9. I don’t like her
CORRADO
9
I’ve lived all over the world. Mainly in Italy, but also in France, the Emirates, Japan, even Russia at one point in my life, and yet every time I visit New York, I always feel at home. The fast pace of the city and the hardworking efficiency of most of the people I employ here brings me joy.
New Yorkers also tend to mind their own business as they get swallowed up by the grind.
I could say the same thing about most Parisians. Big cities demand a certain kind of stamina and proficiency with time management, which leaves little room for sticking your nose in the business of others. Including your family members.
However, my family makes meddling an art form, and even though my brother lives in Paris now, he’s in everyone’s business. My sister’s more than mine, but since I’m the one who walked into a place full of Order members and declared myself married, I expected a call from him bright and early this morning.
Severio doesn’t disappoint.
My watch pings with an incoming call as I rest on the bench in Central Park. The red serpent slithers across the watch’s screen, and I tap my earbud. “You’re interrupting my jog.”
A pause, then, “I want to interrupt your life.”
I chuckle. “So you heard.”
“From others and while I was in a meeting. I had to pretend as if I knew. Otherwise, it would appear as if I didn’t know what my little brother was doing.” I’m thirty-three to his thirty-five, and neither of us is “little.” “Is it true? Did you get married?”
“Not exactly.”
“Brother, you either did or did not. Which is it?”
“Neither. We’re still negotiating.”
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Michela.”
“Michela,” my brother says, and I dislike the sensual way he says her beautiful name. His voice tells me he likes it, and I dislike that he likes it, making me wish I’d never told him. Which is stupid. I grit my teeth.
“Is she Italian?”
“Mmhm. Michela Trentino.”
“Trentino,” he repeats. “We never did business with the Trentinos, which means we retain neutrality and power.” My brother pauses, and in my mind, I see him leaning forward in his chair as he realizes a critical detail I hadn’t mentioned. “Wait, she’s not a bird, is she?” We call people outside our Order birds.
“She is.”
“Meirde! The birds sing. It’s why they can’t be trusted. Porquoi t’as fais ?a?”
“Why did I do it?” I repeat in English. “Because half of the most powerful members of New York’s Order attended the party, and some of them appeared as if they expected me to be there. Franko even summoned Stephania Trivo, whom I made a point to sit my wife next to.” The jewelry heiress’s family is one of the Order’s founding members.
“What was she doing there?”
“I think she came because he’s been feeding their sources lies that I’m with his niece.” Since the Order removes the parasites and the weak, Franko had to show he’s strong. “Everyone came to see for themselves. He knew he couldn’t get me to show up for Isabella’s party unless I thought he’d broken the rules.”
“He drew you into a trap, basically.”
“That’s right.”
“Then you retaliated by taking a wife.”
“Mmhm.”
“Tu n’aurais pas pu trouver un autre moyen?”
“I could’ve found another way, yes. But this was most convenient. Since we have a rebel family in our midst, until Franko is dealt with, the Order needs to remain in control. Marriage sends a clear message of stability.”
“And if you’re married, you’re unavailable.”
“Correct.”
“Essentially, you’ve arranged your own marriage,” Severio concludes. “What are the terms?”
“We’re still negotiating.” Michela and I agreed on a single night of her pretending she’s mine in exchange for my help recovering her car. But once I declared her my wife, the arrangement changed. She’ll soon find out what that means, whether she likes it or not. She won’t like it, but I will make it worth her while.
He pushes on. “What are the current terms?”
I tsk at him. “I said we’re negotiating.”
Silence on the other end, then: “Do you like this girl?”
“I met her last night.”
“That’s not what I asked.” When I don’t gratify him with an answer, he pushes on like a bull seeing red. “Do you have a picture of her?”
“No.”
“Is she pretty?”
“No.”
More silence.
I sigh. “She is…perfect for this job. Trust me.”
“I trust you, Corrado. I also admire your quick thinking, as I’d have never thought about faking my marriage. But she’s an innocent bird, and I’m concerned about how you’ll keep her playing the fake-wife game during Order functions.”
“She played like a pro last night, and she was a fish out of water.”
“How so?” Severio asks.
“She surprised me, that’s all.” I never expected that she’d escape and use her status as my wife to make her getaway.
“Fine. But you brought in a bird without initiation or any background check, and if the Order members find out the marriage is fake, they will ask for her head and the heads of anyone else who knows about it. And if she finds out about us, that’s a breach of the code of silence. For which both of you will lose your heads, unless?—”
I cut him off. “Thank you, brother.”
“Just keeping it real.”
“Tell Paulina I’ll call her when I can.”
“She’ll want to meet her.”
“Goodbye.”
“Corrado, there’s more to discuss.”
“Later.” Because now I must shower and get my wife’s car.