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Aida rolled her eyes. “Men. They just don’t understand.” She turned to Luna. “I have the perfect dress you can wear.” She hooked her arm through hers. “Or maybe a few dresses. And heels. What size are you?”
“Six,” Luna answered, darting her gaze back to me as I pushed out of the SUV too. Looked like we weren’t going anywhere any time soon.
“Me too!” Aida said, her excitement clear. They walked through the doors, their voices fading as I waited to see what Lorenzo would say. He’d come out here to let me know that he knew what we were doing, but it had backfired on him too.
We stood several feet apart, both of our gazes focused on the mansion doors.
“I know she didn’t steal those drugs for herself,” he murmured, turning to face me. “Addicts don’t look like her. In fact…” He tilted his head to the side. “I’m guessing that she’s never touched a drop of alcohol or even smoked a joint.” He paused, and I already knew where this was going. He wanted answers. “Why’d she do it?”
I sighed, scrubbing my hand down my face. “Her parents.” I explained what Luna had told me had happened that night. “She’s worked for local dealers covering their debts since she was a kid.” I ground my teeth together. “She did what she had to, to survive.”
“Just like you did,” Lorenzo said, his eyes swirling with understanding. “I get it, but she still stole from me.” I knew it was coming. He’d let her off, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t want something in return. “I want the name of the dealer,” he grunted. “We need to show him what happens when you plot against the Beretta Mafia.”
I pushed my shoulders back, already figuring out a way I could get the name out of Luna. I could ask her straight up, and if that didn’t work, talk around in circles until she accidentally blurted it out. Either way, someone had to answer for the stolen drugs. And this time, I wouldn’t stop Lorenzo. Instead, I’d join in with him, showing everyone just what happened when you messed with something that was mine.
“I’ll get it done,” I growled, showing him my commitment.
“Good.” He turned, pushing his hand in his pocket. “Now let’s go have a damn drink while we wait for them.”
I walked in line with him into the mansion. “You’re coming with us?” I asked. I thought he’d been trying to give me an unspoken warning when he’d gotten into the SUV.
“
You think I’m gonna let you get married without your family there?” He raised a brow as he entered his office. “Family don’t let family do shit alone, Mateo. And me and Aida? We’re your family.” My stomach churned for an entirely different reason as I stared at him pouring amber liquid into two crystal tumblers. He handed me one of them, raised his glass, and said, “To family.”
I swallowed past the lump building in my throat and croaked out, “To family.”
* * *
LUNA
Aida was a whirlwind. That was the only possible way I could describe her. She’d rifled through her walk-in closet, pulling every possible item she thought would work. Everything in here was organized within an inch of its life, not a single item out of place, but now it looked like a bomb had gone off.
I raised a brow as I spotted her pulling another dress out, shook her head, then put it back again. She was taking this task seriously, and even though we’d only recently started our friendship, I was glad she was helping. Anything to take my mind off the fact that in a couple of hours I’d be a married woman.
Swallowing, I moved my gaze back to my own face. The blue in my eyes was clear, no murkiness lifting to the surface and muddling the way I was feeling. It felt strange, almost as if I should have felt a certain type of way. But I didn’t. I was calm, accepting the hand that fate had dealt me. And besides, it wasn’t like anything could be worse than what I’d come from, right?
I’d spent the last thirty minutes braiding my hair and creating a crown that went across the top of my head and weaved around the back. Now I was just pulling at it so that it wasn’t so tight and looked more bohemian. Aida had said I could use her makeup, but the coat of mascara and swipe of lip gloss I was already wearing was enough for me.
“Wow.” I looked at Aida’s reflection in the mirror. “Holy shit, Luna. Your hair is amazing.” She stroked her hand over the top of her loose curls. “I wish I could do more than just flat iron and curl mine.”
I laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t have TV as a kid so I practiced braiding a lot.” It was a simple explanation, one that she wouldn’t think too much into, but it was the truth. I would sit for hours braiding my hair because I had nothing else to do. Not if I wasn’t out working my parent’s debt off or going to school.
She tilted her head to the side, gnawing her bottom lip. I could tell she wanted to ask me more, but she stopped herself, and instead held up two options. “What do you think?”
I spun on the chair, narrowing my eyes on the two dresses. They were both stunning. One white and one cream. “That one,” I said, pointing to the white one as I stood. It was a floating kind of fabric, sure to come to my ankles. And by the time I was secure in it thanks to Aida doing up the back zip, I knew I’d made the right choice.
“Here,” Aida said, holding a box out to me.
Blinking, I opened it, seeing shiny red stilettos with the signature red bottoms. “Wow.” I pulled one out, staring at it like it was the best thing I’d ever seen. “Wait.” I snapped my head around to face her. “These are brand new.”
“My wedding gift to you.” She shrugged, her face turning serious. “I know what it’s like to get married quickly.” She stared at me knowingly, but I had no intention of telling her just how quick this marriage was happening. “I only had a couple of weeks to prepare when I got married to Lorenzo.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “The wedding was amazing, over the top, everything you would think of for an Italian wedding. But I didn’t care about any of that.” She placed her hand on my shoulder, stepping closer. “All I wanted was a man who cared about me. You have that, Luna. Don’t let it go.”
“I…” I grasped the heel tighter in my hand. “I won’t.” It was a promise, one that I would keep until my last dying breath. Because I knew she was right. Mateo wouldn’t have done what he did if he didn’t care, I just didn’t know how much he cared. This may have been a marriage of convenience, but I wasn’t going to tell anyone that. It was mine and Mateo’s secret, one I would take to the grave.
“Good.” She grinned wide, backing away. “Now put those sexy red heels on and let’s go and give Mateo a heart attack.” She winked, twirling around, and leaving me all alone.
Everything was happening so fast, I felt like I was struggling to keep up. But if one thing was certain, it was that I wouldn’t hesitate to marry Mateo. So I slipped on the shoes, took a look in the ceiling-to-floor mirror, and inhaled a calming breath.
