“We’re heading back to the city tomorrow.” I nuzzle her neck. “We both have work to do.”
She sighs. “True, but I could stay here forever. I’m extremely envious of whoever owns this place. I’d love it if we could rent it again, for another trip.”
I gaze into her hopeful grey eyes. “Cara mia, we own this place. I bought it for us, as a wedding gift. We can come here anytime you like.”
The smile that lights up her face has tingles running all through me. My chest expands, my heart feels like it’s about to pop.
I fucking love this woman.
CHAPTER 35
Elena
I’m having a terrible time re-adjusting to city life after such a wonderful time away. The pictures from the photoshoot turned out gorgeous. I can’t believe that’s actually me in them. I’ll cherish that experience forever.
My thoughts keep drifting to the cottage and my most precious memories there. Plus the fact that it belongs to me—a magical little spot full of books just waiting to be read. I’m half tempted to move there permanently. I could write from that location. Though I’d be much too far from my sister and the babies, not to mention my cousins.
After so many years across the ocean from them, I have a lot of lost time to make up for.
One of the best things our honeymoon did for me was give me time to process. I’m no longer yearning for Italy, or anywhere else. I actuallywantto be here with my family and with Maximo. My priorities have done a complete one-eighty turn. And I’m more than okay with that change.
For the first time in forever, this place feels like home. I’m home.
Seated on the sofa, my old laptop perched on my lap, I browse the old California real estate listings before deletingthem one by one. It’s my final farewell to a future I once thought I needed more than anything else. A future I fought for, tooth and nail.
But I was wrong. Which is fine.
Knowing myself better now, I would have been miserable so far away from my family, even if I returned to Italy. They’re my entire world. I can’t wait to be a daily part of their lives again. To watch my nieces and nephew grow up. Even though my cousins aren’t my actual sisters, we may as well be. I’ll always consider myself an aunt to their children. To me, Ivan is no different from Isla and Mia.
After I finish clearing out my old laptop, I lay it to rest in a closet drawer. Now I need to do the one thing I’ve been putting off since our return. From its hiding place, I fetch the burner phone.
No new messages. Mrs. Rizzo was at the church wedding, so she witnessed everything that happened. She must know we did end up married, after all, and went off on our honeymoon. It’s not like we kept that a secret.
Toying with the phone, I consider what to say to her. Maximo still doesn’t know of my deception, and while I was once going to use it as a means to break any trust between us, I now hope he never finds out. That betrayal could ruin this delicate peace between us. He’d be devastated. I wouldn’t know how to make amends.
Which means I need to end this arrangement with Mrs. Rizzo. But how do I do that in a way that won’t make her angry? If she goes to Maximo and tells him what I’ve done, he’ll never trust me again. He certainly won’t want me to be his queen.
Damn it. I’ve really messed up.
I sit in my dilemma for a while, until inspiration sparks. How would a mafia queen handle this situation?Hm… Everything is tit for tat. Favors due and owed.
Given all the information I’ve sent to her, she owes me a favor. Inspired, I open the chat between us. My heartbeat thumps in my ears. Nerves run through me, shaking my fingers, as I type out the first message.
Elena:
I’ve held up my end of this bargain, now it’s time for you to grant me a favor.
Rizzo:
I need a little more time to get you your freedom.
How do I phrase this in a way that won’t draw too many questions? I decide to be both brief and direct. She can make what she will of my change of heart.
Elena:
I don’t want that anymore. But you do owe me a favor.
A beat passes before she replies. Should I have asked for the favor instead of demanding? Hm. I don’t think so. Mrs. Rizzo strikes me as the type of person who responds best to strength. Any show of weakness would have her circling the waters, like a shark to fresh blood.
