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Salvatore, pushing an envelope toward her and looking over his shoulder.
Those could mean anything. That could’ve happened before—
Another text from Gloria.
The picture with Capo happened one hour after Marialena “rescued” the blonde. The pictures with the others were the next day when they initiated her payout. Her name is Penny Marcioni. She’s a well-known con artist hired by his family. Marialena was set up.
I look up at Mario and blink. His face is a mask, unreadable. His phone beeps again, and we both look down.
She’s in grave danger. GET HER OUT OF THERE NOW.
My heart plummets. All of it was a lie. He set me up. I’m so naïve, I believed he actually loved me.
“Let me get my things,” I whisper.
“We have no time, Marialena,” Rosa whispers back. “We’ll bring our car around. We have to leavenow,before Romeo goes after him. God, he’ll start a war…”
“Good,” I say between clenched teeth. I hated Cristiano and Agnesia, now I hate the whole family, all of them, and their underhanded, conniving, betraying ways.
“Not good. You don’t know what you’re saying,” she whispers. “Trust me, it’s never good when two families war. Innocent people will die.”
My throat tightens. Rosa sees the look on my face and hers falls as she drapes an arm around me.
“It’ll be okay. Trust me. It hurts now, but it’ll be okay.” It worked out for her because she ended up with Santo in the end. But me? I thought I loved him. I gave my virginity to him. I gave myheartto him.
I nod and try to put on a brave face but can’t stop the tears from falling. I swipe at them angrily. I have no time to cry. There will be time for that later.
Rosa takes my hand and tugs me along. I hold my head high, pretending that nothing’s wrong. I smile at those we pass, doing everything in my power not to betray that I’m heartbroken, hurt, and angry.
“There,” Rosa says, as a silver Mercedes swings in front. “Get in.”
Behind us I hear the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked and an oily voice. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”
* * *
CHAPTERTWENTY
Salvatore
I should bewith my wife. I should be walking around inside with my gorgeous woman on my arm, playing the part of newlywed Don while the music plays and my friends and enemies ply us with wine and gifts. Instead, I’m brooding in our theater, drinking whiskey while I ride the tail of a high.
Jesus.
I don’t know what to do with the knowledge that my wife’s family was responsible for my father’s death. I want to kick Romeo’s ass. I don’t give a shit that he was a teen. But most of all, I’m mad at myself for not realizing the most obvious thing from the beginning.
I should’ve known.
How can I go on and pretend all is well when it isn’t?
How can I be anything but a coward if I don’t avenge my father’s death?
Would anyone have any respect for me if they knew what I did?
So many questions. So many twists and turns. And for once in a really, really long time, I’m fucking sick of living this life of betrayal and angst, wealth and sin, lies and manipulation.
And Marialena.God.
I never planned on loving her. She was only supposed to be a means to an end, a pawn in the game we play daily. She would’ve been roped into a loveless marriage sooner or later, I reasoned. Why not to someone who would lavish her with wealth and not abuse her?
