My shoulders shoot up to my ears, and my eyes widen incredulously. “Okaaay?” I let the word draw out with a slightly higher-pitched sound at the end. Did he need to sound so harsh? When he doesn’t take the hint and explain after a few seconds of waiting, I flat out ask. “Why?”
“This ring signifies you as my wife,” he states. “As long as you wear it, you’ll be allowed into our marital home and into any of the offices in which I work, should you require me. It will keep you safe from others in our organization.”
“Do I need to be safe from such afamily-oriented organization?” I ask pointedly.
The glare I receive only earns him another eye roll. Deftly removing my hand from under his, I turn and rest my elbow on the window’s armrest as I watch the buildings go by.
When the town car slows to a stop in front of a white brick building with a glass display of mannequin women in glittering suits and expensive-looking cocktail attire, I realize I was right. Wherever it is that Giulio intends on taking me for lunch would probably not have approved of what I have in my closet.
Casting a glance at the man at my side as he frowns at something on his phone, I decide that I’m going to enjoy this. If I could die at any moment, I’m going to buy the most expensive outfit in that shop even if it’ll just seem like putting lipstick on a pig.
After all, what else is a mob wife—excuse me, the wife of afamily-oriented organizationman—supposed to do but spend her husband’s money?
7
GIULIO
What do a woman’s thighs and a hit man have in common? Both will take you out, but one will simply be faster and the other, more pleasant. I’m not sure which I prefer.
Daisy practically sprints into the shop as soon as we get out of the car. Alonzo waves me off as he drives away to park. I glance down the street and spy the security detail we set up on Daisy’s apartment building pulling over.
The soldier that gets out—a short, bald man who appears nondescript despite his muscular frame—straightens his jacket and makes his way toward me. Mateo will follow us in and stay a careful distance so as not to overwhelm or disturb my new bride.
I make my way into the shop and go in search of said bride. When I decided to marry the girl and fulfill my father’s wish, I never considered that she would react so… imperviously to everything. Now, I find the girl standing in the women’s section of the exclusive store, a fluttering saleswoman scowling at her as she lifts a dress off the rack and holds it up to herself.
“Miss.” I watch the saleswoman through narrowed eyes, waiting for what I’m sure will be an insult. It’s always best to give people just enough rope to hang themselves; that way, they can never blame you for tying the noose that takes their life. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Daisy glances up from the dress. If she notices the woman’s obvious haughty look, she doesn’t comment on it. Much to my surprise, she shoves the dress into the woman’s hand. “Yes, can you hold this for me?” Then, without waiting for a response, she continues down the line, grabbing clothing item after clothing item.
Does she think we’re going to a fashion show?
I hang back as the door behind me opens and I sense Mateo’s approach. “Sir?” His voice is low as he stops behind my left shoulder.
“Speak.”
“The Cesari heir was seen in this vicinity a few minutes ago,” he states. “Should we move you and your wife to a new location?”
My lips press together. Even if the area isn’t directly under either of our control, it’s not good to be near a rival Syndicate’s heir. Should anything happen to him—however minor—and it’s reported that I, as one of Luciani’s top men, was in the area, it wouldn’t look good.
“Miss!” The saleswoman stumbles on her too-high-for-the-job-she’s-doing heels as Daisy tosses another dress onto the pile in the woman’s already full arms. “This is—are you sure—oh!”
My lips twitch. At least, I’m not the only one my new wife likes to torment. Saleswomen are apparently on her list of victims as well. I shake my head at Mateo. We aren’t leaving now.Daisy needs appropriate clothes for when she meets the father of my heart. I hope he’ll be as impressed by her as Dante surely seemed to be at the reception.
“No,” I tell him. “We do not run from our enemies, and as far as Cesari is concerned, this is neutral ground. Should we cross paths, I will deal with it then.”
I glimpse Mateo’s bowed head out of the corner of my eye as his response and step away from him to follow my wife. As frustrating as the young woman is, I’m starting to find amusement in the spurts of activity that seem to overtake her in random moments—this being one of those moments.
Daisy continues to grab things—now moving on from dresses to blouses and pants and shawls and shoes. I take a seat in one of the few chairs outside the dressing rooms and lift my phone from my pocket to dial Dante.
“Busy, can we talk later?” are his first words to me, his voice tight with strain. He’s breathing heavy.
I relax back into my seat and enjoy the air conditioning of the shop. “I called to invite you to lunch with the Don this afternoon,” I say. “To introduce my new wife.”
“G—fuck, hold on.” To most people, the sound of gunfire on the other side of the line would be worrisome, but to me, it’s of no concern. I’ve called Dante in worse predicaments, and today, I have the added advantage of knowing exactly where he is and what he’s doing. If he can’t multitask like this, then he won’t ever make it as his father’s replacement.
The gunfire ceases, and when I next hear Dante’s voice, it’s far more even. “All right, now that that’s settled, what’s this about lunch with my father?”
“Today. One p.m. Madison Park.”
