“I’ll call Elio to set up a time for you two to meet.”
“Excuse me?” Trouble is a distraction, because what the fuck did my uncle say?
“Go to Napoli to spend time with his daughter.”
“I told you and Elio I’m not interested.” My age gap with Elena is older than she is.
Ziu shakes his head. “What do you think will happen when the Preda declares war? Elio is a good partner, but his loyalty will only go so far if family isn’t involved.”
“No,” I repeat.
“Does your refusal have anything to do with the woman you’ve been spotted with? I may be retired, but I still keep tabs on you.”
Shit.
“Tread lightly,” Ziu warns. “Elio could take your constant rejection of his daughter as a sign of disrespect. We don’t need more enemies.”
“The woman I’m seeing is the head of a crime family.”
Water shoots through Andrea’s nose at the lie that comes out so effortlessly. Trouble always jabs at my “little mafia” and might as well be the head of my damn house at this point. It’s a dangerous exaggeration that slips out before I can come up with a better answer.
“A boss?” Ziu’s brow lifts.
“Black woman too. Ruthless and skilled in interrogation.” Andrea coughs. “Heard she’s good at hand-to-hand combat.”
My uncle and I glower.
He slumps in his seat. “Never mind.”
“How long has this…romance been going on?”
Ziu is right to question me. I don’t date and I sure as fuck don’t do romance. He’ll do everything in his power to get rid of Bianca if he perceives her as a threat to uniting the families. A simple lie won’t keep her safe. When I promised nothing would touch her, I meant it.
I’m not ready to let her go.
“My relationship is progressing.” I omit the part where I kidnapped her. “She’s staying with me in my home until I sort out a few logistics.”
“Then marriage is on the table?”
“Yes.” What the fuck am I doing?
Seconds pass before Ziu finally nods. “Elio was raised the old way. He won’t question this pairing if it’s serious. She better be worth it, Salvatore.”
“She is,” I say.
He rubs the bridge of his nose. “You kids will send me to an early grave.”
Andrea frowns. “What did I do?”
“I want to meet this new crime boss and a full report on her and her people,” Ziu says before dismissing us.
Sweat runs down my suit as we take the private door out of the casino to our cars.
“Told you that you’re gonna marry her.” Andrea cheeses. “I better be your best man.”
“No one is getting married.”
“Once Ziu figures out you’re lying, you’ll be somebody’s husband. It won’t be Bianca’s.”
