“Iannelli,”DonGiambrone’svoiceslimed through the phone line. “I heard you were released.”
“And here I was hoping to never hear from you again.” I spread butter on the edge of my croissant and dipped it into my morning coffee, leaving my cell phone on speaker. The others had already left the table after I returned from my discussion with Ainsley. “I’d be interested to know how you got my number.”
“I have my ways.”
“Of course you do. What do you want, old man?”
“A little respect goes a long way.”
“Sorry, all used up.” I sipped my coffee. “Did you think I wouldn’t know about my ally declaring war on my men while I was behind bars? Did you think I would so easily forget the names of my men shot down by yours?”
“All you had to do was marry my daughter. I had every right to vent my anger against you for your sins. Port access should have been given. I was simply reclaiming what was owed.”
“The marriage contract was void the moment you wed your daughter off to the Greeks and fired against my men.”
“No. Unless I say, that contract remains ironclad.”
“Your daughter can’t have two husbands.”
“I have a second daughter.” My cup clanked against the table. Unbelievable. The old fox still thought he had a hold on me. “Younger than Michaela and her twin brother by five years.”
I swiveled my coffee, the black underneath slowly engulfing the foam. This was a card I’d hoped never to have to play. “She’ll have to find another husband. I have no intention of ever marrying her.”
“Don’t you dare think you can get out of this. I’ll have all the families knowing Iannellis are nothing but oath breakers.”
Massaging my temples, I took a deep breath. “I’m already married.”
He scoffed. “I wasn’t born yesterday. You were unmarried when you went into the can. You were unmarried when you got out.”
I typed a message to Vinny to meet. “Sorry you missed my wedding yesterday, but it was quite a twofold event. Get out of jail and kiss the bride. You can understand how busy that was.”
“I can understand you’re shitting with me.”
“Not I. Love is love. That’s not something I’ll play with.” My phone buzzed softly, a message from Vinny displaying at the top. I downed my coffee in one gulp. “You’ll be wanting proof, I suppose.”
“Of course I damn well will. I don’t believe a word of this bullshit.”
“Good thing I don’t care.” I hung up, grabbed my phone from the table, and left the veranda.
Vinny was waiting with Tore in my cousin’s office, each nursing a glass of whiskey despite the midday hour. I closed the door behind me without subtlety.
“I need a bride.”
“A what?”
Tore thumbed his ear. “Sorry, I didn’t hear that right.”
“A bride. With a backdated contract as of yesterday.”
Tore gave a blank stare for a couple of seconds before bursting into laughter. He bent over in hysterics, clutching his belly. “Stop…pulling…my…chain.”
This went on for a few more long seconds. He finally pulled himself together, gazing at me as though he expected another good laugh.
Vinny rolled his eyes with a sigh of exasperation. “How soon?”
“Right now.”
“Where are we supposed to find this…this bride?” Vinny asked, setting his empty glass down.
