How did that even work? She looked it up and once they were married on paper, she wouldn’t have to testify. Dante had been right. It was pretty straightforward.
****
Madison was sketching at the table when her doorbell rang.
She opened the door part way and peeked out. “Lucca?” It was Lucca and his father, who Madison now knew was the head of the family.
“Can we come in?”
Madison was nervous and afraid to have a mafia don in her place. Especially after what happened to Dante. And he was coming to see her for a reason. It couldn’t be good. She didn’t know if she could take any more bad news. “Come in. You can sit down in the dining area.”
“Thank you, we won’t take much of your time. Dante told us you’re grieving. We are also sorry for your loss,” Lucca said.
“Thank you.”
“We’ve come to get you for the marriage,” Lucca said.
“Already? That was fast.”
“Dante wanted it done fast to protect you as soon as possible,” the Don said.
“Oh. Ok. What do I need to do?”
“All you need to do is come with us,” Lucca said
“When they interviewed you, did you say anything?” the Don asked.
“No. I don’t know anything to tell them.”
“We have a judge. He’ll marry you two, and there you go.” the Don said.
“Ok.” Madison looked around. “Right. Well, I don’t want to go to jail, so if this is the only way to avoid it, then I’ll do it.”
“Great choice. We will take you to the courthouse to meet with the judge who will be marrying you two,” the Don said.
“Great.”
Madison excused herself and went to change. She guessed she should wear something other than lounge clothes to be married in. She picked a slate gray piece she had made after her and Dante had been having regular sleepovers.
It reminded her of his eyes and how they looked when trained on her. She hadn’t worn it before. She had been saving it for something special. It was fancy with a ruffle skirt to make it flirty.
What was more special than your wedding?
They hustled her to the car, and she didn’t have time to ask how spousal immunity worked besides what she had read on the internet. She was nervous to see Dante again. They still hadn’t spoken since he had come to her apartment. Before that, she had been able to avoid him. That was why his arrival at the service surprised her. All too soon they arrived, and she was ushered into some judge’s chambers.
Dante was there in the same suit from the morning. Her eyes scanned over him, and he was as handsome as ever. Their eyes met, and the familiar spark ignited. The tug at her center that was there the first time they had met across the bar at the club.
Was it the same for him? Had it disappeared for him? Or even worse, had it never been there and was just a line he had used to get into her pants?
Dante walked over to her. “Hi.”
She gave a wave. “Hi.”
“I’m glad you could come.” He reached for her hand.
Madison let him take her hand. “I kind of didn’t have a choice.”
“This is for the best and the only way I know to protect you.” He pulled her towards the judge.
