He stopped moving, head turned away from me. “You’re pregnant with a Luciano baby. Forget about working. You never have to work again. This isn’t your responsibility, Ava.”
“But I like working,” I shot back. “I’m not going to sit in the apartment and be the perfect stay-at-home Mafia wife just because we’re married.”
His eyes met mine. “You want to continue laundering our money?”
I bobbed my head. “It’s part of the family business. And I’m going to be a Luciano.”
“Fine. You’ll continue to work with me. But I won’t allow you to work off Giancarlo’s debts. That’s not on you.”
I put my palms on his chest and stared up at him. “Please, Dante. Let him live. Send him away. I will never ask you for anything ever again.”
“If this is what you want…” His eyes met mine. “Fine. But you’ll never see Giancarlo again.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll speak with Vincenzo after dinner.”
I smiled so wide my cheeks burned. “Thank you.”
“C’mon.” He grabbed my hand. “Our guests are waiting for us.”
ChapterTwenty-One
AVA
My private bridal suite was a hot mess. Bella tore through every rack in the store, adding dresses to the oversized ottoman at the center of the room until they spilled onto the floor.
“What are you doing?” I put my hands on my hips and stared at her in awe. “Stefan already picked out your bridesmaid dress.”
Bella flicked her hair over her shoulder and chuckled. “I’m not wearing any of these to your wedding. Just trying them on for fun.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Then, what are you doing?”
“Do you remember prom dress shopping?” Bella sat in the oversized chair and draped her feet over the side. “We have to take some pics for Insta.”
“No.” I shook my head. “This is different. And Dante is a very private man. He’ll be pissed if we post pics online.”
“He’s in the news every week.” She gave me a pouty face and rose from the chair. “If he were so private, he would do a better job of staying off the grid.”
“His dad just died,” I pointed out. “Salvatore was a local celebrity. And with the casino going through major changes, he’s in the spotlight more than normal. But our wedding is personal. Trust me. Dante won’t like this.”
I knew he would hate every idea that popped into my best friend’s head.
Until her engagement to Pete Morelli, my friend posted her entire life online. Her dad didn’t mind as long as she kept his name out of it. She mainly updated her feeds with pretty pictures, nothing that could get anyone in trouble. But I always keep my personal life out of the media’s view. The less people knew about my life, the better.
My dad trained me from an early age that we were different from other people. I was only allowed to communicate with associates of the Lucianos. So I had no personal life apart from my friendship with Bella. I never had any long-term relationships.
“Yeah, whatever, bitch.” Bella laughed as she reached into her purse for her cell phone. “Try on your dress.” She pointed at my gown. “At least let me take a pic for my camera roll. I promise not to share it.”
I held up my hand. “No, not until the wedding.”
Bella plopped down in the chair across from mine and lifted the champagne flutes, raising them in the air. “You’re no fun. Drink with me.”
Raising a glass of champagne to my lips, the smell turned my stomach. I turned my head away from the scent and pushed down the bile rising from my stomach. I hadn’t told Bella about my pregnancy yet.
“What’s wrong?”
“The smell.” I set the glass on the table beside me, no longer wanting to hide the truth from her. “I’m pregnant.”
