Page 35 of Mafia’s Fake Bride

He grinned as he saw the way her left eye twitched and her mouth pursed into a tight line. It was a very dirty grin, one of complete triumph. He’d made her angry, good.

“You dare, Matteo? You dare to smirk at me? You were sent to Louisiana to deal with Ruby Hebert. Instead, you marry her waif of a daughter and humiliate your family!” She pounded on the desk with her fist again, a move that upended several items on her desk, including a vase full of roses. The vase crashed to the floor and shattered into sparkling shards of broken glass. Water flooded onto the hardwood as the roses fell to the floor, discarded.

A bit like their relationship, that shattered vase, Matteo decided. It had once been a relationship of beauty, a beauty that hid thorns encased in a delicate container that could break quite easily with a little pressure. He inhaled slowly and looked up at her with narrowed eyes.

“Aunt Celeste, I will do my duties to this family. I will ensure every member of our family is taken care of, and I will continue my duties to you. I would remind you that you raised me, you, not my mother. You taught me to think, to look ahead, to do what is best for this family, and when I made a judgment that could be of benefit to this family, you question me? I’m surprised you’d question yourself like that.” He leaned back against the sofa that was too small to contain his height, at ease now, as he relaxed into the cushions.

“You dare…,” her voice choked off and she looked away, pulling back into the darkness with a soft hiss that was the only sound she could get out at that moment.

He waited, no longer afraid of the woman. He hated to admit it, but he’d lived his life in fear of her. Until Marie came along and showed him that he was worth something, that he was capable, and that being under Celeste’s thumb had turned him into her whipping boy his entire life.

“I’ll continue to be your lackey, Aunt, don’t get all riled up and have a stroke.” He sighed as he stretched his legs out, totally comfortable now. “I’ll be whatever you want me to be, but I also want a little bit of respect. You want me to take over this organization and be the boss when you retire, but you don’t want me to act like it? I made a decision about my future, the family’s future, based on what you have taught me. Think about that before you ask me how I dare.”

Silence was all he heard. Then the sound of acrylic tapping against the desktop, slowly at first, then faster as her agitation grew. Matteo could only continue to smirk and wait. She’d either have someone come in and shoot him, or she’d get over it. He wasn’t afraid she’d shoot him because he knew she’d never shot anyone. She always had someone else come along to do the dirty work for her. Someone like him. Not anymore.

“Fine, Matteo. Fine. But know this, I will not treat that young woman as a member of our family. I will not accept her as anything but what she is - my dead husband’s bastard child.” She remained in the darkness, but he could almost feel the waves of defeated anger coming off of her, even from his place on the couch.

Matteo nodded, gently, but his hair still fell over his forehead. He flicked it away and stood up. “Is that all?”

“No. Trina tells me she’s formed a friendship with the young woman. That she’s… nice. I hope that won’t weaken you in any way?” Celeste leaned forward and her eyes narrowed avidly as she examined his features.

His shoulders blocked the light behind him now, but he could still see her face, the way her lips twisted, and her chin jutted forward in distaste. She wasn’t just angry, she was furious, but also bested. He’d beaten her at her own game for once.

“I’ll be fine, Aunt.” He spoke calmly, his deep voice a vibration that buzzed in the air.

“See that you are.” She leaned forward and he saw a flash of sparks as she stubbed out her cigarette. “I won’t tell you what I truly think, but I will say I don’t see this marriage ending well, for any of us. You chose wrong. I’ll leave it at that. You may go.”

Just like that, she dismissed him - done with him, for now. He turned and left the room, quietly closing the door as he made his exit.

That went better than he’d hoped. Dread had turned his stomach into knots for months now as he waited for the summons that he knew was coming, but now that it was over, he felt… better.

A lot had changed since that first moment when he laid eyes on Marie. He didn’t like the way she made him feel, not at first, because he took it for weakness. Any sign of caring for another human being was something your enemies could use against you and should be avoided at all costs, that’s what Celeste had taught him. Now? Now, he liked the way she made him feel.

He was her protector and that gave him power and a purpose, unlike anything he’d had before. He would do whatever it took to keep her safe, to give her happiness, and to make sure the light stayed gleaming and bright in her eyes, even if that meant defying his aunt. He’d defy the world for Marie.

Matteo glanced down as he got into the car to drive home. His hands shook as his heart raced and the blood surged through his veins as he thought about her. He might just love that woman, he realized. He wasn’t sure he was actually capable of something such as love and happiness, or maybe even… having a family of his own.

No, he wasn’t ready for that, not babies and diapers, and doctor appointments. No puppies or kittens, or even turtles and hamsters. Not yet. He was only now getting used to the idea of having a wife.

She was sitting up in the bed when he got home, ready with a hug and a kiss as he sprawled out beside her. “How did it go?”

“Well, she may have a contract out on me now, if that tells you anything.” He tucked the tips of his toe into the back of the shoe on his other foot to kick it off before he did the other one. She’d kill him if he got dirt on the bed, which was something else that was new to him.

He was a clean person and wouldn’t be happy if he got dirt on the bed either, but she fussed at him. Actually fussed when he did something without thinking that would make a mess. It was adorable to him that she did it. He knew a lot of men complained about their wives nagging at them about their shoes, or making messes, but he loved it. She cared about their house, their home, not just him, and that meant she was happy with him.

“I’ll scratch her eyes out if she does.” She rolled to him, her leg over his as she looked into his eyes. The way her eyes narrowed and her jaw went tight told him she was serious, but then she grinned to wipe the thought away. “But I doubt she’d do that. She needs you, Matteo. Otherwise, she’d have thrown her fit long before now. She’s been plotting I’d guess, trying to figure out how to get rid of me and has decided she can’t.”

“I think Trina might have had something to do with that. She said Trina told her you were nice. So, she probably also told her you’re stuck with me because I’d walk through fire for you and even my cousin can see it.” He pulled her close to lightly press his lips to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Anyone could see it if they just looked at me when I look at you. I’m sure it’s written all over my face.”

“Maybe.” She tucked her face into his neck, something that always made him shudder with pleasure before she finished. “I just know that I’d do the same, so I think we’ll manage to deal with your aunt, somehow, won’t we?”

“I think so, baby. Now,” he paused to slap her bottom gently before he pushed her away, “do we have brownies and ice cream? I’m starving but I don’t want dinner.”

“I had dinner earlier. I’ll see if we have some brownies, I think we have cake… Woah!” Marie fell back into the bed, her hand against her head as she gave a faint cry of distress.

“What’s wrong? Marie?” Matteo rushed to sit up and take her in his arms as she rolled to her side. Frantic, he pushed her hand away from her face, his eyes wide and his mouth open to ask more questions.

“Sorry, damn, I’m sorry, Matteo. I’m fine. I just stood up too quick, that’s all. A little dizziness, it’ll pass.” Her voice shook, but when she opened her eyes they were clear and focused directly on him. “I’m just tired, baby, don’t panic.”