Page 31 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“We haven’t discussed details.” I swallow a mouthful of hot chocolate, disappointed that it’s already starting to cool. Sienna is thinking about practical living arrangements and all I can think about is sleeping in Caleb’s bed.

Sienna inhales deeply. “Sorry, I know I sound cynical, but I don’t want you to get hurt, Vic.”

“I won’t get hurt.” I’m just happy that my best friend hasn’t warned me I’m making the biggest mistake of my life. Yet.

“What’s the timescale for this fake marriage?” Sienna sits back in her seat.

“I don’t know.”

“What happens after? You just pack your bags and move out while he signs the goodbye check?”

I shrug. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

“Okay.” Sienna finally tastes her drink and spreads her hands wide. “What happens if you catch feelings for him?” Before I can protest, she adds, “Hear me out, Vic. Remember Danny?”

My face grows hot, and I keep my eyes on Abigail who is dunking marshmallows in her drink with a long-handled spoon. “How could I forget?”

“That was one night—one slightly inebriated lust-filled night, I grant you—but look how obsessed you were with finding him after.”

“This is different.”

“Is it?” Sienna reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t find him attractive.”

“I…” I swallow hard. “He is attractive.”

That’s the biggest understatement of the year. Caleb Murray is fucking hot. Potentially as hot as Danny, or at least the images in my head of Danny eating me up against the wall of his apartment then fucking me in his bed.

“Auntie Vicky kissed Caleb.” Abigail chooses this moment to let it slip that she saw what happened in his office.

Sienna blinks ferociously and tilts her head to one side, waiting for me to elaborate.

“It isn’t what you think,” I blurt out. “We didn’t kiss.”

“I saw you.” Abigail slurps the last of her hot chocolate.

“You took Abigail with you?” Sienna whispers even though Abigail is sitting right next to her.

“You were busy, and Mason…” I shake my head. I don’t want to keep reminding Abigail that her dad has gone missing. “I thought Denise would watch her for half an hour, but she was at the Titan.”

“The Titan?” Sienna’s mouth quirks up at one corner.

“A hotel owned by the Murrays.” At her half-smile, I ask, “What? What did I say?”

“Nothing. I just don’t think you realize what you’re getting into, Vic. I’m worried that?—”

Before she can finish, my phone vibrates, and my heart skips erratically when Caleb’s name appears on my screen. Fingers trembling, I unlock my phone and read the message:

Where are you? I’ll send a car to collect you and Abigail. You’re moving into the Wraith.

“What is it?” Sienna asks, and I turn my phone around to face her. She reads the message, her eyebrows practically disappearing. She has something to say, and I don’t think I’m going to like it. “What if you don’t want to move into the Wraith?”

“We need to make it look real.” I peer down at my hot chocolate, the melted cream creating an oily patch on the surface. “It’s only temporary.”

Sienna nods slowly. “Why does he want you to bring Abigail?”

“She has nowhere else to go while Mason is…” Doing whatever Mason does when he’s on a downward spiral. I don’t know whybut I don’t want to tell Sienna about Abigail hacking into Caleb’s tablet either.

“Vic,” Sienna says softly, “just be careful. I mean, what do you know about the psycho ex? What if she decides to cause trouble for you both? It’s not fair oto Abigail to drag her into this too.”

---