Page 77 of Black Widow's Kiss

“Thank you,” I told him letting him go.

When Kuroi entered behind me holding the box, Lorenzo greeted him with a nod. Kuroi coolly nodded back. I followed Kuroi’s shifted gaze and found Matteo staring him down.

There was still tension between the two and I had to take my husband’s side on whatever was going on. But Matteo had made his loyalty clear by not showing up to give Uncle Vinny the gun.

“Matteo,” I said grabbing him by the neck pulling him to me. “I want you to crush what beef you have with Kuroi. Do you hear me? He’s my husband. You’re my brother. Don’t make me have to choose. Because he’s family too.”

“I hear you,” Matteo said before I kissed him and let him go.

Watching him as he approached Kuroi, I stood ready to react.

“Kuroi,” Matteo said approaching him.

“Matteo,” Kuroi said staring at him as if my brother was a snake about to attack.

“Do you want me to take that?” Matteo offered referring to Kuroi’s box.

“He has it,” I interjected wanting to present it personally.

After Matteo, I introduced Kuroi to Giovanni and Marco and then stepped into the kitchen to find Ma. Wearing her white and blue apron with the bird print on it, I watched her as she dished up the serving plates. Without turning around she said,

“I hear you’re responsible for Lorenzo joining us today?”

“I asked him to be here. Ma, can I introduce you to someone?”

She turned around spotting Kuroi in the doorway behind me. She stared at him.

“I want you to meet my husband, Kuroi.”

Her eyes bounced to me. She didn’t know what to say. I had to add some context.

“It was an arranged marriage to link our two families after what Matteo did…” I caught myself. Ma was in dark about what we got up to in the family business. So she definitely didn’t need to hear about what Matteo had done. “But it doesn’t matter. Kuroi’s my husband now,” I said pulling him to me and putting my arm around him. “And I’m happy.”

That was when Ma smiled and approached him. Throwing her arms in the air in celebration, she tried to hug Kuroi and was prevented by the box.

“What’s this,” Ma said asking about the box.

“It’s a surprise, Ma.”

“Well, do you want to help him with that?” Ma said trying to free Kuroi from the box.

“I got it,” I said taking it from him. When I did, Ma hugged him.

“It’s always a blessing to have another son.”

She turned to me. “Don’t think this relieves you of your duty to give me a grandchild.”

Kuroi’s eyes darted to me.

“One step at a time, Ma.”

“Yes, one step,” she agreed. “Sit, sit. Your father will be down soon. I’ll set another plate.”

With everyone gathering in the dining room, I took my seat at the opposite end of the table and placed the box on the side table behind me. When we were all settled, Pa descended the stairs like an emperor. I couldn’t tell whether he wassurprised or disappointed to see me. Either way, I stared at him coldly.

His eyes momentarily turned to Kuroi before looking away. Pa didn’t like Kuroi. Considering who his father was, I didn’t know if Pa ever would.

That was okay. He didn’t have to like Kuroi. But he sure as hell was going to respect him as the man married to the head of the family.

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