Chapter 13 #2
“So, how did you two meet?” Fernanda asks. “Michael is so secretive about his life, even his own mother doesn’t know he’s dating.”
Her gaze drifts toward him even as his drifts to me.
“Yeah, baby.” His lips jerk. “How did we meet?”
I narrow a stare, a wicked grin on my face.
“Well…” I place my palm on top of his thigh this time and give it a hard little squeeze until I hear his low growl. “Michael saved me in a way. Isn’t that right, baby?”
It is true. He kinda did.
Giovanni chuckles, and Michael shoots him a glare.
“Aww, that’s my boy. Always helping others,” Fernanda gushes like her son is a fucking hero.
If you only knew, lady.
Maybe she does know who he is. I mean being the wife of a Mafia boss, she must know.
“Daddy saved me too,” Sophia adds. “He’s a hero.”
Confusion settles over my features, and I look around the room for answers. “How did he save you?”
The words slip out, and I notice a momentary shift in Michael’s demeanor. But Sophia is oblivious, because she just keeps talking, and I eat up every word.
She jumps right into his lap, pivoting to me, feet dangling over his thighs. “When I was a baby, I was in a building that was burning, and Daddy rushed in before the firemen could get there because he heard me crying.”
I gasp, a hand jumping to my chest. My eyes clasp to his, and in his gaze, I discover a flicker of emotion hiding beneath.
Sophia continues, “Then he took me out and made me his daughter because my parents died.”
He saved a complete stranger’s baby? Risked his own life? Then raised her? Who is this man that’s now my husband?
Sophia’s arms slip around his neck. “He got a cut on his cheek when he saved me.” She glances at him. “Right, Daddy?”
He runs his fingertips over the thick scar, those eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah, baby. And Daddy would do it all over again.”
My heart jolts, like it’s come undone. And if I thought I wanted him to kiss me before…oh, God. Now I’m the one who wants to kiss him.
“See, I told you Daddy was a hero,” she says. “Now he’s saved us both.”
MICHAEL
The way she looked at me when she found out about Sophia was like she was seeing me for the first time. Like I was a man worth something, not the monster she’s made me out to be.
I liked seeing her soften for me just as much as I like it when she fights me. But none of that matters. None of it means a damn thing, because nothing between us has changed. This little dove will eventually be free.
I give her a lingering glance right before I leave the room with Gio and my father, who asked for a meeting. Sophia is chatting about how Elsie should do her makeup for the wedding and the flower girl dress that she can’t wait to pick.
My chest grows heavy.
Seeing them together…it quietly unsheathes the desires I’d buried of wanting a wife, a family, before I decided it wasn’t in the cards for a man like me. But in these short few days, this woman has given me a glimpse of what having a family could be like.
I should hate her for it. For giving me a taste without even realizing it. But I don’t. I just want her gone. I need her gone. She’ll never be safe with me.
Following my father out to my office, I close the door behind them. My father takes his seat at my desk. Like he’s the king of it all.
“Just heard Faro is dead,” he tells us matter-of-factly. “Sal’s the new don.”
I go to the bar and pour us all a whiskey. Seems like the occasion to celebrate.
“Where do we send our condolences?” Gio chuckles, taking a glass from me while I place one before my father.
“How?” I ask, leaning against the door as I take a swallow of the liquor, the burn rolling down my throat.
“Got these Cavaleri boys creating hell for them.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?” Gio asks, sitting down on the leather sofa.
“They’re boys they messed with back in the day,” our father explains. “Bianchis killed their kid brother and father. But now they’ve got a bunch of hotels or whatever.”
“They killed a kid?” Gio shakes his head. “Damn.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “Not much older than Sophia.”
My fist tightens around the glass with such force, it could crush within my palm.
“Those boys are hungry,” Dad continues. “My contacts there say they’re going after all the Bianchis until every last one is dead.”
“Well, good.” Gio shrugs. “Fuck ’em. If we can't do shit, someone may as well do it for us.”
This is good. If they’re gone, so will be that club they run.
“There’s something else I heard.” My father leans back in the armchair, his eyes curiously taking me in as he rocks back and forth.
I already know he knows something he isn't saying.
“What is it?” I drown in the rest of my drink because I know what’s coming, but I’ve prepared for this.
“Who’s the girl, Michael?” The question is point-blank. He knows.
“Just a girl.”
“How did you two meet?” He keeps rocking, eyes tearing into me.
“Let’s just say she came out of nowhere,” Gio offers on a laugh.
I turn sharply to him.
“What?” He flips a hand in the air. “It’s the truth.”
“What do you want to know?” I say. “Ask it.”
He leans forward, elbows against the edge of the desk as he places his glass down with a clank. “There’s something else I heard.”
I wait for him to continue, not saying a goddamn word.
“A few days ago, they lost one of their girls. A runner. Agnelo says they’re looking for a pretty one with long black hair.” He tips up a brow. “Know anyone like that?”
I march a few steps and meet my brother on the sofa, my body language casual. “There are many women who fit that description.”
“Sure.” He nods, and I know he doesn’t buy it.
“But none at the same house where you were last seen asking for Faro.” He pauses, holding my gaze.
“Be careful, son. You don’t want to topple the calm boat we’ve been on.
We’ve been able to keep to our side while the Bianchis stay on theirs. If she’s their girl, take her back.”
Rage churns in my chest, the blood rushing in my head as I grind my teeth. “Like hell I will. She’s not theirs. And even if she was, I’d never send her back to that.”
He sighs. “They’re going to find out, and it sure as hell better be after she’s your wife, because if not, they’ll have proper claim to her. She’s their property. Do you want an all-out war?”
“I’ve never been afraid of a fight.” My simmering voice rises. “Are you?”
His face tightens. “I’ve never been afraid of a goddamn thing. You’d best remember that.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway.”
He gives me a confused stare.
I leave my glass on the desk, making it to the safe. Once I enter the code and it clicks open, I remove the folder containing our marriage certificate and slam it down before him.
“She’s mine already. They can’t touch her.”
He stares at it for a few seconds before he looks up. Then his face cracks, and he chuckles, throwing his head back. “That’s my boy.”
Elsie is now a Marino, and there’s nothing the Bianchis can do about it.