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“Your truth means nothing, cousin. You think she’s not fit to be aDon’swife? How fucking dare you? I am yourDonand I married her. Grazia is impulsive and she has a lot on her fucking plate. Everything she knew for twenty years about her father was a fucking lie and she’s not allowed to talk to her brothers anymore. She’s allowed to act crazy if that’s what she needs. She’s my wife which makes her your fucking queen and if you have a problem with that, be my guest and get the fuck out of my city.” Every word I said was true and Pietro better believe it. “Don’t ever say you wished I wouldn’t love her because that’s what keeps me alive.”
I released him and he started coughing.
“Motherfucker!”
“Did I make myself clear, Pietro?”
“Yes,Don.” He massaged his throat to soothe the pain. “Look I’ve known the girl since she was in diapers. She’s very dear to me, but I’ll always be on your side, no matter against whom.”
“Your loyalty is appreciated, but don’t say shit like that in front of Grazia. She already feels you don’t like her.”
“I like her, but I don’t like what she’s doing to you.”
“Just remember that I would takeherside every time.”
“Yes, yes,” he punched me in the shoulder, “I lost you to a woman. I got it.”
“You’ll see how it is one day.”
“Don’t think so. Let’s go inside, people are waiting.”
“Right. TheDonfrom New York you want me to woo.”
As soon as I walked through the door, a glass of champagne was slipped into my hand and Aziz toasted in my name before retreating to his table where a few hand-picked beautiful women were waiting. Wherever I looked I saw people nodding with respect and looking at me with admiration, but I couldn’t enjoy an ounce of it. I couldn’t because my eyes kept looking for Grazia. We had many years in our future, there would be other parties and other occasions for her to stand proud by my side, but I wanted her now. I wanted her to witness what I was doing for our family – for her – and fuck if I didn’t want Fabiano to hear how his daughter held my hand when I became better than he ever was.
Next time, the voice that whispered that in my head sounded a lot like Grazia.I will be here next time.
I shook my head to clear my mind of those words. Now it was time for business not for sulking.
My walk across the room was cut short by a goddamn viper. A blonde, tall viper that made a habit of keep showing up in my way. Ariana Bernoulli has followed me around like a lost puppy in the past two years, always showing up in the clubs I was at and at parties I went to. She liked fun, booze, and hard drugs, and those were abundant around me, but now it wasn’t about fun. Now she was playing with a flame, about to set us all on fire.
“Salvatore.” She was all smiles, like nothing was wrong in the world.
“How the fuck did you get in here?”
“I have my ways.” That was not answer enough. “I know some of your boys and they like me. Of course they let me in. Everyone knows we have history, Salvatore.”
“History? Are you fucked up in the head, woman? I have history with Grazia. You just happened to stay in her shadow for most of her life.”
“Easy.” She warned, her face changed, turning bitter.
“It’s time for you to leave, Ariana.”
“You don’t mean that. You’re alone and I’m a great companion. How about you take me for a walk across the room.”
One thing she had going for herself was that damn stubbornness. It’s been ten years since she first offered herself to me and she still couldn’t take no for an answer.
“Ariana, somewhere along the way you started to believe that because you open your legs fast, nothing can happen to you.” Discreetly, so we I wouldn’t draw people’s attention, I clutched the napkin she had for a dress and pulled her closer. “I don’t like hurting women, but if sending you to Caputo in a body bag is what I have to do to stop you from bothering my wife, then so be it. Be very sure of this, Ariana, the list of things I wouldn’t do for her is very damn short.”
“She’s not even here. She kept you secret all those years. Why do you keep fighting?” Instead of backing down, she started getting red in the face with anger. “I am better than her!”
“You found your spot next to Fabiano’s dick. Leave. Now!”
“Fabiano doesn’t have to know. We can be quick.”
“Who are you trying to get killed here? You, me, or Caputo?”
“Definitely Caputo, but not the one you think.”
