Chapter 15
GINA
“Lunch was so fun,” I tell Angie as we finally leave Saks. “And this weather is gorgeous! Instead of a cab, let’s walk home. It can’t be that far. And we won’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic.”
Angie shrugs. “Sure. Why not.”
“Antoine’s a great guy. Has he ever chosen anything for you?”
“Me? I don’t count,” Angie says.
“Count? You’re Dante’s second cousin. Your husband works for Dante. You’re part of the family. Why wouldn’t you count?”
“Long story. Maybe someday I’ll tell you.”
I sense a note of finality in her voice. I want to press further, but then my phone buzzes.
“Ha!” I laugh as I look at the screen.
“What is it?” Angie asks.
“Oh, just a text from my friend Alice back home.”
“What does it say? I could use a laugh.”
“It will make more sense if I text you a link to her YouTube channel.”
“You mentioned that at the reception,” she says as she pulls out her phone. “What kind of a show does she have on YouTube?”
“A romance book review show. All the flavors. Sometimes rockstars. Other times billionaires. It depends on her mood.”
“What’s the format?”
“She mostly just talks to the camera. She’s on a mafia kick now and just made this reel where the FMC and MMC have all this angst on their way to an HEA.”
Just like my real life, I think to myself. Except I’m not too sure about the ‘happily ever after’ at this point.
“Man, I don’t know what any of that means. I’m way out of my league.”
“You’ll pick it up. Do you like to read?”
“No. Not really. But I’ll watch your friend’s YouTube. Why mafia, though? Does she know you’re married to the leader of the New York mob?”
My heart lurches. “Of course not!”
“Will you ever tell her?”
“No. She wouldn’t understand.”
Angie nods.
We continue walking in the direction of Dante’s penthouse, still talking about my old life back home.
I notice Angie looking over her shoulder from time to time.
“What’s up?” I ask, turning to look behind us.
She grabs my arm. “Don’t you look too! Last time I thought it was my imagination. But this time I’m sure we’re being followed.”
Angie seems like a brave girl. Her sudden fright worries me. “By whom?”
“Not sure. I better call your husband to let him know.”
“You’re calling Dante? Does he know I’m with you?”
“Of course,” she says. “I texted him that I’d be joining your shopping trip.”
“But why?”
She holds her hand out, gesturing for me to be quiet while she turns away to converse with Dante. She speaks so quietly I can’t hear her words.
But I do catch the clipped, commanding tone of Dante’s voice.
When Angie disconnects, she turns back to me.
“Dante said we have to grab a cab immediately so I can get you home fast.”
“What’s going on?”
Angie doesn’t answer as she flags down a cab.
Once we’re inside, I turn to look out the rear window for signs we’re being followed, the way characters do in old movies. But it seems like normal traffic to me.
“Who was following us? Why?”
“I didn’t recognize them. But don’t worry. Dante will figure it out. He thinks they were Petrov soldiers.”
“Petrov?”
“A Russian outfit that’s trying to take over some of our territories. They’re relatively new arrivals and the main reason Dante’s dad wanted to unite the East and West Coast families.”
“And the reason Dante married me,” I say, the words bitter in my mouth.
“C’mon, Gina, don’t be like that.” Angie bumps my shoulder with hers. “Your mother was from our side of the family. An arranged marriage shouldn’t have been a surprise to you.”
“Not a surprise,” I say, thinking back to the first time I set eyes on Dante and instinctively knew he’d be mine. “But I always thought there’d be love.”
Angie pats my shoulder. “Arranged marriages can turn into love,” she says slowly. “But the secret is not to expect it.”
When we reach The Circle, I look over at Angie. “Will you come up with me?”
She shakes her head. “I gotta get back. I’ll see you at Silvio’s party, though.” She waves as the cab speeds away.
I turn to face the building but hesitate before going up to the apartment. Just what was going on?