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“I don’t know, tesoro. You’re one of us.”
“But you didn’t know that, and I definitely wasn’t in your inner circle.”
“True.”
“Would you have, though?” she asked. “Would you have come back here and eventually found someone like everyone else?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because there’s no one else for me,” he replied. “These people care about bloodlines and rank and power and shit, but none of that matters to me. I’d never pursue a woman because of who her father is. Chances are I’d just hate her. In case you haven’t noticed, most of the women in the life are spoiled, uptight bitches who feel like people owe them. And I refuse to accept the fact that I owe anyone a thing . . . except you, maybe. So, no thanks.”
Haven shook her head. “So you’d just be alone?”
“If I’m gonna be miserable either way, I’d rather be miserable alone,” he said. “Why are you asking, anyway?”
“I just wondered about it all,” she said, still watching the couple. “Do you think those two love each other, at least?”
“It’s possible,” he replied. “Sometimes what they feel is real. I know Celia wouldn’t stay with Corrado if she didn’t love him, so it’s possible those two will get married and be happy, too.”
“And you don’t think you would have ever tried?”
Her questions made his head spin. “I don’t know.”
“But don’t you think it’s important to have someone around who understands?”
Before he had a chance to even think about how to respond to that, Corrado and Celia started back in their direction. Celia took her seat while Corrado paused beside Carmine, eyeing him warily. “How many drinks have you had?”
He hesitated, looking at his half-empty glass. “Uh . . .”
“The fact that you have to think about it is answer enough,” he said, holding out his hand. “Give me your keys.”
Carmine’s heart pounded hard as he took in his uncle’s stern expression. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys to the Mazda. Corrado snatched them from him.
“Here,” he said, tossing the keys to Haven. “Make sure he gets home safe.”
“Yes, sir,” she said quietly.
“There you go throwing your weight around again,” Celia commented.
Corrado let out a slightly bitter laugh. “Well, he doesn’t have a wife yet, so I’m the only master he’s got for the time being.”
Carmine fought the urge to roll his eyes as he picked up his glass when Corrado was called away from the table again. He turned to Haven after downing the rest of his drink. “You ready to go, tesoro? I’ve had my fill of family for the time being.” He peeked at his aunt Celia. “No offense, of course.”
“None taken,” Celia said. “Go, have fun.”
Haven stood and smiled as they walked away. They almost slipped out undetected, but Corrado spotted them as they neared the door and called Carmine’s name. “Be available in case I need you, and next time wear cleaner shoes. How hard is it to shine them? It takes all of five minutes.”
“Uh, yeah,” he muttered. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Haven looked smug about it, but her expression shifted quickly when Corrado spoke once more. “Haven?”
She went rigid. “Yes, sir?”
“You did well tonight,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure.”
Her eyes lit up. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad you invited me.”
