“What he expects isn’t always what happens,” I told her firmly. “I came to ask you for help.”
Her thin eyebrows rose in shock. Maria closed the book and set it down on the windowsill. “What is it you think I’ll be able to help you with?”
“Contacts,” I told her. “For everything. Clothing, caterers, decorators. I need help.”
“You didn’t take my advice, did you? You’re letting him go through with whatever stupid plan he has. He’s going to get himself killed.”
“He’ll only get himself killed if we can’t pull it off. If you want to keep him alive, then help me. I have no idea where to start and I need to learn quick.”
“I thought you’d be good for him,” Maria mumbled. “I thought you’d been able to straighten him out a little.”
“I know you’re not that delusional, Maria.” Luc wasn’t going to step away from his life’s work for anyone or anything. I knew that. I knew the moment he’d asked me if I’d help him that there wasn’t a choice. He was hungry and he wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied. “I need help so that I can help him, and you’re the only one who I can turn to.”
It wasn’t enough to start to search for people who could fill the roles. I needed specifics. I needed a caterer who knew how to make rabbit cacciatore. A stylist who could advise me from church to dinner. A wine merchant who stocked any of the numerous alcoholic favorites that Dante had listed. Time was not on my side and Maria was my best bet.
“Do you understand what you’re getting yourself into?” Maria asked me quietly. I understood that she had expected me to be Luc’s salvation, when in reality he embroiled me into the intricate matters of his life.
“Yes,” I replied. In agreeing to be with Luc, to love him, live with him, and find a way to overthrow Xavier, I was agreeing to leave behind the life I’d once known. No more black and white. The world was morally grey, and I had to rest easy with that view of the world. “I understand. I also understand that people can make things exceptionally difficult for me if they want to, but I’m hoping the love you have for him will outweigh all the issues from our last visit.”
If Maria refused, then I’d need to start from scratch, need to be prepared to make some unsteady and potentially costly steps. It was a risk. She still harbored a deep-rooted hurt after what happened to Stefan. When she’d forgiven me at the funeral, I’d wondered how she could do it so easily. She’d done it for Luc. Forgiven me so that I could continue to blossom beside him and show him a life he could have away from all of this. When our meeting soured, she’d allowed herself to be viciously honest. Maria owed us nothing.
“What do I get in return for helping you? You can’t expect me to heed to your beck and call and then be ignored when you have no use for me.”
“What do you want?” I asked, although I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
“I want to be part of my grandson’s life.”
Chapter Thirty Four
Mia
To say I’d lost sleep over the idea of trying to integrate myself into family life would have been an understatement. How was I meant to slot back into their lives knowing what they thought of me? And this time, I didn’t just need to slot in, but I needed to make an impact. One that was more appealing than whore and traitor. The thoughts ran through my head any time there was a spare moment, and tired me out. I took some comfort in the fact that Maria had managed to dig up an old address book in her belongings that had a few numbers to give me a head start. Some things would have to be done from scratch, but I was grateful for any scrap that stopped me from looking like a complete amateur.
Luc had told me we could ease into it and his version of easing in was to throw a birthday party. “You only turn 21 once,” he’d told me when I grumbled about not wanting a fuss. He’d won.
I squeezed into a dress with Dom’s help and watched as I once again became a version of myself that was both familiar and strange to me. As I looked at my reflection, I knew this was an image that I’d have to become accustomed to. With Luc and Dante’s ambitions, this was what my life would be. That was unfair. That made it sound like I was unwilling, but I wanted what was best for my baby and my family, and that was why I had agreed. I wanted this as much as they did.
As we entered the casino, I was hit with memories of the first time I had walked the floor here. I’d yet to meet Luc, searching for him so that I could try and pull myself and Dad from the mess. It seemed like a far distant memory. We were different people compared to that first meeting. With my arm looped through Luc’s, we walked up to the top floor where the music and chatter fought over each other to be heard.
“I thought you said it would be something small,” I muttered, taking in the scene. Glittering banners declaring my age and streamers hung all over and fresh bouquets of lilies graced the surfaces. Scanning the crowd of people, I saw a number of familiar faces in attendance. Luc’s sway with the family seemed to have held despite my best and unintentional efforts to tarnish his reputation. Either that, or people were desperate for the next piece of gossip. Most likely an unhealthy mixture of both.
Luc snorted. “This is pretty tame. I only invited the people we’re closest to.”
As we melted into the party crowd, the uncomfortable itch faded away. With Luc beside me, the cruel whispers had transitioned into laughter and ease. Luc’s acceptance had ushered in that of the rest of the family. I still didn’t trust a single one of them, but they were easier to deal with without the added cruelty and judgement.
I spent the evening being reintroduced to those who had decided to turn up. They were only too happy to fill me in on what had happened in my absence. I’d learned of births and deaths and engagements. In a single round of the room we’d been invited to three weddings and I’d had more hands on my bump than I’d ever expected.
“You look tired,” Luc said as Rosalie Gazze left us.
“Heels and pregnancy and trying to keep face is an exhausting business.”
“You’ve done a good job so far,” he told me before something over my shoulder distracted him. When I looked behind me, Dante was at the other side of the room tapping on his wrist. “Are you okay on your own for a few minutes? I need to grab something.”
I gave him a curious look. “I’ll be fine.” Dom had been keeping a close eye on the both of us, and so had the rest of Luc’s men who were under his order to make sure tonight went as smoothly as possible.
After a soft kiss, Luc cleared the room to join Dante before they both disappeared. I spied Tori with a few women and decided that would be my best bet for conversation without feeling too out of place, however I only managed a few steps before Gabriel blocked my path, Franco close by.
“Happy birthday, Mia.”
