Page 76 of Satin Empire

“Yeah, you’re right. We might as well enjoy it.”

She takes my hand and squeezes, and we head out onto the porch.

Chapter 39

Alana

Carlo drives a little slower than he should. Wind blows through my hair, getting it a little messy, but I don’t care. I love driving with him in the Porsche, and right now nothing can steal my good mood; the sun’s shining, the city’s alive, and I’m ten minutes from my first college class.

I’m nervous. I’d be crazy if I weren’t. But I’m more confident than ever, and I really think that if I just apply myself, focus on my studies, and keep my head down, I’ll graduate with honors.

“They’re all so young,” I say as we slowly roll onto Penn’s campus. The other students are out in force, kids with backpacks, some riding electric scooters and skateboards, others walking in groups of five or six. Girls in matching sweatshirts, guys in baggy jeans, and all of them look at least a decade younger than me, although I’m pretty sure I’m only slightly older than average.

“You’re still young too, baby,” he says and takes my hand. “Don’t feel intimidated, okay? These are just a bunch of trust fund babies.”

“I’m pretty sure I only got into this school because you bribed someone.”

“Nah, I didn’t need to, although I totally would have.” He kisses my cheek. “You got this.”

He parks the car next to the most populated and busy walking path straight through the heart of campus. I notice a whole bunch of people glancing over, though most of them are looking at Carlo and not at the expensive Porsche we’re sitting in. I should get used to that—people here aren’t impressed by fancy shit, since a lot of them are rich already, but most of them haven’t seen a man like my husband.

He smirks when he notices a group of guys walking past. A couple of them look over, and one’s definitely checking me out, which makes Carlo pull me into a hard kiss. It’s a little much, and by the end of it I’m squirming to get away.

“You’re being possessive,” I grumble at him. “You’re not some ape pissing on your property.”

“You like it.” He looks around, seeing if anyone else needs a reminder. “Minus the peeing part.”

“I’m not your property either.”

“You are my wife though.” His eyebrows raise. “Or do you need a reminder? I’ll fuck you right here?—”

“Enough of that,” I say, batting his hand away, and trying not to smile. He’s being a jealous asshole right now, but at least he’s trying to be playful about it, and I know he’s insecure about me coming to school. Not that I’d ever cheat on him—I mean, that would be the dumbest thing imaginable, like selling a Ferrari to drive a Honda or something—but he still feels like he’s losing a part of me.

We’ll get used to the new schedule and everything else being a college student will inevitably bring. Long nights studying, new friends, maybe even some parties, that sort of stuff. Carlo isn’t exactly excited, but I know he’ll put his feelings aside and support me, even when he doesn’t want to.

That’s why we work. He understands that I’m doing this to find myself. College isn’t some game for me, it’s not some four-year break from the real world, it’s an opportunity to decide where I fit in. Maybe that’s accounting, or maybe I’ll change my major halfway through and start all over again, but one way or another, I’m going to discover what I want to be.

“I couldn’t have done this without you, you know that?” I lean in and kiss him again. This time, it’s a normal kiss, not some stupid primate mating ritual, but real proof of how I feel about him. “And I’m really grateful.”

“I’m not doing a damn thing, baby,” he says, kissing me one more time. “It’s all you. Now you should get going. Don’t want to be late on your first day.”

“I’ll text, okay?”

“You better. If I don’t hear from you every ten minutes, I’m going to come find you.”

I groan and hop out of the car. “You better not.”

“Have a good class, baby. Call when you’re ready to come home.”

I blow him a kiss and watch him drive away with a stupid smile on my face.

Chapter 40

Carlo

The big table is set for a massive feast and the room’s buzzing with conversation. Alana’s on my left and Gian’s on my right, and across from me are Saul and Allegra. Renzo’s at the head of the table, chatting with Stefania and Maddie, while the kids run around the periphery playing some form of tag using cloth napkins and dinner rolls. The parents try to keep their creatures in check, but I keep encouraging their bad behavior, because what else is a fun uncle for if not to make everyone else’s life harder? Besides, they’ll get me back when Alana and I have kids of our own.

The vibe should be bad, but this is the first time everyone’s been together in a while. It’s usually a few of the couples, or maybe just the girls, or Gian’s busy with his new business, or Saul’s in Vegas checking up on his bookmaking, or Renzo’s dealing with a thousand different problems, or the club’s got me staying out late to put out a new fire. But tonight, everyone’s back under one roof, Renzo and Maddie and little Brando, Saul and Molly and little Vincenzo, Gian and Allegra and their Cassie. Stefania’s in a good mood, and even though I’m grieving in my own way, I’m glad that I’m here with the people I care most about in the world.

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