Page 55 of Married to the Mafia

“He’s used to it,” Cristiano said.

“That’s why we pay him so fucking well,” Mikey said. “Fuck.”

Brandi caught herself trying not to smile. “I got car-shuffled,” she offered after a beat of silence passed.

“Car-shuffled?” Cristiano repeated.

“The guy who actually kidnapped me met up at that turnout we just passed and dragged me into the other asshole’s car, but he kept all my stuff. Purse, phone, all that. Completely lost.” She sighed. “It was obviously pre-arranged. Gus was waiting.”

Cristiano cut her a look.

A distinct note of incredulity colored Mikey’s voice when he repeated, “Gus?”

She winced again. “Sorry. Gustavo. Said his name was Gustavo Ramires. I called him Gus to try and get under his skin.”

“Son of a bitch,” Cristiano said with a grunt.

“Tell me you did not just fucking kill one of their main guys without us getting a chance to grill him,” Mikey said tightly.

Brandi stared at the dashboard. “Is … he a big deal?”

“Ramires is one of the ringleaders for the Ink Blots,” Mikey answered. “Before we knew about Coughlan, we were under the impression Ramires and a man named Cezar Barros ran the operation. Well, along with Felicity’s half-brother, but it turns out he was their dancing monkey.”

Brandi’s eyes flew open wide and she gaped over at the large, scowling man next to her. “Felicity? As in—”

“Yes.” Cristiano white-knuckled the steering wheel for a long second. “Fucker’s dead now.”

That was obviously a story, but Brandi wasn’t about to push her luck so she let it drop. And then something else Gustavo had said flitted through her mind. “He mentioned the other one, I think.”

“What?” Mikey asked.

She drew a breath and spoke clearer, forcing herself to replay the moment. “He mentioned a ‘Cez’, like a nickname. Said it was fortunate for me he hadn’t had ‘Cez’ pick me up, because the other guy doesn’t like mouthy women or something.” She paused. “I might have been bitching.”

Mikey made a sound like a huff and a laugh, but all he said was, “Cris, bring her back to me. I’ll talk to Big Brother. If Ramires is dead then he’s dead. We’ll deal.”

“At least we can take this as confirmation that Barros is still in the area,” Cristiano said as they eased into Newark city limits. “I’m about ten minutes out.”

sixteen

Family

It had felt unspeakably illogical to Brandi to have to spend the night at Eleonora’s home after everything that had happened that evening. The kidnapping attempt might only have eaten about half an hour out of her actual day, but it had shaken her. She felt like she’d barely had time to resettle before Mikey was dropping her off with a carefully packed overnight bag, a spare phone, and a searing kiss. She liked Eleonora well enough, but her soon-to-be mother-in-law’s guest bedroom was not where she wanted to be.

Of course, Brandi had kept the ungrateful thought to herself and done her best to appreciate the older woman’s company, anyway.

Eleonora woke her up with a gentle hand at her shoulder the next morning. “Time to get up, dear,” she said, her hazel eyes sparkling in the early morning light. “Breakfast’s about ready.”

Brandi pushed upright with a stifled yawn. She’d slept a little too well, all things considered. “Please tell me there’s coffee.”

“Of course!” Eleonora hopped up and waved an arm toward the door she’d left open. “Come to the dining room and we’ll eat. You can clean up after.”

Brandi shuffled into the guest bath across the hall first, then heeded her hostess’s suggestion and adjusted course for the dining room. She actually had selected a nice dress—though nowhere near a typical wedding gown—for the occasion, so she’d rather not risk staining it beforehand. Her feet dragged sloppily against the hardwood. I’m getting married today.

They’d made the plans days ago, and she knew they would already have signed the papers if she hadn’t been so badly beaten. But abstract plans on a calendar didn’t feel nearly as real as the understanding that she wasn’t getting ready for work. She was getting ready for the day that officially changed her life. Because they were having a courthouse wedding, she would be saying her vows and signing the paper that made her legally Brandi De Salvo on the same day. Within the same hour, even.

Suddenly she thought she maybe didn’t need that cup of coffee after all.

“Here she is!” Eleonora exclaimed with a beaming smile.

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