now. Not here.”
Maybe going back and forth with him—screaming, yelling, and fighting until everything made sense—was what I needed.
“I’m going to Miami, you’re staying here,” he declared with such confidence that I couldn’t help but challenge him.
“I’m going with you.”
The thought of him leaving me when I needed him the most made my stomach churn and my heart hurt. How could he do that to me?
“No, you’re not.” He stepped toward me, tracing his fingers along my neck and backing me into the wall.
“Watch me.”
His menacing eyes glared into mine as he wrapped his hand around my throat, paralyzing my vocal cords.
“You might want to rethink your approach.” He leaned into my ear, forcing a chill to course through me as he said, “I already warned you that I’m all out of patience. So, go ahead, princess, try me.”