Page 22 of The Mafioso’s Bride

“Did he tell you why?”

“He won’t take what I believe I owe him.”

“That sounds like a Corsini man.”

“Do they all stop when women ask them not to?”

“I’ve only slept with one.”

“It would be strange if you’d collected enough information to compare them.”

Her laugh is warm. The corner of my mouth rises.

“My husband gave me choices when I wasn’t used to having them,” she says. “My father called control protection. He chose where I went, what I wore, and who could speak to me. He hurt me and said it was for my own good.”

“Luca has guards follow me.”

“Does he explain why?”

“Giuseppe escaped. Papa is hiding. Luca tells me where the guards will be. He stops touching me if I refuse, and I can leave when lunch is over.”

“Protection keeps danger away. Control takes your choices away.”

“My choice at the church wasn’t free.”

“No.”

The answer comes without an excuse.

“You aren’t going to say it saved me from Giuseppe?”

“It did. That doesn’t make the choice free. Both are true.”

I separate two strands of pasta. “I would have married Giuseppe because Papa ordered me to. I planned to have sex with him. Men provide a home, protection, and children. Women give them sex.”

“Who taught you that?”

“Everyone.”

“Everyone was wrong. Your body isn’t payment.”

“Then why do people have sex?”

“I have sex with my husband because I want him. It gives me pleasure. I can tell him what I want, change my mind, or stop at any point.”

“Even if you’re naked and he’s aroused?”

“Even then.”

Luca wanted me yesterday. He stopped anyway.

My family taught me endurance. Luca keeps asking me to choose.

“What do you want when being his wife isn’t part of the answer?” Polina asks.

“I want him to touch me again. I want his mouth between my legs. Do women enjoy that?”

“Many do.”