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“All right.” I give her what I hope is a friendly smile, but she’s already turned away from me and closed her office door.
I head home, my mind at least momentarily filled with concern about my job. My initial tasks have nearly been completed, and I’m not sure what I’ll be doing once the collection of maple sap for the syrup plant is complete. Will I be out of a job?
“No, I doubt Nate will let them just get rid of me.” What once would have annoyed me suddenly feels a little different. There is no way Melissa will just cut my hours or fire me because there isn’t enough work to do—she can’t. She can’t fire me because I’m the crime lord’s girlfriend, and I’m a little…happy about it?
I’m protected.
I walk into the apartment, chewing on my lip and scrunching up my face at the idea.
“Aunt Ginny would be horrified.” I open my mouth, planning to discuss all my recent revelations with Vee, but my phone dings before I even make it to the kitchen. I dig around in my purse until I find it.
Nate O: Are you done with work?
“That’s weirdly blunt.” I narrow my eyes at the phone. No “How was your day?” or “My Cherice” has been included, and I suddenly feel tense again.
Yes. I just got home. What?
?s up?
Barely a second passes before I get a reply.
Nate O: Come to the house please
Why?
Nate O: Need to talk
About?
Nate O: Just get over here.
Chapter 16—Catholic Guilt
This is it. Tonight, Cherry will come to my house and meet my family for the first time. This is a crucial step to solidify my hold over Cherry, using her need for a family connection to my advantage. If all goes well tonight, she will be sure to agree to marry me when the time comes.
I take a deep breath and look at everyone gathered for our family meeting.
“What’s the status of the restaurant?” I ask Antony.
“Pretty well taken care of,” my cousin tells me. “Word is out. No one will go there anymore.”
“Good.” I stifle the smile that tries to creep over my face. “Is that everything?”
Kate looks over her notes before she rattles off a few more numbers. Pops leans against the wall, near the giant portrait he had commissioned for himself a few years ago, and yawns. I glare over at him, but he doesn’t pay any attention to me.
“That should cover it all,” Kate finally says.
“Good. Now, the last order of business is a little more personal.” I look around the room. “Cherry is coming to dinner tonight. I expect everyone to be welcoming, obviously, but also make sure you avoid any talk about business. Family stuff is fine, but she doesn’t know what all we’re into, and I want to make sure that by the time she understands, it’s not going to be an issue.”
“How the hell are you going to do that?” Antony asks.
“He thinks she’ll be too hopelessly head over heels for him to care,” Nora says, snickering. “Blinded by love, right Nataniele?”
“Something like that.” The first meeting she attends in weeks, and she has offered nothing but sarcasm the whole time.
“Buy her a new car,” Antony says. “That piece of shit she drives is an eyesore.”
“That’s not what she wants.” I stand up and stretch my aching back as I wonder if I need to replace Pops’ chair. “Cherry has no family and no friends to speak of. I don’t need to give her trinkets. I need to give her a place where she feels like she belongs, and you’re going to give that to her. Be friendly. Include her in everything, and for fuck’s sake, don’t talk about business!”
