Page 42 of Now and Forever

Sowed his oats.

Fucked everything that walks.

It was the same thing.

I met her stare, unwilling to take that bait. “Dario and I haven’t discussed children.”

Her lips curled. “That’s all right. Discussing doesn’t get me a grandson. What you did last night does.”

I sat taller, ready to tell her that I was aware of how children were made.

“My dress,” I said, bringing up the subject one more time. “Once it is repaired…?”

“I’ll send it to Kansas City. Word will spread fast that it’s with the seamstress.”

As I stood, I made an effort not to grimace or wince. “I suppose I need to gather the last of my things. Dario wants to leave soon.”

Arianna reached for my hand. “Not all of us are cut out to take care of all of our husband’s needs. Respectable women understand the limits. There’s no shame in letting him do the less desirable things with a mistress or one of the whores from the clubs. All that matters is that you have his babies.”

I didn’t have words.

Dario had pledged faithfulness to me before God and our guests and again when we were alone. That didn’t mesh with me granting him free rein with mistresses and whores.

Instead of replying, I retrieved my hand and walked back into the living room, my stomach twisting with the idea of telling Dario to sleep with another woman. If that was the way of the famiglia—or respectable women—the way was about to change.

“There you are,” Dario said as I entered the foyer. “Armando has everything from upstairs in the car.” He reached for my arm and his forehead furrowed. “Are you all right?”

Not really.

I plastered a smile. “I was just talking with your mother.”

“And you’re ready to go?”

“Yes.”

Dario grinned. “Then let’s go.”

He led me outside. The large black SUV I anticipated. It was the Lamborghini Countach that I didn’t. Dario opened the passenger door of the small sports car. “I like to drive when I can.”

I stared down at the automobile worth more than the median value of most of the country’s homes. “And nothing says incognito like a Countach.” Leaning down, I looked at the futuristic interior. “No back seat. Where is Armando going to sit?”

“He can drive the SUV.”

“No bodyguard?” I asked.

“I don’t need a bodyguard, and you don’t need one when you’re with me.” His dark orbs shone with his enthusiasm. “And I like to drive.”

I folded myself into the low seat. After Dario closed the door, I took a better look at the state-of-the-art dashboard and felt a bit of his excitement. Once Dario was seated behind the wheel, I asked, “May I drive this sometime?”

“You drive?”

“I have my license. As I said, my father is considered progressive.”

Dario fastened his seatbelt and touched the screen on the console. The engine was barely audible. “It’s a hybrid.”

Shaking my head, I leaned against the tall leather seat. “KC’s future capo is concerned about the environment. No one will believe that.”

“We’ll keep it our secret.”

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