Plain Jane and the Mafia Beast

“Don’t be nervous. You’re safe here.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Of course I’m fine.”

He kissed her cheek.

Antonio was the first person he saw. “Dad’s in his office. He’s expecting you.”

“Arika, I’d like you to meet Antonio. Antonio, this is my fiancée, Arika.”

“Nice to meet you, Arika,” Antonio said.

“We’re not officially engaged,” she said, lifting her head and smiling. “You’ve not properly asked me.”

“You know, I like this one already. You give him hell, Arika. He needs it.”

She held his hand a little tighter.

“Daniel, you don’t need to go in there. It’s just Dad and Vincenzo with his woman.”

Walking down the long corridor, he wrapped his arm around Arika.

“Is that bad that we’re going in there alone?”

“It’s not bad. Believe me. This is private, and I knew you wouldn’t want a big family introduction.”

“I could just go home, you know. Not worry.”

“Once everything is done, we’ll go home.” Knocking on the door, he called out his name.

“Come in,” Galiza said.

He went in first and then allowed Arika to enter.

“Ah, Vincenzo is here at last. I was beginning to think you were ditching me.”

“Something came up this morning.”

“I’m aware of what happened at the diner last night. My apologies on your friend’s death,” Galiza said.

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“So, you’re the woman that has stolen Vincenzo’s heart. A lot of women will be upset about that.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Galiza chuckled. “I have no problem with that. Will you look at me, Arika?”

She lifted her head.

“You’re nervous.”

“Yes.”

“Afraid I’ll kill you?”

Vincenzo didn’t like this one bit.

“Yes.”

“I won’t kill you. That is not my way, unless of course you betray me. Has Vincenzo made you aware of the consequences of you talking or betraying us?”

“Yes, he warned me some time ago.”

“And yet you’re still with him?”

She looked at him this time. “I guess some things can’t be denied.”

“You love him?” Galiza asked.

She didn’t look away and nodded her head. “Yes. I tried not to. I tried to hate him, but it just wasn’t working. He’s rather hard to hate.”

Vincenzo cupped her cheek. “I love you too.”

She pressed her face against his open palm.

“I do find this rather a treat, it has to be said,” Galiza said. “Vincenzo is like a son to me, and as I look at him now, I’ve never seen him be so smitten with a woman. For that reason alone, I want this wedding to go ahead. You will be Vincenzo’s bride, Arika.”

“I don’t get a say in this?” she asked.

“Are you saying you don’t wish to be married to him?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” Galiza asked.

“I … erm … I’d like him to ask me. To get down on one knee and ask.”

Galiza burst out laughing. “They always want to get us by the balls. Well, in that case, Vincenzo, I will leave that to you, but we have business to attend, so hurry up.”

His boss left the office.

He was alone with Arika.

“He’s terrifying.”

“I thought he was one of the coolest men I knew growing up.”

“Now?”

“Now, he’s just my boss.”

“You don’t care for him?”

“I care, but I know my place in this world. He says I’m like a son to him, but if given the choice, he’d kill me to keep Antonio alive.”

She gripped his hand even tighter. “I don’t want you to die, Vincenzo. I can’t … no, I don’t want that.”

“I’m damn good at what I do, and I keep Antonio alive even when I don’t want to.” He dropped a kiss to her lips. “I’m so sorry about rushing you on this. I don’t want to, I swear, but I’ve got to go.”

“You’re going to leave me here?”

“I don’t have a choice. I’ve got a job to do, but the women are here. I’ll take you to them now. They’re probably in the kitchen waiting to meet you.”

“Do these women like you?”

“I’ve been around them a lot. They know how this world works, so they’ll let you know what to expect. Don’t believe everything you hear.”

“Because that’s not scary.”

“They will take care of you.” He stroked her cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He saw how nervous she was and kissed her lips. “Come on. I’ll take you to them.”

He held her hand and led her through the house to the kitchen where she would see a lot of women talking, cooking, baking. They all looked tense but happy. He was used to them like this. Especially when they were about to go and deal with not only an internal problem but also their enemies. There was a risk that people would die today. He had no intention of dying.

When he cleared his throat, they turned toward him. Galiza’s wife didn’t even look at him, but she hated this life.

Her sister, the aunt he’d never had, took the lead, smiling and coming toward them.

“This is her?” Aunt Shauna asked.