“Thank you for standing up for me, Chiara.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears before she hugs me. “I appreciate it, eventhough there’s no way my father will change his mind about finding me a husband.”
“Are the Faugno brothers awful?” I grimace while picturing two bald, fat thugs.
“They’re actually really hot,” she chuckles before her smile fades. “But my heart belongs to another.”
“I know,” I say, and Fina flushes.
“How?”
I snort. “You might think you’re hiding your true feelings for Matteo, but trust me, you’re really not.” Her face falls.
“If my father finds out, he’ll…” She swallows hard before standing tall and fixing her hair like she hopes looking perfect will keep her safe. “Anyway, it’s not your problem. Angelo assures me he won’t let anything happen to Matteo, and I trust him.”
“Glad one of us does,” I mutter under my breath while she applies a fresh coat of lipstick.
Fina catches my eye in the mirror. “My brother is a good man, Chiara. I know it might not seem that way to you, but he’s nothing like our father.” My derisive scoff speaks volumes, and she sighs. “If he could fix this marriage mess, he would. I’m certain of that.”
I’m sure she believes the bullshit she’s selling, but I don’t.
Angelo has done nothing to make this right. There are dozens more eligible women out there for him. Women who’d happily wear his ring and bear him children. So why does he insist on continuing with this fake marriage when it’s obvious we’re a terrible match?
35
Angelo
My father drones on, happy to listen to his own voice. Like always. I nod and make noises occasionally, while Fina stares blankly at the table and Chiara slumps in her chair.
We’re all bored, but until my father indicates we can leave, we’re stuck here.
What a waste of an evening. I have a million and one things I need to do, but Father insisted we all show our faces.
This isn’t the first project we’ve completed this year, but it is the most high profile. The Aurora Luxe Casino Hotel is an important step in legitimizing our family business. Even though we’ll use the hotel to launder money from the side businesses, its presence reinforces our status as a powerful chess piece on the board.
We don’t have as big a market share as, say, MGM Resorts, but in time, we’ll give them a run for their money.
Once my father has finally grown tired of preening in public, Fina and I rise from our chairs and mutter polite platitudes.
“Keep me posted, son,” he says, referring to the recentdifficultieswe’ve had withsuppliers. “And remember what Isaid.” I haven’t forgotten his warning about reining in my wife, and from his scowl in her direction, which she pretends to ignore, neither has he.
“Of course, Dad.” We watch him leave, a phalanx of guards protecting him on all sides, before Fina exhales in relief.
“That was fun,” she mutters.
“Awesome.” Chiara picks up her glass and drains the last of her champagne. It’s her fourth glass, and I’m shocked she’s still standing based on her previous outing.
“Let’s go,” I bark at her while Fina makes a call. “I have work to do.”
“I need to use the bathroom,” she huffs, folding her arms across her chest. The restaurant has filled up with celebs and people eager to check out the latest nightspot, and from what the manager told me an hour ago, the casino downstairs is already doing a roaring trade.
If I were here alone, I’d probably spend some time in the basement club. Pick up a woman. Burn some energy.
But not tonight.
“Maybe you should have stuck to water, darling, instead of guzzling champagne all evening.”
“Maybe I would have if I hadn’t been so fucking bored,darling.”
Several people turn their heads at her raised voice, so I grab her wrist none too gently and haul her toward the bathrooms. Fina smirks and leaves us to it. She’s anxious to escape with Matteo.
