Page 135 of Unlock My Heart

My chin lifts. “I am the wife of the boss of this family. You will treat me with at least feigned respect from hereon out.”

“Perhaps my view of you has been tainted because of certain information I possess,” Angelo admits.

No clue which of my sins he’s referring to, so I keep my face neutral.

Blue eyes similar to Fabien’s attempt to pin in place. “You fucked Remi’s boyfriend.”

My nose wrinkles. “Unfortunately, that is true. I’m sure she told you about how she came into possession of Nola, and about working for me. What Remi doesn’t know is that Michele ordered me to recruit her as one of the call girls.”

Rage flickers in Angelo’s eyes. If Michele were alive, he’d be a dead man.

A day late and a dollar short, just like his brother.

“I did Remi a favor by running her off,” I inform him. “Although I do wonder, would you be as judgmental to sweet Remi if she had been forced into a life of prostitution?”

Angelo crosses his arms. “A moot point, as it didn’t happen.”

“Thanks to me. Will you be repaying me for my good deed?” My voice is saccharine-sweet.

“You’re alive, aren’t you?” He walks off.

Fucking Calvani men. Still assholes, the lot of them.

I make my way through the party, spotting Remi. We make eye contact, and she scowls. Not an invitation, but it’s my party, so I’m taking it as one. “Remi.”

“Well, if it isn’t Sienna.” Her hands fall on her hips. “Ladies, hide your boyfriends.”

With an exaggerated eye roll, I inform her, “Please, I never wanted your boyfriend. I’m not sure why you wanted your boyfriend.”

“You’re going to stand there and tell me you didn’t fuck Ellis?” Remi fumes.

I examine my nails wrapped around the cocktail glass, wishing I would’ve touched them up. “You’re welcome.”

“Excuse me?” Remi seethes. “What should I thank you for? Being a woman with no moral code?”

See, this is what I get for having a moral code in the first place. “For starters, you should thank me for saving you.”

“What are you talking about?” She eyes me with distrust, not that I blame her.

“Mr. D’Amico ordered me to bring you into the fold.”

Remi’s eyebrows crease. “What fold?”

“The prostitution ring.” Her eyes go wide, and I continue, “You didn’t know about the revolving door of call girls and johns at the hotel?” I tsk. “Nice to be naive, I suppose.”

One good deed does not a saint make.

Remi lifts her chin. “Even if that’s true, I would’ve said no.”

An acrid laugh escapes my lips. “And your lack of consent would have been irrelevant to my former psychopath of a husband. Capo husband. You didn’t know he was a boss?” Based on Remi’s shocked expression, that’s a safe assumption. “I chose the lesser of two evils and ran you off. So, yeah, you’re welcome.”

“How can I believe anything you say?” Remi cries.

“It’s also irrelevant to me whether you believe anything I say. Have a good evening.” My feet take me briskly to the other side of the patio, to the open bar.

“Whiskey, neat.” If ever there were a time for the hard stuff, it’s now. The bartender pours my booze, and I trade out drinks, wasting no time as I down the burning liquid.

Slamming my empty glass, I motion for another, and the bartender pours me a refill.