Page 80 of Revenge on the Mafia

“You know them?”

“One of my partners did.”

“You were invited to a private party?” Why would Daria or Lorenzo invite business partners to our wedding party?

“You think I don’t have any influence?” he snapped.

“I don’t care either way. But I don’t understand why you would—”

“What has got into you? The least you could do is be happy I took the effort to come and visit you. We had to pick something up from one of their people, and I saw you disappear inside. I told my partner that’s my girl.”

“I’m not your fucking girl.”

He pissed me off by taking my hand. “You can be.”

I tried to pull my hand out. “I’d rather be hit by a car.”

“What’s with women and drama?”

“It’s probably got something to do with you,” I told him bitterly.

“I know you’re impressed by all the wealth here.”

“En serio?”

He looked around. “You lost a lot. I get it. I can give you that. We can start over. If you play your cards right, I’ll talk to the people who bought your house. You can visit it once. What do you say?”

I was so angry I couldn’t find my words.

“Come on. I am the best you’ll get. You’re just a maid here—”

“I’d rather be ju—”

“She’s my fucking wife, actually.”

My gaze whipped to the doorway where Nico stood. Black suit pants and a dress shirt. No jacket or tie. Had he been home all this time? He was the picture of a cold sculpture as he glared in our direction. I only realized Joel still held my hand when I followed the point of his focus.

Joel’s grip loosened, and I pulled mine away. I jumped to my feet. Joel glanced between us and said in a tone of disbelief, “That’s not what your brother said.”

So he knew who Nico was, and he still dared to talk back to him. He’d earned some bravery over the years, but unfortunately for him, he was showing it at the wrong time to the wrong man.

Nico’s voice was almost bored. “Don’t give a fuck what he said.”

He was tapping his fingers.

Joel looked at me. “You've got to be kidding me, Anna. You married him?”

If there was one thing I didn’t want, it was Mamá getting to know any of this. “He’s loco.” I gripped his arm and pulled him up. “Time for you to go.”

“No. This is not right, Anna. Don’t let this chance sl—”

“Be quiet.” If he wanted to live, he’d better not speak. I hated him. Didn’t mean I wanted him dead. I pulled him toward the door. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he wasn’t budging much, Nico blocked him like an arctic chill.

Por favor, I mouthed. The glare he directed my way felt like he was peeling the fine fibers apart in my skin. After a stretched beat, he shifted reluctantly away. When I brushed past him, the tension vibrating in him sent a shiver shuddering through me. It was like walking past a predator waiting for the right time to pounce.

“Does your mamá know?”

“No.” I pushed Joel toward the front door. Even though I didn’t hear a single sound, I knew Nico was following us.