Adriano laid two eights. Useless.
I revealed a King and an Ace, which were high, but not high enough.
It was when Sicily threw her cards onto the table, like I imagined one would play that nonsensical game UNOthat my brothers and Adriano had enjoyed when we were younger, that silence fell over the table.
The creaking of the boat and the sloshing of the waves were the only sounds audible.
Sicily leaned closer after a few moments, folding herself near to my body. She was warm. It was not unpleasant, though I noted that she did not appear to be comfortable in her win, alone in her experience, even if that was winning.
“Did I lose?” she whispered.
“You have a full house,” I replied, looking down at her.
“Is that losing?”
My lips twitched at the corners. “No.”
“Congratulations, Mrs. Lucca.” Tommaso smiled, but not as widely as before. “And congratulations, Mr. Lucca, or should I say, Capo dei Capi.”
She had won my leadership.
She had also cheated.
Adriano reached over, and I noticed my hands wringing. This situation was too abnormal, and I did not know how to recalibrate my mind, so I stood abruptly, repositioned my sunglasses onto my face, and moved toward the exit of the yacht without another word.
Sharp heels clicked against the wooden floorboards, and I groaned under my breath as my wife’s high-pitched, screeching voice came into my ears. “Milan! Milan, wait!”I stopped but didnot turn until she was in front of me, gripping my arm like she had been permitted to touch me.
“Are you mad?” she asked, panting from her short run.
“I do not possess the ability to experience anger.”
“Okay…” She frowned, still trying to catch her breath. “So why are you looking at me like you hate me worse than you did at the altar?”
My brow furrowed uncomfortably against my glasses. I did not look at her like that.
I had not given permission for myself to say but did anyway, “I require you to inform me of your sexual partners.”
Her eyes grew exceptionally wide. “What?”
“Matteo Bonafede was not included in the choice for you to seek sexual favors from.”
“Sexual favors?” she squeaked like an aggravated bird, crossing her sparkly arms. “What do you think I am, aprostitute?”
Her emotions toward the subject had made it clear that she was not a prostitute, and I refused to add to those rumors. In fact, I found the very notion of her being considered a prostitute offensive.
“He called youprincipessa. Twice. He cheated for you.”
There was a beat of silence, a moment where I felt the urge to talk to overcome this quietude, but then her brows folded into a deep scowl, and I was aware that speaking would only heighten this negative emotional reaction.
Sicily’s lips turned up in a sharp smile as she said casually, “Maybe wearefucking. All day and night, Milan. Maybe…” She stepped closer, her scent causing my nostrils to flare. “I don’t give a fuck about your rules and who your choices for mysexual favorsare.”
I snatched the glasses from my nose. The sheer audacity of this woman required eye contact so that she understood I wasnot tolerant of this behavior. I expected her to be afraid, but she simply remained scowling and existing in a way that caused me detriment.
I stepped away instantly. I had to get away,faraway from this anomaly.
9
SICILY
