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Because despite coming here with a very specific plan, starting this mission with the desire to tear down this family, things have gotten twisted.
Feelings have gotten complicated.
Some of the men in this family—they aren’t bad. They’re just being run by bad people. I feel a strange connection to them all. The desire to push them in the right direction, to ensure we all benefit in the end.
The silence between us grows and then slowly, so slowly, Silvero’s lips tip up.
“I think you’re going to fit in just fine here, Delilah. Don’t let those stugots put out your fire, yeah?” he says with a smile then tousles my hair like I’m a little kid. Still, I smile.
“Never. Now, can you do me a favor?” I ask.
“Anything,” he says, and the way he says it, it’s like he already knows I’m in power. Like he truly means anything—he’d go wack some guy down the street for looking at me funny or run whatever errand I decide I need done.
I tip my head to where there’s a large grill set up.
“Go help Tino with the grill. I haven’t seen him take a single item off that thing that isn’t charred to shit.”
With that, Silvero tips his head back and laughs before walking off.
And as I cross his name off my mental list, I see Teresa in the distance and watch her give me a covert thumbs-up.
Seems the queen herself agrees I’m doing okay at this.
TWENTY-TWO
-Lilah-
A bridal shower is the absolute last place I want to be today.
Much less a bridal shower where I have to pretend I’m excited to be marrying Paulie Carluccio and that I’m not already fucking his uncle nightly.
But just when I thought things couldn’t possibly be more irritating, I see her.
“Why is she here?” I say through gritted teeth.
“Who?” Sammi asks. She was invited by Teresa, who knows about her involvement with Tino and her friendship with me from work.
“Her,” I say, tipping my chin as Angela fucking Sigano walks into the quaint but luxurious teahouse where Teresa planned my bridal shower.
“Is that . . . ?”
“That’s Dante’s girlfriend,” I say through gritted teeth. “And she hates me. She’s the world’s biggest bitch.” She air kisses a few other guests as she walks into the room, looking around like this is a party for her instead of a for woman she can’t stand.
Not that I care, but I don’t miss that she didn’t bring even an envelope as a gift.
Poor manners.
But when her eyes scan the room and land on me at the end of the table, the entire thing set up so that I look like a princess, happily ready to be wed, she lifts a lip in a sneer.
The woman sneers at me at my own party.
“Ope, well, pretty clear how she feels about you,” Sammi says with a laugh. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with how much time you spend in Big Boss’s office, now would it?” My eyes go wide as I look at my friend. She instantly starts laughing. “Girl, I knew it. Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. Fuck, I’ve been in messier situations with lower stakes.” Her smile goes friendly, sisterly, almost, as she slows her laughter.
“I see how that man looks at you. Can deduce there is some method to this madness.” Her hand moves to indicate the room.
I sigh.
I like Sammi. I like having a friend who doesn’t care about all . . . this.
