“I went walking at the old house yesterday,” Nat says, getting up. “Rowan and Sierra came too, and we collected some apples.” She walks off, returning a minute later with a covered cake plate. She sets it down on the table and lifts the lid, revealing a scrumptious apple cake. “Leave some room,” she teases, as I shovel more pasta into my mouth.
I flatten a hand against my toned stomach. “I will always have room for your apple cake.” I waggle my brows. “You sure know the way to a man’s heart,” I blurt before stopping myself.
Her expression softens as she looks at me, and then it hardens. She harrumphs. “If it was that easy, my husband would never have fucked another woman, let alone fallen in love with one.”
Tension bleeds into the air. I’m guessing everyone present at the house is aware of what has gone down. I expect no one outside of our inner circle will be privy to that news, for a variety of reasons.
“Juliet was a shit cook,” she adds, gulping a large mouthful of wine. “It’s the only area I have her beat. In every other way, I am lesser in Gino’s eyes.”
“He’s a blind bastard, and he was never worthy of you. Even less so now.”
“Leo.” Ben’s tone is clipped.
My fork drops to the table with a clang. “What?” I wave my hands in the air. “Everyone here knows it’s the truth. Nat is too damn good for him, and he should be strung up by his balls for dishonoring her.”
“Here, here,” Sierra says, nodding in approval.
“I volunteer as tribute,” I say, and Sierra giggles.
Nat slides her hand across the table, placing it on top of mine. “I love your loyalty, but there will be no bloodshed.”
“Why the hell not? I know you don’t love him.” I’m getting all worked up, and I should just zip my lips, but I’ve been doing far too much of that for too long.
“He’s Caleb’s and Joshua’s father,” she quietly says. “I won’t be responsible for depriving them of their papa. I know what it’s like to lose a parent, and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
37
Natalia
Leo nods, but I can tell he’s not happy. I think if Ben gave him permission he would do it. He would murder Gino. Maybe I should be disgusted by the idea, but all it does is reinforce the love in my heart for Leo. I know he would kill to protect me and kill for me. I feel the walls around my heart softening, but I can’t forget the risk to him from Gino. It’s why I need to keep my guard up, no matter how much I long to drop it and fling myself into his arms.
“Have you heard from your sons?” he asks, picking up his fork and finishing his pasta.
“Joshua sent me a message, but I have heard nothing from Caleb. He’s still pissed at me for getting him a babysitter.”
Leo almost chokes on his food. “Does Gino know that?”
“He’d have to talk to me to know,” I reply, sarcasm thick in my tone.
I’m not making excuses for my husband in front of my family any longer. The cards are on the table now. I have spent the past two days filling Serena and Sierra in. They know everything now except about the baby and the exact nature of my past relationship with Leo. I want to confide that in them too, but I know my sister-in-law. She’s a sweet, sensitive soul, and before long, she’ll blabber to Ben. Then Ben will likely want to murder both my husband and my ex-lover, and he has got enough on his plate right now. I’m already adding to his load, which I hate. His family is expanding, and this should be a happy time, yet I see the fears etched into his handsome face every time he looks at me.
It’s one of the reasons I’m not falling apart. The other is I refuse to give my husband that power over me. Fuck him. And fuck that slut he’s cheating with. If divorce was an option, I would gladly sign on the dotted line and let them be together if it meant I was finally free to live my life the way I want to. But divorce is not common within themafioso, especially not for a don.
“You know what it means to be initiated and what happens at the making ceremony,” Ben says. “They already have blood on their hands, Nat,” he quietly adds. “I think you can trust them to stay home alone.”
“I want them to have some normality, Benny!” I say, exasperation clear in my tone. I slurp my wine. “I know what they are involved in, and is it so wrong to want to give them some safety and stability outside their duties?”
“No, it’s not wrong to want that,,” Ben says. “And I can see Sierra reacting the same way you do if Rowan should choose to joinla famiglia.”
Sierra scowls, opening her mouth to protest before closing it again. I’m guessing that’s an argument they will have in private. Or maybe one to set aside until Rowan is a little older. At least my brother is giving his son a choice. That is more than every other heir is granted. Yet I wonder how that will go down. Whether he chooses to initiate or not, Rowan Mazzone will always be known as the son of the most powerful mob boss in the US. It might actually be safer for him to initiate.
“But it is likely confusing them,” Ben supplies, finishing his meal. “That may be where some of Caleb’s animosity and wild behavior is coming from.” Ben lifts Sierra onto his lap while he side-eyes my cake. “I tried talking to him last weekend, but he just clammed up.”
I didn’t know that. “Thanks for trying. He’s shut himself off to everyone. Even Joshua. And God knows what he’s getting up to this week.”
“Don Maltese will keep him in line,” Leo says, setting his silverware down on his empty plate. “I called him Tuesday morning before they set out and asked him to keep a special eye on Caleb and Joshua. You don’t need to worry.”
I stare at him in surprise. “Why would you do that?”
