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“Of course it is.” He stretches out his long legs. “I’m a genius and have taken everything Nonna taught me and refined it.”
I enjoy the perfectly prepared piccata as memories of my brother standing beside my grandmother roll across my mind. The kitchen was his sanctuary. A place where he could be himself without fending off bullies and listening to insults. Our neighborhood wasn’t particularly kind to people who didn’t fit the mold, and Marco was bullied relentlessly until he got bigger than the other kids.
“You haven’t dated anyone in two years.” He fills my glass. “Why jump back into the dating thing with a made man?”
“We’re not dating!”
“You’re just making cow eyes and holding hands while everyone in the neighborhood looks on.”
“No cows were present.”
“Clearly the point.” He leans forward and wipes my chin. “Start at the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.”
“Marco—” I hesitate, wondering if I should edit the story. We don’t typically keep things from one another, but this may be more than his over-dramatic heart can handle. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s sure as shit something so spill.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “I caught the attention of an arms dealer, and he’s a little pissy that he lost to a girl.”
“What?”
“Arms dealer. Pissed. At me.”
“And jumping from the fire into the frying pan is the right way to handle the situation.”
“There’s the kitchen metaphor I was waiting for.” After folding my napkin, I lean back. “RodrigoThe SerpentVargas is not happy with me.”
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down. “I walked away the first time but didn’t the second,” I admit, my voice cracking with emotion. “I thought my skills would be enough to win and get out unscathed.”
“You always believe you can outsmart everyone,” Marco says, his voice soft but still filled with worry. “And it finally caught up with you.”
“Well aware of that,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears. “I’ve been so focused on providing for us, for Nonno, that I ignored the red flags waving in my face.”
“So, how are we going to fix this?”
“Nadia is doing a little recon.”
“She sits in her car taking pictures of people cheating on their spouse.” He snorts loudly. “She isn’t qualified to do any digging.”
“I know, but she likes to feel included.” My chest tightens, and I pray that I haven’t inadvertently put my family in harm’s way.
This was never supposed to happen. I just want to help support the people I love, and now I might’ve risked everything.
“Does theSerpentthing have anything to do with your sudden interest in made men?”
“No…I’ve been aware of Enzo for months.”
“Aahhh, you’re on a first-name basis with a Bianchi.”
“How did you know his last name?”
“They rule the East Coast, and you’re not one to waste your time on rif raf. If you’re gonna do the criminal kingpin thing, you’ll do it with someone from the top of the food chain.”
“I’m not sure how close he sits to the throne of power, but it’s probably pretty close.”
“And you like him?”
I cover my eyes and let out a low groan. “Yes. Way more than is good for my mental health.”
