Page 33 of Mafia Wedding

"You're supposed to be on my side, Theía."

"Did he force it on you?"

"No, of course not—-"

"Blackmailed you?"

"Do I have to remind you he's my husband, not my enemy, so no—-"

"Then I have no quarrel with him."

"You—-"

One of the matriarchs seated in front of us suddenly turns to glare at Theía and me over her shoulder. "This is not the time to gossip!"

Papou apologizes on our behalf, and I already know what's coming as soon as she turns back around with a huff.

Thump!

My grandfather gives the back of our heads a quick little smack.

"Behave yourselves," Papou growls under his breath.

That's tough mafia love for you, and I honestly think it's a miracle my brain's still working after being disciplined in such a way for years.

The rest of the wake is uneventful, but I can't help feeling a twinge of sadness when it's finally time for Helene's casket to be lowered to its resting place. Helene may have been a thorn on our side for so many years, but her tactics have always been more wily than dirty, and that makes her one of the 'good' bad guys.

Helene's son invites everyone to drop by their home for the reception, and I'm secretly relieved but also slightly uneasy when Papou decides to skip this in favor of having lunch with Theía and me at his place.

"Are you sure we won't be ruffling any feathers by saying no?"

"Things are different now," Theía says briskly, "with Helene gone."

"In what way?"

"Alliances are not the only way to keep the peace," Papou says finally. "Sometimes, feuds are needed to maintain a balance of power."

"So you're saying...people felt safer because you and Helene hated each other?"

"The Cholevas clan is the only family with enough resources to give us trouble, if we were to show interest in taking over the Familia. And even when you and Stelios married," Theía says with a shrug, "most families were content to leave it to Helene to keep an eye on us."

"Why should that change now? It's not like Helene's family is about to run out of money all of a sudden—-"

"Money means nothing if the one in control of it is an idiot. And Helene's son?" Theía's lip curls. "Biggest idiot in the world, and that's what makes him dangerous."

Shots fired, Pt. 1

I KNOW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING'S up when I get a text from my husband on the drive back home.

Stelios: Get to the pool house.

Me: Why? Are you thinking of drowning me?

Stelios: Yes.

Stelios: In my cum.

My fingers hover over my phone as I try to think of what to say to him back.

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