Page 8 of Under His Control

Thanks. Thanks for reminding me that I don’t belong here, Eva.

I listened to Romeo as he spoke about introducing me to another cousin, a distant one named Franco, but I couldn’t take my focus off the silent, brooding Eva standing next to him.

I knew from the second I walked into this extravagant ballroom that I didn’t belong. Once I began to meet some of the “family” gathered here to celebrate Romeo and Tessa’s engagement, I realized it wasn’t only a group of Constella relatives, but the fucking Mafia.

What in the hell are you thinking, Tessa?

As if life hadn’t thrown me enough curveballs lately. First, leaving the military, something that I never thought I’d willingly do. Second, the news that I was a father. Third, that my childhood friend was marrying into the goddamn Mafia.

I’d fallen into a rabbit hole and ended up in a bizarre world. None of this seemed right. Nothing sounded like it made sense anymore. I could roll with the punches. I wasn’t impervious to changes. But this was too much.

An awkward silence filled in among the three of us. I didn’t know what to say. Small talk wasn’t my thing on the best of days, and I had no clue who these people were.

Romeo seemed impatient to get back to Tessa, making me wonder if he was controlling her.

Eva was trying her damnedest not to check me out even though her icy once-over promised that she found me lacking.

And I had no clue how long I should leave Olivia with Danicia—who’d asked for my phone to text me updates of Olivia playing with toys in a living room somewhere in this place.

Eva caved to the pressure first, clearing her throat. “I see Dante looking for us.” She tugged on Romeo’s sleeve, and with a polite but insincere smile that she tossed my way as an excuse to leave, she led her cousin away.

“Yeah. Whatever. Good riddance.” I watched them go toward the Mafia Boss. Once they crossed the ballroom, I hurried to cut through the crowd and find my friend. Passing all the rich and fancy guests, I ignored the overwhelming sensation of being in the dark.

Nothing about this was adding up. The last I’d heard from Tessa, she was still waitressing at a steakhouse. Still worried about her parents wanting her to marry some lawyer. Still poor and doing the best she could to eke out a life.

Not laughing and smiling in a designer gown, joking and mingling without a care in the world at this mansion guarded by Mafia men.

And I was determined to get some answers about how and why this change had happened.

“Hey, Tessa,” I said.

“Liam!” She beamed, her face lighting up with joy. The shorter bob was a new cut from what I remembered when we were younger, before I was deployed, but it suited her. Neverminding my confusion and suspicion, she looked good. And content.

“Are you having fun? I know you’re not a big partier. Or maybe that’s changed over the years, but I hope you’re enjoying yourself so far.”

I nodded, tipping my head for her to follow me to the side. “Uh, that’s not the only thing that’s changed.”

She laughed, so bright and cheerful as she stepped toward the side with me. “Uh, yeah! I’m still shocked that you have a baby!”

“I think she qualifies as a toddler. Maybe?” I ran my hand through my hair, checking whether any Mafia goons were lurking close enough to hear us.

“Just the fact that you have a child, Liam. That’s huge news.”

I stepped closer so we could whisper. “So is the fact that you’re marrying into the fucking Mafia.”

Her smile dimmed and she sighed heavily. “Okay, so, it’s not what you think.”

“Not what I think?” I scoffed. “The Constellas are a fucking Mafia Family.”

“Yes, but?—”

“Nobut, Tessa. For fuck’s sake. Are you insane? What are you thinking?”

She narrowed her eyes, getting testy with my outburst that I struggled to keep quiet.

“Look, I know life’s been hard.”

“When wasn’t it?” she retorted.

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