3. Liam
3
LIAM
T hanks. Thanks for reminding me that I don’t belong here, Eva.
I listened to Romeo as he spoke about introducing me to another cousin, a distant one named Franco, but I couldn’t take my focus off the silent, brooding Eva standing next to him.
I knew from the second I walked into this extravagant ballroom that I didn’t belong. Once I began to meet some of the “family” gathered here to celebrate Romeo and Tessa’s engagement, I realized it wasn’t only a group of Constella relatives, but the fucking Mafia.
What in the hell are you thinking, Tessa?
As if life hadn’t thrown me enough curveballs lately. First, leaving the military, something that I never thought I’d willingly do. Second, the news that I was a father. Third, that my childhood friend was marrying into the goddamn Mafia.
I’d fallen into a rabbit hole and ended up in a bizarre world. None of this seemed right. Nothing sounded like it made sense anymore. I could roll with the punches. I wasn’t impervious to changes. But this was too much.
An awkward silence filled in among the three of us. I didn’t know what to say. Small talk wasn’t my thing on the best of days, and I had no clue who these people were.
Romeo seemed impatient to get back to Tessa, making me wonder if he was controlling her.
Eva was trying her damnedest not to check me out even though her icy once-over promised that she found me lacking.
And I had no clue how long I should leave Olivia with Danicia—who’d asked for my phone to text me updates of Olivia playing with toys in a living room somewhere in this place.
Eva caved to the pressure first, clearing her throat. “I see Dante looking for us.” She tugged on Romeo’s sleeve, and with a polite but insincere smile that she tossed my way as an excuse to leave, she led her cousin away.
“Yeah. Whatever. Good riddance.” I watched them go toward the Mafia Boss. Once they crossed the ballroom, I hurried to cut through the crowd and find my friend. Passing all the rich and fancy guests, I ignored the overwhelming sensation of being in the dark.
Nothing about this was adding up. The last I’d heard from Tessa, she was still waitressing at a steakhouse. Still worried about her parents wanting her to marry some lawyer. Still poor and doing the best she could to eke out a life.
Not laughing and smiling in a designer gown, joking and mingling without a care in the world at this mansion guarded by Mafia men.
And I was determined to get some answers about how and why this change had happened.
“Hey, Tessa,” I said.
“Liam!” She beamed, her face lighting up with joy. The shorter bob was a new cut from what I remembered when we were younger, before I was deployed, but it suited her. Never minding my confusion and suspicion, she looked good. And content.
“Are you having fun? I know you’re not a big partier. Or maybe that’s changed over the years, but I hope you’re enjoying yourself so far.”
I nodded, tipping my head for her to follow me to the side. “Uh, that’s not the only thing that’s changed.”
She laughed, so bright and cheerful as she stepped toward the side with me. “Uh, yeah! I’m still shocked that you have a baby!”
“I think she qualifies as a toddler. Maybe?” I ran my hand through my hair, checking whether any Mafia goons were lurking close enough to hear us.
“Just the fact that you have a child, Liam. That’s huge news.”
I stepped closer so we could whisper. “So is the fact that you’re marrying into the fucking Mafia.”
Her smile dimmed and she sighed heavily. “Okay, so, it’s not what you think.”
“Not what I think?” I scoffed. “The Constellas are a fucking Mafia Family.”
“Yes, but?—”
“No but , Tessa. For fuck’s sake. Are you insane? What are you thinking?”
She narrowed her eyes, getting testy with my outburst that I struggled to keep quiet.
“Look, I know life’s been hard.”
“When wasn’t it?” she retorted.
Always. We’d grown up without much, not in poverty but lower middle-class. “That’s not any excuse.” I stepped closer and set my hands on my hips. “Is that fucker forcing you to marry him? Is he controlling you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Cut it out. Seriously. We stay in touch while you’re overseas for how many years, and now the second you’re back you’re going to act like some protective big brother?”
Back when we were younger, I had acted like that. I did step up to look out for her like a big brother might have, but when I was away and serving in the military… I hadn’t been here for her.
“Just make it make sense.” I heaved out a long breath, wondering if I could suspend my disbelief to hear her out with whatever excuse she’d give me.
“Why would you think he’s controlling me?” She crossed her arms.
“I’ve been watching him.”
She rolled her eyes, still miffed. “That doesn’t shock me. You’ve probably been looking for an enemy all night, just the same as you’re clocking all the exits.”
I raised my brows, silently showing her that she was right and we both knew it. “I’ve been watching the way he acts when he’s around you and when he steps away. He’s obsessive about checking where you are.”
“Because I was almost killed or captured by his enemies. Twice.”
I groaned, turning away. “And you’re still interested in marrying him? Signing up for a life of constant danger?”
“Oh!” She grabbed my arm and turned me back. “That’s rich, hearing that from you . A life of constant danger? What, like someone in combat?”
“We’re talking about you, not me.” I shook my head and gently held her upper arms. I ducked so I was more at her eye level, prompting her to focus on me. “Tessa. The Mafia? Come on. This is insane.”
“No, it’s not.” She stood up straighter. “Romeo habitually checks on where I am because he’s protective of me, Liam. Not controlling. Ever since he saved me the night…” She looked down and paused to take in a deep breath.
Watching her struggle to find words worried me.
“The night three men chased me down and raped me, he’s been very protective and concerned about my safety and happiness.”
“ What ?”
She winced and pushed my hands off. I didn’t mean to squeeze hard, but I had.
“Sorry.” I opened and closed my mouth, furious and shocked. “Did you say…?”
“Yes.” She nodded, but I saw the lingering effects of trauma in her gaze. It had to be hard to even say that, let alone think it, but she wasn’t cowering from the truth of it. “They chased me and… and violated me. He saved me that night, and every minute since then, he’s made it his goal to ensure my safety and happiness.”
“Holy fuck.” I turned again, rubbing my hand over my face. Anger pummeled through me at the fact that she’d ever suffered that fate, but deep regret swiftly followed.
Some older brother figure I was. While I was gone, that happened. I hadn’t been here to help her with that trauma.
“Romeo is my hero,” she said, tugging my hand to make me face her again, imploring me to listen.
Hero? A Mafia boss as a hero? Disbelief struck me hard.
It sounded like an oxymoron that I couldn’t get behind. She wouldn’t convince me that easily. Maybe Romeo was conveniently there when she needed someone to intervene, a case of being there to help her when something bad happened. His doing one good deed wouldn’t make him an instant hero, a good guy just because he did one good thing.
I furrowed my brow, looking around at this place we couldn’t fit in. We weren’t rich. We weren’t at ease on this side of the socio-economic spectrum. I had some money from being in the military, but it was no wealth to allude to schmoozing with these people.
“Liam, you’ve got to understand,” Tessa argued.
“Understand what?” I snapped. “These people are in the Mafia , Tessa. You’re associating yourself and your future with syndicated crime bosses.”
The Constellas were players in the kind of shit that ruined society. I’d lived through fighting it to know it. Money made the world go round, and often, the leaders who dealt it out were terrorist groups like the ones I fought, or crime lords like the man she claimed to be a hero.
“We will discuss this later,” she said. She pursed her lips and looked away, seeming disappointed that I could be so upset and worried for her.
This wasn’t a case of disapproving of whom she wanted to marry. It was a matter of not wanting her to be hurt and targeted as a Mafia wife. Romeo’s being in the Mafia was a big red flag that I couldn’t believe she’d ignore.
She wasn’t in the mood to hear me out, though. She wasn’t interested in asking me about how I’d come to find out I had a daughter, either. Walking off to join Romeo, she didn’t seem excited about talking to me at all.
I growled under my breath as I walked back toward one of the bars. I wouldn’t fit in here, but that wouldn’t stop me from drinking their booze and numbing some of these shocks that kept coming my way.
Ordering a shot didn’t take me long, and drinking it lasted even less.
“Another?” the bartender asked, one brow raised.
I had a high tolerance, but I was doing this to forget for a moment. That I was a father responsible for a toddler. That I had no clue where my life would go. That my friend was intent on marrying into the Mafia.
Before I could reply, my phone chimed with another update from Danicia of Olivia sleeping in a crib.
Danicia: Nothing wrong with lil Olivia trying out one of the cribs for Nina’s baby. :)
Danicia: Enjoy the party. She’s good for a long while in your guest room with me.
I nodded. Hell, I probably wouldn’t have another chance to drink for a while. Then I shook my head. “A double.”
He didn’t judge. With a curt nod, he got my drink.
“Looks like the beverages are still to your liking.”
I glared at the wall at Eva’s taunting voice.
She sidled up to me at the bar, disdain still evident in her eyes and disapproval clear in her frown.
“Fuck.” I shook my head. I didn’t know why she’d singled me out. Of all the men and women in this big-ass ballroom, she had to target me, to make my life more miserable than it already had the potential for. “Not you again.”
“Don’t make yourself comfortable.” She kept looking forward, giving me her profile to scowl at. It wasn’t a hardship to gaze at her from this angle. Eva had the classic sort of beauty that would be gorgeous no matter which way I stared at her.
I didn’t listen. I did make myself comfortable, taking in every detail. Those regal high cheekbones, the smooth sun-kissed skin, and the cascading wave of her glossy brown locks as they tumbled over her shoulder. I dragged my stare lower, appreciating the toned definition of her arm and wondering how long it would take for her flesh to break out in goosebumps from my caress there. If I were to tug that thin strap off and lower her dress…
I exhaled all the pent-up frustration I didn’t want to hold in any longer. She was frigid, an icy woman who made it no secret that I couldn’t affiliate with her, but fuck, was she sexy. The attraction between us had flared up as instantly as our annoyance with each other had. Potent and quick to flame.
I wanted her on a visceral, physical level, but now wasn’t the time. And she wasn’t the woman to lose myself in.
“You belong less than he does.” She tipped her chin at the bartender.
Less than the hired help. That was fucking precious.
I stood, buoyed with this infuriating lust for her. She was hot. She was tempting. But way, way too irritating for me to want to spend another moment near her.
“Shut up,” I told her, “and stay out of my fucking way.”
I knew which battles to fight, and she wouldn’t be one. Not if she was a member of the goddamn Mafia I wasn’t sure Tessa should marry into. I tried my best not to start a scene with Tessa when I asked her about this family she was interested in joining. And I would try my best not to start a scene with Eva here. Instead, I turned and walked away with the last drink that I’d allow myself for the night.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” she said, seething as she hurried after me.
I sipped my drink, not giving her the satisfaction of a reply as I headed toward the door that I hoped would lead out of this ritzy, glamorous ballroom that I didn’t want to be in.
“I’ll talk to you however I want.” I glared at her grabbing hold of my sleeve. “And if you don’t leave me alone, I’ll make you regret it.”
She narrowed her eyes. The dark brown in them swirled and glittered with desire, and I resisted the allure of turning her on. She wanted me, just the same as I lusted for her.
“Is that a threat?” She just didn’t know when to stop pushing.
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to snap and show her how close I was to losing control.
I was mad. Confused. Rootless and angry. From so many fronts. And faced with this teasing need to see if her bite was a bad as her bark, I bordered on wanting to strangle her or fuck her.
“It can be,” I warned, realizing that she was enjoying this, too.