Page 75 of The Don

I didn’t think this through. We needed more time to figure out a cover story. Or I needed more time to explain to Salvatore exactly how much truth we could tell my family and set up the lies. Too late now.

“It was not a happy marriage,” he says far too earnestly.

Caroline shrugs. “Been there. And are you financially capable of caring for this new life you two are bringing into the world? Because we love Shae, but Lord knows money has not been her focus.”

“Auntie Caroline?”

“Taking care of Shae and our children is all that matters. She will never want for anything from here on out.”

Caroline squints at the phone for a few seconds and smiles. “Good, good. Make sure you say exactly that when you meet the rest of the family. And if you can make the accent just a little bit thicker—”

“Okay, Auntie Caroline, that’s enough.” I snatch the phone from his hand and frown — respectfully — at the screen.

“Well, alright, you have a good time for the rest of your trip. Make sure you let your mama know when you’re coming back.”

I sigh. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And will you be coming back with her, Salvatore?”

He squeezes my waist. “Yes. Wherever she goes, I will be there.”

“Ooh, that’s a good one. Keep that one in your back pocket. Bye now.”

There are a few seconds where Caroline is frowning at her cell phone before she hangs up. Salvatore and I sit through that silently.

“I think that went very well,” he says.

I can’t help but smile. “That’s adorable. I’m going to have to prepare you for meeting the family, and first of all, donottell Caroline anything you don’t want the rest of the family to know.”

“Like what?”

“Like about your wife,” I whisper. “You shouldn’t have told her that.”

“We should not lie about things that can be verified by a lawyer.”

“Oh. Good point. But you also should be careful about details.” He squints at me. “Children. You saidchildren.”

“Do you no longer want more than one child?”

“Of course not. I want all the babies. But my family is going to start thinking that you just got with me because I’m young and fertile.”

He smiles. “Well, that wasn’t the intention, but now that you mention it…” He crawls onto his knees and pushes me back onto the bed.

“Oh my God,” I laugh at him. “Oh my God,” I groan as his fingers get started on my post-nap pre-lunch orgasm.

* * *

“Well, look who’s alive,” Zoe says as soon as I walk out of the condo building’s front door. She’s waiting there with Zahra and the rest of Salvatore’s men, who aren’t even trying to hide that they’re on bodyguard duty.

“And glowing,” Zahra adds.

Salvatore squeezes my hand and kisses my temple.

“How cute,” Zoe says, snatching me out of Salvatore’s hold. Zahra grabs the hand he reluctantly releases, and we start walking down the street with Lorenzo leading the way. His head is swiveling left and right, his hand never far from the gun holster I can just about see through his suit jacket now that I know what I’m looking for. He’s been hovering close since we got back from the villa as well.

I wonder what will happen to him and Federico when we leave, but my cousins don’t give me time to ponder that.

“So, Giulio says you and Sal are going back to the States,” Zahra says.

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