Gabriel and I meet with Matteo at our club. It still hasn’t opened after Alessandro shot the place up but we’re getting there. Now that Gabriel isn’t forcing me to give up Emma, we’re on good terms again.
I ignore the pain in my arm as Matteo approaches us. Getting shot just a couple of days ago means my arm is in a sling and I fucking hate it. It makes me feel weak. The doctor said I can take the sling off in a couple of weeks but that’s not really much of a consolation now.
“Matteo,” Gabriel says, shaking his hand.
“I heard that you found Emma. That’s good. So when are we going to move forward on my wedding to her?”
“You’re not going to marry Emma,” I say.
Matteo chuckles. It’s fucking grating. “I was promised her. And as the daughter of my previous boss, it’s only fitting I get her.”
“I’ve had a change of heart,” Gabriel explains. “We’ll find another woman to marry you to for peace. I have someone in mind. Her name is Luciana Santori. Her father, Rocco, is one of my closest allies.”
Gabriel hasn’t told Rocco about this yet since we both know Rocco will throw a fit over this. It’s better to tell him later.
Matteo’s smile disappears in an instant. “You promised me Emma Greco. Not some other woman.”
“Emma is already married to Leo. I am not going to make them get a divorce. Emma is off the table. But you can have Luciana. She’s a mafia daughter. Well connected. Beautiful. You’ll be happy, I’m sure. And it will still create peace between us. We can be allies instead of enemies. We can rule this city together. What do you say?” Gabriel holds his hand out and after a long moment, Matteo shakes it.
“Well, I can’t say I’m exactly pleased with this. But if you say Emma is off the table then she’s off the table.” Matteo gives us each a nod before walking away.
“That was weird,” I say. “He took that really well.”
“He came to us wanting peace. And we’re giving it to him. He’s a reasonable man, that much is obvious. It all worked out in the end.”
“But you still have to tell Rocco,” I say, leaning against the bar. I wince when my sore arm brushes against it. Fucking hell. I hate getting shot.
“I will.”
“He will not be happy about this. His daughter is his prized possession. He will hate you for marrying her off.”
Gabriel sighs and grabs a bottle of whiskey from behind the bar, pouring it into a glass and downing it. “Rocco is a mafia man. He was raised to give his daughter away to the best suitor. He must know that this was going to happen one day. You refused to give up Emma and after how she helped save your life, I couldn’t force you two apart. You seem happy, Leo. And Emma cares for you. I’m not a complete monster.”
“Your wife has softened you up.”
His smile grows warm. “She has.”
“Thank you for not making me give up Emma. I would have had to kill you otherwise.”
Gabriel gives me a dark look before laughing. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”
I only shrug.
He steps away from the bar. “Well, I’m off. I have to tell Rocco about this. His precious Luciana will marry Matteo and then we’ll have peace. Hopefully no more of Giovanni or Alessandro’s men come for us. And we can just focus on our operations here.”
I pour myself a glass of whiskey and raise it high. “Hear, hear.”
The burn of the whiskey hurts going down but it feels good once it’s in my stomach.
Emma
I spend the day making a special dinner for Leo. After how he put himself in danger to save me from my mother, I know Ilove him. There’s no denying it anymore. I may be naïve to want to stay with the man who kidnapped me but I know Leo has changed. I’m happy with him.
The only question is: does he love me?
Leo has fought for me. But is it out of possession or love? That thought haunts me a little as I make dinner.
He returns home the moment I’m done cooking the roasted chicken. “It smells delicious in here.”
