Page 38 of His Tesoro

She reached out and grasped Sofiya’s hand, but her smile faded as she took in the plain gold band. Her disapproving gaze landed on me. “Where’s the engagement ring?”

“We weren’t engaged,” I said, finishing the last of my coffee. It was true, but as Sofiya gently removed her hand from my sister’s grasp, her smile falling, an uncomfortable tightness settled in my chest. I glanced down at my plain gold band. I hadn’t given the rings a moment of thought. Romeo was the one who’d reminded me I needed to get them in the first place.

“I like it,” Sofiya said softly.

Sienna scowled at me again before turning towards my wife. “I came over to see if you wanted to go shopping.”

“I have work to do,” I said gruffly.

Sienna just rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t inviting you, brother. As if you’ve ever gone shopping in your life. I want to go with my new sister-in-law.”

Sofiya blushed and looked at me as if asking permission. I had the sudden urge to run my thumb along her lower lip, to feel the softness of her pink skin. I broke eye contact and gripped the countertop.

“You will take guards and be back by lunch,” I said, turning away from the two women.

“We’ll be back by dinner,” Sienna called after me. My jaw clenched, but I kept walking, tearing the front door open.

Angelo stood at attention in the hall.

“They’re going shopping,” I growled. “Anything happens to them, it’s on you.”

“Yes, Boss.”

I huffed as I headed to the office, unsure why I was so unsettled.

20

SOFIYA

My eyes were wide as Matteo stormed out of the apartment. Had I done something to upset him? After how we left things yesterday, I’d been hopeful about things going forward. But now, the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach was back. Whenever my father got mad, it always meant worse things later.

“These Mafia men are so dramatic,” Sienna said, spinning back towards me. “And they say women are the emotional ones.” She was smiling, completely unconcerned with her brother’s behavior.

“It seemed like he didn’t want us to go?” I asked hesitantly.

“As if Matteo’s going to stop us.” She winked and handed me the cup of coffee. “We should start by getting something for breakfast. There’s a cute bakery next to my favorite shops.”

“That sounds lovely.”

I desperately wanted Sienna to like me. My loneliness surrounded me like a thick blanket. I’d cried all night, thinking about what Katya and Stasya had gone through, and missing Mila. I’d tried to call her, but her phone was off.

“Excellent,” Sienna said, clapping her hands. “We’re going to have the best day.”

Her excitement was infectious. I smiled and took a sip of my coffee. “Just give me a minute to grab my stuff.”

I moved off the kitchen stool, my legs screaming in pain. I crept back to my room and sat down heavily on my unmade bed. I hadn’t had the energy to make it this morning. I eyed my wheelchair. I should take it today. My knee was subluxing, my joints were aching, and I felt lightheaded. But it would be such an inconvenience to Sienna to lug it around.

And I was embarrassed.

I couldn’t hide the wheelchair from Matteo and his men, but I didn’t want to be out in public with it.

I mustered up the energy to get up from the bed. I grabbed my purse, phone, medication, and the thirty dollars Mila had given me before the wedding. I’d refused to take it, but she had slipped it into my purse when I wasn’t looking.

It had been years since I went shopping. Once I started using mobility aids, the Pakhan forbade me from leaving the house. He said it was because his enemies would target me, but I knew it was really an effort to hide his dark shame—the head of the Bratva with a disabled daughter. Matteo didn’t seem to have the same reservations about me being seen in public, although maybe that was why he’d been angry at the idea of Sienna and me going out. I clenched my jaw as a wave of overwhelming emotion washed over me. The urge to make myself small, to hide away, was strong. I had to be stronger.

I put my things in my bag. Thirty dollars wouldn’t go far, but I was just excited to get to leave the apartment and get to know Sienna. And if I could buy a new shirt or phone case or something, that would be a bonus.

Sienna smiled when I returned to the kitchen. “All set?”

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