“Donna Conti,” Leo Messina says, approaching me with a stunning brunette on his arm. “It’s lovely to see you again. I wanted to introduce you to my wife, Natalia.”
I already know who she is. I met her one time, but I was only ten, and it was a fleeting visit to her house with my papa, so I’m not expecting her to remember me.
My feelings when it comes to this woman are complicated. Natalia is the reason I was kidnapped, and while it wasn’t her fault, and I don’t even know if she knows what happened, it’s hard to look at her and not feel bitter. My ordeal could have been hers if things had played out how they were supposed to. Yet I’m glad she didn’t have to endure a life with that monster even if I suffered in her place. Women get a raw deal in our world, and it doesn’t feel right to harbor resentment toward another innocent woman, yet sometimes I can’t help how I feel.
My emotions veer back and forth like this any time I let myself think about my past.
It’s a clusterfuck of confusion I don’t know if I can ever unravel.
Plastering a sociable smile on my face, I dampen down all my errant emotions as I stretch out my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Natalia shakes my hand in a firm handshake. “I hear congratulations are in order.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she glances in Massimo’s direction. “At least he is easy on the eyes. You could do a lot worse.”
“I did,” I deadpan, taking a sip of my wine. As much as I want to gulp the whole drink back, I can’t lose control.
“Ah, that’s right. You were married to Paulo Conti.” Sympathy splays across her face. “I can’t begin to imagine what kind of nightmare that must have been. My father considered him for me for a brief period,” she says.
“I am aware. Paulo loved to bring your name up any time I failed to please him. He never let me forget you were his first choice.” It is ironic how entwined Natalia’s history and my history are.
“He was an awful man. I had nightmares for weeks after he came to dinner, terrified Papa would give me to him.”
“Ben would never have let that happen,” Leo says, shooting me a mournful look. “How did you end up promised to him?”
“After he lost Natalia to Gino, he approached my father. He had always had an unhealthy obsession with me,” I lie.
“Oh my God.” Natalia lifts a hand to her face. “He didn’t…”
I shake my head. “He didn’t touch me as a child. I count my blessings for that.”
“How is it you were given to him? Who is your father?” Massimo asks, stepping forward from behind Natalia. I had seen him approaching and wondered when he would join the conversation.
“My father is dead now, but he was one of Conti’s most loyal capos.” That’s a blatant lie, but the evidence is there to corroborate my story should anyone go looking. I conveniently borrowed the identity of a man who passed two months after I assumed control, and I trot his name out any time I need to explain my parentless status. “He raised me alone after my mother died giving birth to me.”
“Any siblings?” Massimo asks, and I shake my head.
“That must have been lonely growing up,” Natalia says.
I shrug. “I didn’t know any different.”
“I am sorry for what you must’ve endured with Paulo. I feel somewhat responsible.”
I can tell she is genuine. “It’s not your fault. Count yourself lucky you didn’t have to marry him. It wasn’t a good marriage.”
“I know what that’s like,” she replies, resting her head on Leo’s shoulder. “My first marriage was horrible and lonely, but I had my sons to pull me through.”
I know her backstory, thanks to Anais and Cruz. “Caleb and Joshua, right?”
“Someone has done their homework.” Massimo circles his arm around my waist.
“Are you deaf or just stupid?” I snap, forcibly removing his arm from my body.
“Rebellious,” he replies, replacing his arm around my waist. “And I don’t like being told what to do.”
“That makes two of us.” I thrust his arm away.
Leo chuckles. “Do I sense trouble in paradise already?”
“Nothing has been set in stone yet,” I say. “And our deal is strictly a business arrangement.”
