Page 54 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“He was in the den when I spoke to him this morning,” I blurt before Moira can speak.

Caleb’s eyes flicker back and forth between us, and now I’m certain that there’s something going on that I don’t know about. “I’ll go and find him.” He’s gone before I can ask him what’s going on.

I don’t think it’s a conscious reaction, but Caleb has this knack of making me feel like an outsider, when his words tell me that he wants me to slot into his life. And this is one of those moments. Sure, no one knows him as well as his mom does, but if he wants to convince the rest of the world that we’re married, shouldn’t he be including me in whatever is going on here?

Caleb returns to the kitchen a few minutes later. “He’s gone.”

16

CALEB

“What did you speak about?”

It sounds harsher than I intended but armed with the information Terry imparted at the meeting, I need to know exactly what’s going on. Victoria doesn’t know the mafia boss. She doesn’t associate with the kind of people I deal with every day. She has no idea what people like Don Dragonetti are capable of.

“Nothing really.” I can feel Victoria visibly shrinking away from me and immediately relent.

“Did he ask you about our marriage?” I tone it down. I don’t want her to clam up because she’s scared of me. Fuck knows, I can be an intimidating bastard when I need to be but now is not one of those moments.

“No.”

Something in her tone suggests otherwise, but I’m not going to be a brute about it. I don’t like how she’s staring at me like I’m an ogre. I liked it way better when she was telling me how much she freaking wanted me to fuck her last night.

“I-I asked him if he’d been shot before.” Her voice is timid, small, thanks to me, but I can’t help smiling. “And he said that he’d like me and Olivia to be friends someday.”

I hear my mom’s sharp intake of breath from the corner of my eye.

“I think you should stay here until the wedding reception.”

My cock deflates at the thought of not sharing my bed with Victoria tonight, but a promise is a promise, and the don can’t be seen to take a bullet in his arm and take it lying down. He will retaliate. But the big question is how.

Victoria slides from her stool and faces me squarely. She might be a good nine inches shorter than me in her stocking feet, but I can feel the slow-burning rage building up inside her. I guess it’s how she’s dealt with her scumbag brother all these years.

“No. I’m coming with you, or I’m going home.”

Game on. “You know I can’t let you go home. I promised to?—”

“Protect me?” She arches an eyebrow. “I get it. But protect me from what exactly?DonDragonetti?” She emphasizes the word ‘Don’ like she only just understood the implications of the title.

“He’s a dangerous man, Victoria. I can’t protect you, if I don’t know where you are.”

“So, take me with you then. Isn’t that what husbands do?”

“Victoria, Caleb is only thinking of what’s best for you and Abigail,” Mom interjects. “You know that Terry and I would love to have you stay here.”

“It’s very kind of you, Moira, but I can’t impose on your hospitality. This is between me and Caleb.” Victoria keeps her eyes on me when she speaks.

“It’s okay, Mom.”

I glance at her and give her the nod that I have the situation under control even though I’ve never felt less in control in my life. Since Victoria walked into my life, I’ve felt as if I’m wading through quicksand that keeps shifting out from under my feet. The parameters keep altering. In any other circumstances, I’d deal with Olivia and form an alliance elsewhere, but her and Abigail’s presence in my life complicates matters.

I will not see them get caught up in this to save my own reputation. Because that’s what this boils down to. An alliance with the Dragonetti family will give me the security to step down at some point in the future and raise a family, peacefully, and without the constant threat of danger or destruction.

“You said you didn’t want to be trapped inside my apartment,” I reason. “I’m offering you an alternative where I know that you will be safe.”

“I’m not scared of Don Dragonetti.” She opens her mouth to say more, and closes it again, the words left unspoken.

“Well, maybe you should be.”

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