Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Mrs. Mione backed away to give me room to exit the bathroom.
“Thank you for your help, Mrs. Mione.”
She shook her head and gently touched my shoulder. “I told you to call me Ines. Hearing that name makes me think of my mother-in-law. And I’m glad I could help you.”
I didn’t like to ask for help, but in instances like this, I was glad I hadn’t refused her.
Her eyes moved to something on the ground, and she bent down, picking up the small origami clover I must have dropped. She regarded it curiously, then peered up at me. “Is this yours?”
“Yes. I crafted it this morning for a little extra luck.”
“Wow. You did this? It’s gorgeous.”
I smiled. “Thank you. This is an easier piece. I started the hobby shortly after my father’s death. I needed something to keep busy, and pottery turned out to be too much of a mess for our housekeeper.”
“You’ll have to show me one day.”
“Of course, Mrs. Mione.”
Ines raised her eyebrows.
“Ines,” I said with a hint of embarrassment for calling her by her last name again. It was strange to think she’d be part of my family in two years. It still hadn’t sunk in that I was going to marry Samuel.
Today’s celebrations were the reason I rarely enjoyed attending social events anymore. The backstabbing, fake-smiling, lies-spewing way of many people in our world brought out the rage I tried to keep in check. Which was of course hypocritical of me, considering I gave them the same fake smile while I killed a considerate number of them in my head, especially after how disgusting some of them had reacted to the announcement of my engagement.
I went out into our backyard after I’d left Emma with my mother in front of the guest bathroom. The moment I was outside, I took a deep breath. I’d kept up my pleasant mask inside, especially with all the other Underbosses in attendance. Well, not all of them. Cincinatti hadn’t been invited. Danilo had insisted they stay away after what they did to Emma. I didn’t really care about their attendance.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I tensed briefly before Dad came into view. He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag before he stared up at the darkening sky and blew out the smoke.
“Don’t let Mom see you.”
“She’ll smell it on me. She always does,” he said with a small smile. “Once life’s less stressful, I’ll give it up.”
“When’s that ever going to be the case?”
“One day,” Dad said, then chuckled as if he’d made a good joke. “Did you want to be alone?”
I shrugged. I had wanted to be alone, but Dad knew when to be silent. His presence hardly ever bothered me. “I don’t mind.”
Dad regarded me from the side. “A wife has to make you feel at home. Everything else is fleeting, but that feeling of coming home whenever you see someone? That’s what matters.”
“I told you I’m okay with the marriage. Emma is a pretty girl, and I’m sure she and I will get along.” I gritted my teeth. “But I have a bad track record with people who depend on me, and she’s more dependent than others.”
“Nobody could have protected your sister, and your friends…they were Made Men. They could take care of themselves.”
I nodded. “I should go back. I don’t want to leave Emma alone.”
It was a surprising thought, but I definitely felt protective of her. I turned and went back inside. Emma was talking to Anna and Sofia, so I decided to go to Renato instead, who was talking to the future Underboss of Columbus, Cosmo. I nodded at them both.
Renato clapped my shoulder.
“This came as a surprise,” Cosmo said. I could see the curiosity in his eyes. If he thought I’d give him any details about why the arrangement came to be, he hadn’t paid much attention to my reputation.
“I prefer to keep my cards close to my chest.”
Renato smirked.
“A noble thing…” He kept droning on and on, but I mostly ignored him. The verdict over our engagement was pretty clear. People didn’t understand and even openly disapproved. I didn’t care. But even now, I could see how uncomfortable Emma felt.
“She doesn’t look like she hit the jackpot with you,” Renato murmured.
Everyone thought Emma should be ecstatic about this bond, a bond that saved her in many people’s eyes, but Renato was right. True delight definitely wasn’t visible on her face. But I couldn’t tell whether this was because of people’s tasteless whispers or because she didn’t want to marry me.
I was eight years older than her. Maybe that was an issue. I strode over to her. “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course,” Emma said, her cheeks turning red as she followed me. I led her out onto the patio of our backyard. People would still be able to see us but not hear us.