Page 34 of Mafia’s Fake Bride

“Yeah, but it’s addictive, isn’t it?” She picked up her winnings, put it in her bag, and put her hand in his.

“It can be, yes.” He didn’t look at her and she knew that was the thing about this business. It was meant to be addictive, otherwise, nobody would play. It was all about luck and how much the odds were in your favor.

It probably wasn’t a good idea to think about that too much, she decided as they drove away a little while later. Then you’d feel guilty and she didn’t want to feel that. She had enough to feel guilty over.

When they got home, Matteo took her to bed, undressed her slowly, and touched her so softly it was nearly heartbreaking. He spent hours worshipping her, or so it felt like. When they finally rolled together to go to sleep she was exhausted, in love, and content.

“You gave me the world. You make me feel like I’m important, and you want to make me happy. I never expected all of this you know? My biggest plan was to buy a camper van and travel around the country until I found a new place to call home.”

“You weren’t going to stay in Louisiana?” he asked and she could tell he was confused.

“Why would I? You saw the funeral, there wasn’t anyone there. It was going to be like that for the rest of my life. People would ignore my existence unless they were forced to speak to me for some reason. They hated my mother, she was damaged goods which meant I was damaged goods, too. I didn’t want to stay somewhere I wasn’t wanted. I was hoping to find a place where I could make friends, have a nice quiet life, and live the rest of my days without all the judgment.”

“So, a small town somewhere, huh?”

“Yeah. I mean, I miss it. I miss the nature there, the bayou and the wildlife. I miss home sometimes, the familiarity of it all, but I’m building a life here.” She sat up against her pillows and looked over at him. “I’d like to go back one day, but I’m not in much of a rush. For a while, I missed it dearly, but I’m getting used to living up here.”

“Do you want to move to a place somewhere out of the city?” he asked and looked like he was open to the idea.

“No, not right now. I like it here. I feel like I’m safe on top of the world.” She slid down a little and leaned over to kiss him. “I’m safe anywhere you are, and that’s the most important thing. I don’t care where I am now, as long as you’re there. There’s no need for that camper van anymore. I have a home now, you gave me that.”

“It’s not a perfect home, though. Are you sure you’re happy here?” He stroked a lock of hair out of her face and kissed her softly.

“I am, Matteo. It’s wonderful.”

“Not quite, but I think you’ll make more friends as time goes by. It’ll turn into a small town before you know it, believe me.” He kissed her again and rolled to his back. “Now, let’s sleep. I’m going to get you up early to have that lesson.”

She grinned and turned her bedside lamp off. This really was perfect she decided. What she’d said was true, she had a home and it lived in Matteo. Wherever he was, was good enough for her.

19

Darkness crept along the street as Matteo drove up to his aunt’s house. His fists clenched on the steering wheel as he stopped the car. She’d called him, summoned him really, that morning and he’d been able to defer the meeting until the end of the day. Now, he had to go in there and pretend he didn’t care about anything she said.

He took a deep breath, got out of the car, and strolled up to the door. His jaw clenched as he opened the door and waltzed in. He didn’t bother to knock this time or wait for the doorman, he just went in, because this time he was alone. She’d dress him down, brow-beat him, he’d nod his head and go home.

He’d wondered when this summons would come and now that it had, he felt relief mixed with anger. Celeste spent a lot of time in Italy now, she was confident in Matteo enough that she left matters in his hands more and more. But she would question him over his decision to marry Marie and he knew it.

That relief didn’t stop the way his eyes narrowed, or how his nostrils flared as he thought about Celeste and how she ignored Marie. There were no more dinner invitations, no attempts to reach out to her, and that was a snub in Matteo’s mind. He stalked through the house, up the stairs, and flung open the door to the office Celeste preferred.

“I’m here,” he announced as he went to the drinks cabinet and poured out a measure of whiskey.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Celeste’s voice came from the darkness around the desk to the left of him in the large room.

She must have a migraine, he thought, something that happened often. That or she wanted to hide her features from him.

He sipped at the whiskey while he settled himself on the couch and watched the haze that came from that darkness. The acrid scent tickled his nose and he turned his head to inhale fresh air. She was smoking again, something she did when she wanted to appear confident, in control. She used the cigarette, the way she held it, the way she’d jab at the air with it, and the way her eyes would narrow as she inhaled, to underline points she wanted to make.

He hated the affectation, but it was effective. Or it had been before he met Marie. Now, he felt more in control of himself, more capable of dealing with Celeste. There was someone in his corner, at last. His own mother hadn’t protected him from Celeste, or the life she set up for him, but Marie would. Not that he needed protection now, but he’d needed someone to be on his side, he just hadn’t realized it until Marie came along.

“You know, Matteo, that I’m not happy with you right now, right?” Celeste’s raspy voice came out of the darkness, and an image flashed in Matteo’s mind.

Some fictional movie character with all the power, wheezing out of the darkness about how much control they had, even as they lost it. It made Matteo snort and he heard her heels hit the floor as she sat up.

“I raised you up out of nothingness, Matteo, a life of mediocrity, and you snort at me?” Her voice shook as she tried to control her outrage. He didn’t care.

“Look, Aunt Celeste, I did what I thought was best for all of us. You sent me down there to take care of an old debt and to get the heat off of me up here. Heat I did not bring down on myself I’d like to note.” He paused and took a deep breath to calm the racing of his heart. He’d never defied her, or spoke over her, like this.

“I sent you down there to humiliate Ruby Hebert, to break her!” A crack filled the air as Celeste slapped at the top of her desk. Her face came into the dim light cast by a floor lamp behind Matteo.