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“You took it to pay your parents’ medical bills.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“It just is, all right.”
He looks at me the same way he did just before telling me to get on my knees. “I tire of this bickering,” he says. “You will marry me and that is an end to the discussion. I will not allow you to be killed and marriage will prevent that. Your stubbornness begins to irritate me. You will move into this house with me for the next month until I have my meeting with Don Colombo. I will now ask you formally and you will say yes.” He gets down on one knee, holding a hand out toward me. “Will you marry me?”
The look on his face is icy cold and I should be scared but I’m not. I’m comforted. If he looks at his enemies like that, I’m sure to be safe. The fear is still there but it’s muted, diluted. Like watching a horror movie on TV. Vicarious terror. Not real. Just pretend.
I’ve also missed him. More than I realized until I got here and saw him for the first time since we… you know. I feel the same as I did then. Him telling me this is happening gives me the excuse that I’ve got no choice. This way, I don’t need to worry about making the right or wrong decision. He’s making the decision for me.
“Yes,” I say, taking his hand. “I will marry you.”
“Good.”
“For one month only.”
“One month.” He gets to his feet. “If you’ll excuse me, I must arrange a wedding ceremony for us. The house is yours. Feel free to explore.”
He walks out of the room and I sit back in my seat, feeling like I’m in the middle of sleep. If I am, I’m not sure whether this is a dream or a nightmare I’m experiencing right now.
What I do know is that I want to run from him and run into his arms at the same time. What the hell does that mean?
SEVEN
RICARDO
* * *
I’m sitting at my usual table. The lights are low and the band is playing in the pit. The club’s not been open an hour but already the place is filling up. It’s good to see. Since I bought the place, it’s been struggling. I need a draw, something to bring the punters back in.
Maybe I have what I need. The curtains are still down on the stage. Somewhere back there, Kelly is getting ready.
I invited her along this evening. Didn’t tell her she’d be singing until we got here. She tried to back out but I refused to give in to her anxiety. I heard her voice at the piano. She is more than good enough for a place like this. She’s got the voice of an angel.
Albert and Diego have joined me at my table while I wait for Kelly to come out. The drinks are flowing and they taste good. Takes the edge off a difficult decision that I’m about to make.
Albert is running through the options and I’m listening but my mind is pretty much made up.
Diego interrupts Albert. “You want my opinion, boss?”
“Go ahead.”
“Don Colombo has agreed to meet with you. He’s offering to apologize for his son’s actions. Why not go to the meet and see what he’s got to say? Let him tie his own noose for you.”
“Never thought I’d hear my enforcer tell me to take the diplomatic route with our enemy.”
He shrugs, downing the rest of his drink a moment later. “I’m just saying the war got pretty unpleasant for everyone. You sure you want to reignite it?”
“What are you telling me? Anyone would think you work for Colombo, not me.”
He grunts. “I’m going for a piss.”
He gets up and walks away. Albert is shaking his head with a smile on his face. “First time I’ve heard Diego suggest not shooting someone as the simplest option. We normally have to hold him back from blowing everyone away.”
“He lost three brothers in the war. I’m guessing that was enough for him.”
