Page 73 of Salvatore

Chapter Nineteen

Salvatore

I walk into my apartment to find my brothers and Aedry dancing in the living room. The TV is blasting with some shit that can’t possibly be real music. Aedry is in a red dress that looks painted on, giving me a view of her perfect curves as she moves. Her dark hair sweeps along her shoulder blades like a silk sheet. She hasn’t cut it since I told her I like it long. And the way she looks . . . damn, she’s gorgeous.

My shoulder falls against the wall as I watch her shake, bulging the jewelry box stuffed in my coat. I dropped a few bills on it and I still think it wasn’t enough, not for what she means to me. The thing that’s eating at me is it’s not the ring I want to give her?the one where I ask her to be my wife.

Lies. All I’ve fed her is lies about what I do when I’m away from her—telling her anything to make her think my work with Vin and everything he’s a part of is legit. I painted him to be a victim, an honest businessman fighting for the little guy. It’s a hell of a task. Everything he does makes me sick.

My only cure from it all is Adrianna and how I feel when I’m with her.

Christ. How many rings did I look at before settling on the bracelet? Hell, I don’t know. That gnawing feeling, and the way my gut clenched when I realized I might be making a mistake, shifted my attention to the other side of the store. It’s not that I don’t want her to be my wife. It’s more like I’m afraid she’ll say yes.

I want a big house with a big yard for her, my boys, and whoever else comes along. But until I save enough, the only way to have the cash I need is to move up the ranks the way Vin’s expecting. But I can’t.

As much as the world will be better off without some of the scum he deals with, I don’t want those same tainted hands that pull that trigger or dig that knife to touch the beautiful woman dancing in front of me. No, I can’t soil her with my sins any further. And I can’t look my brothers in the eye, and tell them to be good men, when I can’t even manage to be a good man for them.

When it comes to my future, I do a lot of thinking, but my thoughts always return to Aedry and how much I want to marry and make babies with her. But each time I deal with Vin’s shit, I’m reminded that I can’t bring a child into the world knowing that from one breath to the next, I could leave this world and Aedry to raise our babies alone.

I shove the velvet case deeper in my pocket, knowing that for now, I’m making the right choice by waiting to give her that ring.

I push off the wall and step forward as the three of them spin to whatever the hell they’re dancing to and see me standing there. Aedry squeaks and stumbles back in surprise, while my brothers scramble to the couch, like I didn’t see them shaking their asses to that stupid song.

“Hi,” Aedry says, smiling brightly and hurrying into my arms. “I didn’t see you there.”

My eyes cut to my brothers as my hands glide along her bare back. “I can see that,” I say. “What’d you do? Lose a bet?” I ask them.

“Leave them alone,” Aedry says, kissing my lips. “We were just having a little fun.”

“It looked it,” I say.

My brothers smirk, but they can’t hide their reddening faces. They always act tough, except around Aedry. Like with me, she has a way of drawing out their not-so tough sides.

“Ready to go?” I ask.

“Yes. I just need my shoes.” She walks back to the side of the couch, lifting a pair of spiky black platforms from a box beside a pair of silver stilettos.

My brothers couldn’t figure out what to get her for her birthday. She seems to like shoes, so that’s what I suggested. Damn fine choice by the way her hips sway when she walks toward my brothers after slipping them on.

She bends to kiss Apollo on the head. “Happy Birthday, Aedry,” he tells her, swinging his arm around her.

“Thank you, cutie,” she says, turning to hug Gianno. “And thank you both for the shoes.”

“Yeah. Thanks,” I say, as she strolls back toward me.

Gianno frowns. “You’re the one who picked them out,” he points out.

“Only ’cause I knew she’d look hot in them,” I say, nibbling on her ear when she reaches me.

“Behave,” she murmurs.

“Only because we have company,” I murmur in return.

I pull away and help her with her coat. “Don’t stay up too late,” I tell my brothers.

“What time will you be home?” Gianno asks.

He lifts the controller to his PS5, trying to act casual. He’s slick, but the shift in Apollo’s posture gives him away. “Soon,” I respond.

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