“Victoria’s father and uncle have purposely been keeping distance, one side legitimate business, the other not so much. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they had an arrangement in which a handpicked politician marries into the family to become their political puppet. With the help from the Romano business money, they fast-tracked Senator Webb’s political career, in large part from a social media blitz campaign that quickly dubbed them theitcouple with aspirations for the White House.”
“Jesus,” Axel replied.
People used social media for all sorts of things evidently. Who knew even organized crime families had tapped into it?
“Anyway, the arrangement would be a win-win for everyone. The Romano family would have control over the most powerful person in the country. But evidently, Victoria isn’t being as careful as she should be.”
Seriously. She shouldn’t have been flirting with Axel.
“Dakota’s photo is wreaking havoc on their curated image. Crime bosses don’t like reporters digging into their niece’s background,” Ryker said. “Especially when that niece is married to a presidential candidate who’s been very useful to their … business interests.”
“I didn’t know she was married, let alone that she’s connected to the mob,” Axel protested, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
The movement made his biceps flex, and I forced myself to focus on the terrifying man in the photograph instead.
Focus, Dakota. Danger. Death. Very unsexy things.
“Doesn’t matter,” Ryker said. “Your scandal brought unwanted media attention to Victoria’s family ties. Reporters are starting to dig into the Webb marriage, asking questions about Victoria’s background and her family connections. No one in the press has picked up on the Romano connection yet; the crime family has done a good job burying it. But the thing about a scandal is that it has a news cycle. Reporters have to keep digging up fresh information, and eventually, they’ll run out of readily available material. They’ll start digging deeper into her background, and when that happens, they’ll uncover this crime family connection. If that comes to light, his political aspirations are over, and the crime family loses their pawn who’s about to move into the White House. Now, thus far, there hasn’t been enough proof to make any mob ties stick legally, but public perception is a different beast.”
The room fell silent, except for the hum of the refrigerator and the sound of my heart hammering against my ribs. A muscle jumped in Axel’s neck as he processed the implications, and I felt that stupid twist in my stomach again.
Holy irony, Batman. Here Axel and I were, scrambling to sell a fake relationship because the woman he’d been seen flirting with was married. Only to find out we’d unknowingly exposed that Victoria’s “perfect marriage” was also complete bullshit.
I could practically hear Axel’s furious thoughts:As if we needed another shining example of people crafting fairy-tale images for likes and popularity. The real kicker? We were all living proof of how quickly that house of cards could collapse, how one misstep could turn the adoring public into a vengeful mob.
“If she has that sort of family, it would have come out eventually. Especially if her husband is running for president,” I reasoned.
“Be that as it may”—Ryker drummed his fingers on the table—“that viral photo is responsible for this coming out. And I’ve heard rumblings from informants about payback.”
Jesus.
“So, you’re here to warn us that Axel is in danger?”Why does the thought of that make me want to throw up?
“Not just Axel.” Ryker’s expression was grim. “You had a role in creating this mess. And you two just went public with your relationship. As far as Tony Romano knows, you’re the beloved girlfriend of the man who’s threatened everything.”
“But,” I protested weakly, “our fake engagement is supposed to make this scandal go away. So, really, we’re helping them right now.”
Ryker’s glare leveled me. “You think mob bosses wait around to see if PR strategies work? They handle problems before they become bigger problems. And right now, you two are problems.”
17
ME: I HATE THIS FAKE RELATIONSHIP. LIFE: HERE’S A HIT MAN TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE. #DEATHBYROMANCE
DAKOTA
“So, good news.” Axel raised his crystal tumbler of whiskey toward the men currently occupying his penthouse living room.
Blake Morrison—emergency room doctor and Tessa’s fiancé—leaned against the far wall like he was posing for a medical drama. Next to him stood Jace Lockwood, CEO extraordinaire and Scarlett’s boyfriend, who probably had more money than some small countries. Ryker paced the length of the windows like a caged panther while Axel and I sat on his ridiculously expensive couch, both looking like we’d been hit by a freight train.
A freight train named Tony Romano.
After Ryker had dropped his little bombshell about my fake fiancé potentially being on a crime family hit list, the guys had apparently activated their version of the Avengers. Because nothing sayscrisis managementlike summoning the rich, the brilliant, and the medically trained.
Rain hammered against the floor-to-ceiling windows like Mother Nature herself wanted a front-row seat to our impendingdoom. The storm had cast Axel’s normally bright penthouse in shades of gray, all sharp shadows and cold light.
Real cozy atmosphere for discussing death threats.
“The good news,” Axel repeated, swirling his whiskey as he prepared to fill in Blake and Jace on why they’d been summoned here, “is that we’re trending. The dinner show worked like a charm.” He paused, letting that sink in. “The bad news? We might also be featured on a Romano family hit list now.”
