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I nod. “Of course. He had a vicious backhand and wasn’t afraid to use it.”
I try to decipher his responding grunt but can’t.
“So your father was terrifying. Understandable.”
“What was yours like?”
“I don’t remember much. He died when I was younger, but I know from what I’ve heard and the few memories I do have, he was no cakewalk.”
I look over at him, to try to catch his eyes, but he’s intent on his phone. Still, I can ask him.
“When did your father die?”
He doesn’t look up from his phone or show any reaction at all. “A long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. The only reason I’m acting Don of our group is because he died and I’m second-in-command after my uncle. Or,was.”
“Oh?”
“His brother, my uncle, became acting Don until I took a wife. Archaic mob laws trump all.”
God, don’t I know it.
Sothat’swhy he was so eager to get married. Must’ve been an age restriction or time limit. Interesting. And I had to go and somehow fuck that all up by hiding a girl I didn’t even know. Now here I am.
I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Yesterday, I saw him beat the shit out of one of his men, then toss him off the plane as if he didn’t matter, as if he didn’t count at all. I guess some women would’ve been terrified of him, but it’s not much different from anything else I’ve seen my brothers do.
And I love my brothers.
Maybe… just maybe… I can grow to love Salvatore.
Then a stark realization hits me. Out here, he’s no different from any of the men I grew up with.
But what will he be like when we’re… alone?
When we’re in bed?
I look out the window and squirm uncomfortably at the thought.
As if reading my mind, he interrupts my pondering with a bold question.
“Are you a virgin, Marialena?”
My cheeks flush. I could pretend I don’t hear him with the muffs on, but he’ll ask it again sooner or later.
“Can’t hear you,” I say, looking out the window. I jump when his grip on my knee tightens.
“You’ll look at me when I’m speaking to you.”
My pulse quickens. Now that we’re married, is he going to go all psycho on me?
I look up at him like the obedient little wife I’m not. “What was that?” I say. I’m going with feigning deafness here.
“I asked if you were a virgin.”
