“A sweet spot,” Sora adds, taking his hand on the table and giving his palm a soft squeeze.
When Leo looks at her, I can see the love between them. It fills the air around them with a golden glow of happiness, and my heart squeezes.
From what I’ve gathered, their marriage was an arranged one as well—and it didn’t start off smoothly.
In fact, from what Miko’s told me, Sora hated Leo from the start, and he gave her no reason to change that opinion.
It’s no secret that the Tanakas and Chiaroscuros have been at each other’s throats for decades.
Their rivalry even supersedes the animosity Pyotr had for Don Augusta.
But apparently, Sora’s parents used the union as a diversion so they could betray the Chiaroscuro family. And when Leo found out, it nearly tore their marriage apart.
But somehow, Leo and Sora found their way back to each other, and now, it would be impossible to miss how in love they are.
“The baby’s doing well,” Sora says when prompted, her smile radiant as she looks down to place a hand on her belly. “We’ll know the sex after our next appointment.”
Leo places his hand on top of hers, and something inside me squeezes.
A desire I’ve never had before to know that feeling floods my core.
With Pyotr, the thought of having a child was terrifying. I didn’t want to subject my child to someone so unpredictable and violent.But with Miko…?The possibility doesn’t completely horrify me.
After lunch, the brothers take Leo to the den so they can discuss where things stand on the plot against their enemies.
While I could care less if they spoke about it while I was present, I imagine it would be a tender subject—considering Sora’s family is one of the clans they intend to get revenge upon.
So, I take her for a tour of the gardens, a vibrant space that I think she’ll enjoy as a distraction. Our conversation is light, easy even, as we talk about the weather in Maine and how different her life is from the one she led in Chicago.
I get the sense that Sora and I could be friends if she lived closer.
We have a lot in common—from families who raised us in the Mafia lifestyle to forging our mettle in marriages to men we didn’t know.
But I’m happy to hear that Sora’s experience has been far more rewarding than my year of marriage to Pyotr.
I can only hope that Miko and I will find a level of happiness that Sora and Leo seem to have found.
“So,” Sora says, looping her arm through mine as we reach the far end of the garden path. “How are you handling your newrole?” she asks, turning the subject toward me as she glances surreptitiously at me from the corner of her eye.
“Well I think.” The answer comes with a hint of surprise because, even if I’m slowly starting to realize that this new life might be something entirely different from my last marriage, it’s still hard to believe it’s real sometimes.
“Really?”
Sora sounds oddly even more surprised, and I frown as I try to make sense of her tone.
“Is that not what you expected?” I ask, a sliver of doubt working its way into my stomach.
“I mean, no. I suppose not. Just… my time under Don Augusta’s roof was challenging at times. And considering you’re married to Miko…”
A growing sense of dread swells inside me at the hint of foreboding in her voice, like being married to Miko would most definitely be risky in her mind.
“Is that a bad thing?” My question comes out breathy, barely more than a whisper.
Confusion flickers across Sora’s face, followed by a sudden reluctance, as if she’s afraid to talk. “I wouldn’t say it’s necessarilybad,” she hedges. “But if I’m perfectly honest, Miko’s always terrified me. Or maybe it’s more his temper—I don’t know. I probably just never got over him throwing a knife at me.”
I can feel the blood draining from my face at her confession, and my heart stutters just thinking about the openly aggressive act ofthrowing a knife at someone.
It goes completely against all the reassurances Miko has fed me that there isnoexcuse to hurt a woman.
