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I shrug.I’ve shotpeople for less, and in far more public places than that.
"She wasafirsthandeyewitness, Boss."
He blows out a breath and shakes his head.
"You're not in Tuscany anymore."
Don't I fucking know it.
I can hear the girls talking on the other side of the door, and even though I can't hear what they’re saying, it's pretty easy to differentiateEden’s calm,temperedvoice from her friend’snearly hysterical one.
Oh, this isgonnabe fun.
Sergio rests his hand on my shoulder,theheavy weight of it making me stop.
"Listen, bro."
Ilook at his eyes.
"I know you’re loyal.You were the first one I signed into our group when we needed more men.And you know why. Now I'm asking you to dosomethingthat you didn't plan ondoing butwhich will eventuallyplayout in everybody's best interest."
He pauses.
"I don't want you just to marry her. We'regonnamake a big show of it. Your pictures will be plastered all over the Internet. Nobody'sgonnabe able to question her and nobody'sgonnabe able to question you. Give it six months. Just six months, that's all I ask you to do. By thenwe’llhaveourin with the cartel."
Fine. Six months. I can do that.
I open my mouth to respond to him when the doorflies open. The little hellfire stands in front of me with her eyes blazing.
"For real. Forreal?What the hell do you think you're doing? First, you try to pulla gun on me, and now you thinkthatit's smart…"
I reach for her. With onetugI yankher to me. I lift my hand to cover hermouthso she doesn't say anythingthat’ll get her in trouble. We're not in a private place. She fumes at me,butI don't let her go. Sergio has the nerve to look amused.
Footsteps sound nearby and all of usturnto seeNonna, everyone's Italian grandmother, waddle into the room. She's barely five feet tall and roly-poly as hell. Everybody loves her.
"Nofightmy house.Come.Mangia,mangia.Eat.”
"She still thinks she can solve everything with food,” Sergiomutters.
"I guess feeding people is probably smart,” I sayinwhat I think is a pragmatic tone.
My almost—God,wife—gives me a withering look.
"Is that what you think?"
Oh, she'll learn toquellthat temperquickly. I release her long enough to grasp her chin and hold her gaze to mine.
"Behave yourself,sweetheart."
Nonnalooks at me and her eyes begin to twinkle. "Adriano," she says with a smile, opening her arms to me so I can give her a hug. Quinn's eyes scorchme, obviously not happy that Nonna loves me.What she doesn't knowisthere was a time whenNonnaand I were very close, back when she lived in Italy. She took me under her wing, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had something to do with me signing on withtheMontavio Brotherhood.
I bend and kiss her paper-thincheeks, one after the other.
“I would love some food.”
Quinn watches us, a bit bemused, until Eden tugs her into the dining room.
A few minutes later we're seated at the table. Sergio sits next to Tosca,Nonnaacross fromher.Edensits next to Quinn, andIsitalone at the end of the table.Nonnatakes one look at me, shakes herhead,andpats the seat next to her.
