Page 10 of Till Death Do Us Part

“Mia,” Mom chastised. “Don’t you need to excuse yourself to go upstairs and put on something more appropriate for dinner?”

I looked down at my outfit, pressing my lips together. “Nope. Black is my new favorite color.” My smile grew. “And we’re all family, right?” I motioned to Rosa. “Bring the wine over here.”

“Please,” Catalina said. “Don’t let me stop you from drinking whatever you want.”

I gave Mom a ‘told you so’look as Rosa placed the tray with the open bottle and glasses on a nearby table. I waved Rosa away. “Go get Catalina’s water. I can pour.” I turned to Mom first. “Prosecco?”

Mom flattened her lips and nodded. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, Catalina.”

Catalina shook her head.

“Dario?” I asked.

“No, thank you.”

“More for me,” I muttered as I filled my glass with a generous pour. Bringing the rim of the glass to my lips, I took a hearty drink before filling Mom’s glass, handing it to her, and topping off my own.

When I looked to the rest of the family, Dario’s admonishing stare was on me. “Perhaps our other conversation shouldn’t wait until after dinner,” he said.

I shook my head. “Or, better yet, it can wait longer than that. Maybe until hell freezes over.”

Catalina paled.

Dario turned to Mom, silently asking if she’d shared the other reason for his visit. Mom nodded and brought her glass to her lips. After a sip, she spoke to Catalina. “It’s a bit chilly outside, but we have a beautiful view from the living room. Come with me before the sun fully sets and see how stunning the mountains are in springtime.”

Dario nodded, giving his wife permission to go on what could be best described as aleave me alone to talk some sense into my sisteradventure.

I lifted my glass. “Come back soon.”

Dario waited until they were both out of earshot. “Mom told you.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Mom’s told me many things. If you’re referring to the bombshell she dropped this morning about my forthcoming marriage, yes, she told me.” I finished the rest of the wine in my glass and began to fill it once more when Dario came closer and took the bottle from my grasp.

“I’d rather you be cognizant of this conversation.”

“That makes one of us.” I gripped the stem of my glass. “I want to forget it as soon as it’s over.”

“I never lied to you, Mia. I told you the day Rocco died that marriage was in your future.”

“Don’t you mean the day you killed him?”

My brother inhaled, his nostrils flaring. “Potayto-potahto.”

“Tell me who my new husband will be, brother. It’s pretty damn clear that I’m not a prize catch. I’m not a virgin and no longer the daughter of Kansas City’s capo. Is this some old widower?” I turned and walked toward the windows, dodging the furniture along the way. With my attention on our conversation, I was oblivious to the natural beauty beyond the panes. My thoughts went to an old widower. There was a possibility in that scenario. “I hope he is.” I spun back to Dario. “Maybe he’s so old he won’t be able to get it up. Raped on one wedding night is really my limit.”

Dario’s eyes darkened. “You should have told me.”

“And what would you have done? I was Rocco’s wife.”

“I would have done what I did, just ten years earlier.”

Maybe it was the few glasses of wine on my empty stomach but Dario’s conviction made me laugh. “And I’m to believe you’ll kill my next husband, too.”

“Not all men rape their wives.”

I lifted the glass, taking the last few drops of wine. Lowering the glass, I met my brother’s stare. “I’m one for one. Forgive me for not appreciating the odds.” When Dario didn’t respond, I asked, “Who?”

“He’s not old.”

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