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Later, I found out that it was just a stupid fight two cousins had over a girl, and it wasn’t anything important to the mafioso at large. Luckily, no one was killed. I never did find out what punishment my father put on those boys, but I never saw them again, so I could assume it wasn’t good.
“Thank you,” Dante says easily, his smile fading. “You and your family are of course, invited to the service.”
My father pipes up then. “When is the service, Dante?”
Dante shrugs. “Not sure yet. Waiting on the autopsy.”
I hum in the back of my throat. I know that in our lifestyle, autopsies aren’t performed very often. My heart goes out to Dante. I don’t know how his dad died, but I can only assume it wasn’t natural causes.
“Do you have any ideas about who did it?” my father asks, and Dante shoots him a look, something flashing in his hazel eyes.
“A couple. And the forensics from the autopsy will help clear any lingering doubts,” he says, his voice low. “But let’s not talk about such things at dinner.” He smiles at me again, showing even, white teeth.
It’s almost a predatory smile, and I’m not sure how to take it, so I clear my throat, blushing and looking down at my hands as Elena starts to serve the first course, some bone broth and fresh Italian bread.
Dante eats well, dipping his bread into the broth and praising Elena for her efforts, and she smiles at him brightly before heading back into the kitchen to finish up the main course.
“You’ve got quite a chef,” Dante says, and my father smiles.
“She’s been in the family for thirty years,” he says.
Dante nods. “We have a housekeeper that’s been with us quite a while,” he says. “She’s taken to bed since Papa died.”
My father sighs. “Surely you know that she was also his mistress?”
Dante raises an eyebrow. “Of course I did, but I’m surprised that you know.”
My father chuckles. “I knew Enzo better than you think, son.”
Dante stiffens just slightly at the way my father called him son, and I feel something tight starting in my throat.
During my life, I’ve had dinners with lots of dangerous men, some that even wanted to court me, but my father has always been protective, and he’s kept me away from themostdangerous men.
Dante Ricci has a reputation, with women and with the law, having been arrested several times but getting off because of his excellent lawyer. Is Dante one of those dangerous men my father has been trying to keep me way from?
“What brings you to dinner tonight?” Papa asks, and Dante smiles, loosening up.
“A list of my father’s last wishes in his will. There’s one I need to discuss with you.” Dante turns his gaze to me and I’m all but paralyzed by those hazel eyes of his. “And you, Mia.”
“Me?” I put my napkin down in my lap, finishing chewing the bit of bread in my mouth.
“My father wants you to be my wife,” he says, looking deeply into my eyes, and I choke even though there’s nothing in my mouth.
3
DANTE
The look on Mia’s face is priceless, and I can’t help smirking. Luca, on the other hand, looks less shocked, almost like he’s mulling it over.
“I suppose Enzo wanted our families to be closer,” Luca murmurs.
Mia keeps choking on air, pressing the napkin to her mouth as she coughs, her pretty face turning red.
She’s really grown up since the last time I’d seen her. In my head, she was still that seventeen year old scared little girl, but I guess that makes sense because it’s been four years. Time goes by so quickly.
Mia is beautiful in a way that not many Italian girls are. She has bright blue eyes and red hair along with her straight nose and dimpled chin. She looks a lot like her mother, I suppose, although I’ve only seen the woman once or twice. Mia’s mother is blonde and beautiful, but very Russian.
“What do you think, Mia?” I ask, leaning over the table toward her, wanting to get closer. I know I’m a nice looking guy and I’m hoping she is grateful enough I saved her life. I should be able to use that to get her to say yes, and then I’ll find out more about how Luca killed my family. Once I have proof, Nico and the rest of my men will take care of it – unless I decide I want to take care of it myself.
