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I turn around and see everyone watching the news with me. Gio doesn’t look shocked at all.Is this why he had to leave? Did he burn down his own house?
“The remains of the owner were found in the ashes. We will continue to update once we know more.”
My mouth gapes open. Giovanni’s father died, and he looks unbothered.
Or numb.
“Gio, I’m so sorry.” I walk over to him, but he shrugs me off like a pest.
“Nina, why don’t we go upstairs now?” Mama says, grabbing onto my arm as I follow her lead.
25GIOVANNI
Nina walks away with her mother as I pour Carlo and Max a couple of drinks. I have a feeling alcohol is something we are going to need.
I don’t want to be like my father. He used to drink so much it was like there was a constant IV bag of alcohol attached to him every second of the day, just pumping poison into his system.
“That was you?” Max asks, grabbing a drink I just filled.
“Yeah.”
“You are Godfather?” Carlo asks.
“Yeah.”
“Marry Nina,” Max says.
I cough on the sip I just took. I clear my throat and bring the glass to my lips again.
I never thought Max would be so willing to have me as Nina’s husband. “I plan to.”
Max and Carlo share glances, leaving me out of the loop I desperately want to be a part of.
I could have married her before, but that isn’t how I wanted to play my cards. I want to give my wife the best future, and I wouldn’t be able to do that if I were the underboss. I also don’t think Rolando would have just handed me his daughter if I wasn’tCapo dei capi.
I could have what I want.
After years of her taunting me, she could bemine.
“Giovanni, you need to listen, and listen hard,” Carlo says.
“I am. Get on with it.”
“Rolando decided to go ahead with the marriage between Nina and Kirill.”
I clench my teeth together in frustration. I’m already aware of this, but I thought he and I were on the same terms. I thought he understood that she could not marry him, fuck the circumstances. But I guess some things prove to be hard to get through his thick skull.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I say, acting like this is new information.
“It happened while you were gone, and Nina doesn’t even know yet. I didn’t know how to tell her.”
“Well, no shit.” The moment I leave, shit goes south. That’s how it has always been, but I didn’t think Rolando would start working toward it. It was always just an idea floating in the air, never the real deal.
“Anyway. You haven’t exactly been . . . discreet about your feelings for her. People are starting to notice—that’s why Rolando wants Nina to marry. You know, before word goes around and no man will take her.”
I roll my eyes. He talks to me like I fucked her. I may want to, but I respect her enough not to take advantage of her.
I take my time to get the things that I want.
