“Rome,” Leo says in a warning tone. He clears his throat. I look up to see my father staring me down, his face set in stone.
He looks from me to Vittoria. “Something to say, son?” he asks.
No fucking way he’ll upbraid me in front of my future soldiers, my family, and my future wife. I force a wide grin and take the wineglass from Vittoria. Being mafia Boss means knowing when to wield power, when to wield authority, and when to suck up. “To the health of the Boss,” I say. The sound of clinking glasses drowns out my father’s growl. I catch my mother’s eye from across the room. It isn’t often she’s fearful, but both of us know Papa’s in a dangerous place.
I turn to Vittoria. “Have you changed your mind, Vittoria?” I ask. “We have a priest here tonight. Say the word, and we’ll take our vows right here, right now.”
Panic sweeps across her face. “Romeo,” she whispers. “No. I’m not ready.”
I look back to my father. I don’t trust him. Something’s different tonight. Something about my grandfather’s wishes and the will have put him in a dangerous headspace.
Tavi walks to my father, his arm around a pretty waitress dressed in a frilly white apron. He says something in my father’s ear. My father scowls, then nods, and a few minutes later, takes the waitress with him as he leaves.
“Jesus,” I mutter. Vittoria’s eyes are sad, and her lips turned down. I look to where her gaze lingers and see my mother sitting by a window. She sighs, turns, and stares out at the moonlit sky.
Vittoria shakes her head. “You make your own rules,” she whispers. “You don’t follow the rules of others. Tell me the truth, Romeo.”
I nod. “I told you, I don’t lie, Vittoria.”
“Then tell me this,” she whispers.
I lace her fingers through mine. “Yes?”
“How will you keep me safe from him? I know you want to marry me, but if you do…. even if we wed right here, tonight, how would you stop him from coming after me?”
“He wouldn’t,” I say, but I’m not sure I’m as convinced as I was earlier. There’s a ruthless gleam in his eyes I haven’t seen before.
“And tell me this. You said you’d never lie. You said that marriage is forever in your family. Would you take another woman?”
“Never. The day my father did was the day he lost my respect.”
She shakes her head and sighs. “I’d like another glass of wine.”
Mario walks up to us with a tray of drinks. “And one for the sweet,” he says with a flirtatious grin.
“Mario, you flirt with Vittoria, I’ll cut off your dick and serve it in your fuckin’ cocktail skewered on a toothpick.”
He splays his hand across his chest in mock offense. “I’m your brother!”
Vittoria shakes her head.
Mario clears his throat. “You two ain’t tyin’ the knot tonight?” he asks, an uncharacteristic look of concern on his face.
Vittoria answers for us. “No.”
“That would—”
She rolls her eyes. “Be a mistake. I know, I know, I’ve heard it from, like, every other tux-wearing guy tonight, okay?”
Mario chuckles. “Got yourself a firecracker, Rome.” He sighs and sobers. “But I’m not joking, Vittoria.”
“Dad’s got someone,” I tell him, as discreetly as I can. We don’t speak of his mistresses out loud if we can help it.
Mario frowns. “You think that’s enough to keep him in check for now?”
“Don’t know.” God, I need a smoke. “I’m stepping out. Vittoria.” I take her hand.
“Yes?”
“I need a smoke. Come with me.”
I take her to the war room, far away from the prying eyes of our guests and the concerns of my family and food-shoving brothers, past the sun room and courtyard, past the dining room and pantry. Here, it’s cooler and quieter. She holds my hand and walks with me slowly.
“You okay?” I look over my shoulder to see her wobbling.
“It’s these heels,” she says. “Ugh, I don’t know how your sisters do it. Marialena said they’d be the easiest ones to walk in.”
“Lose ‘em.”
She blinks and looks up to me, and my heart does a little stutter in my chest. Her eyes are like twinkling stars, her cheeks faintly flushed, and a wisp of a curl hits her forehead. “Lose them?”
She’s so unlike any other woman I’ve met. So unpretentious and… honest.
“Just take them off.”
“But these floors are sort of… well, cold, and I—”
I face her. “Lose them.”
She gives me a curious look before she steps out of them and breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh God, that’s so much better. Romeo!”
She gasps when I pick her up and swing her into my arms. We’re only paces away from the war room.
“Shh,” I whisper in her ear. I hear something. We step behind one of the large columns. I set her down but hold her close to my chest and shake my head to quiet her. It’s so dark here, we’re completely hidden.