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Alfredo fills the silence.
“Have your husband reach out, yes? We have family matters to discuss and a proper wedding to plan.” My eyes widen, but when I look around and see no one in ear shot, I speak.
“How did you . . .” I catch my second smiling behind him. “Fucking Marco,” I murmur.
“Fuckin’ Marco,” Alfredo says in agreement, and all I can do is smile.
THIRTY-NINE
-Lilah-
“He’s not going to be Don, is he, Delilah?”
The voice comes from behind me as I’m setting up the main room for Carmine Carluccio’s celebration of life later that afternoon.
As if there is anything to celebrate about that horrible human's life.
In my opinion, we should be celebrating his fucking death.
But I can’t quite say that without raising a few eyebrows.
So instead, I’m preparing the room where my engagement party was held just a few months ago for the group of people who wish to honor Carmine.
God, that feel like a lifetime ago.
But right now, I’m turning to face Teresa Carluccio, Paulie’s mother, dressed in a pretty black dress, her dark hair pinned on top of her head that’s tipped to the side, staring at me.
“I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.
I don’t fully think it’s a lie because I’m not completely sure what she’s saying, what she’s asking.
Everyone in this family asks questions in layers, saying one set of words but expecting another set of answers.
“Paulie. You have a plan, don’t you?” she asks.
“Teresa, I—”
“Delilah, if he becomes Don, that’s my death warrant.” I don’t say anything.
She told me Paulie attempted to put a hit out on her, told me she had information on Tony to keep him quiet, to keep herself safe.
But if Paulie, unhinged, chaotic, uncaring Paulie, got the title . . .
“You’re married,” she says, not an accusation but a fact.
Silence.
How the fuck do I respond to this?
I want to trust her. My mother trusted her so I want to, and she opened up to me, shared information that was vital to me moving forward with my plan.
But what happens if she’s playing her own game, same as I? What if she’s working for Paulie or even someone else and is trying to get information from me?
Trying to put me in danger?
This entire family feels like such a minefield these days, one wrong step away from blowing everything apart.
“You married Dante, didn’t you? That’s not Paulie’s ring.” Her head tips to the engagement ring Dante gave me in Lake George, then to the thin gold band on my right ring finger. “Not sure what his plan was, offering you to Paulie, but you were never going to be his. You two are going to be at the top, aren’t you?”
