Page 83 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“Unlikely,” Terry says. “Ivan was sent away for dishing out justice for his girlfriend. Okay, so perhaps his methods could’ve been a little less violent, but he did it for all the right reasons. He doesn’t kill for pleasure.”

“A nutjob with a heart,” I say.

“Unlike his current partner in crime.” Terry stands, bringing the meeting to a natural conclusion. “Ivan might want Olivia on hisside, for now, but I don’t believe that he sees it as long-term, and he will draw the line at senseless violence to satisfy Olivia Dragonetti’s itch.”

“He hasn’t ruled out an alliance with the Murrays,” I add. “Killing Sienna will send that up in flames before it has even left the ground.”

“I hope you’re right.” Kyle stands, pocketing the inhaler.

The urge to see Victoria and hold her in my arms, to finish what I started the evening before, is too great to ignore. “Is Victoria still at your house, Mom?”

“No. After I convinced her that going ahead with the party was the right thing to do, she went back to the Wraith.” She stands up and entwines her fingers with Terry’s.

She looks older. Still immaculately groomed, but it’s almost as if her body is finally telling her that it’s time to let go of all this, to find some peace, allow the next generation to take over. Has she been waiting for her sons to fall in love and find their own family unit before she and Terry hand over the business? She’ll have a long wait for the twins to settle down, but perhaps she sensed all along that Victoria and I were more than just a mutual agreement.

I smile at them both. Couple goals right there. “I’m heading home to catch up on some sleep.”

“Yeah, right.” Cash’s eyebrows dance independently. “Someone should warn Victoria to get out the baby oil.”

23

VICTORIA

I forcemyself to remain calm when I leave Moira’s home. I smile. Tell her that I’m heading back to the Wraith to get a massage and speak to a stylist in the salon. She kisses my cheek, tells me to make the most of Caleb’s absence and pamper myself to my heart’s content. Abigail is playing video games with Emily in the den, and I don’t disturb her. If anyone would be able to see through the smiley façade, it’s Abigail.

I’m trembling when I climb into the back seat of Caleb’s car.

“Where to?” Martin asks.

Since my little adventure with Abigail after we lost him in Macy’s, I feel his eyes on me wherever I go. Even if he isn’t with me, it still feels as if his eyes are everywhere; it wouldn’t surprise me if he keeps a spreadsheet of my movements and emails a copy to Caleb every hour.

“The Dragon’s Den.”

I could lie. I could ask him to take me back to the Wraith and try losing him inside, but it’s too close to Caleb, who will be following my movements around the building too. Olivia won’tlike it, but at least this way I’ll have back-up, and Caleb will know who’s responsible if anything happens to me.

Martin’s cell is already out of his pocket.

I lean forward and rest my arms on the partition separating me from Martin and the driver, Kev. “Please don’t tell Caleb.”

They’re both silent, but Martin is prepared to hear me out.

“Olivia Dragonetti has asked me to meet her.” True so far. “I think … with her father in the hospital, she wants to apologize.”

“You know I’ll have to tell Mr. Murray about this.”

I know. I’m just frantically trying to find a way around it that doesn’t involve me running around the city like an escaped fugitive.

“I think she would rather speak to me alone first. Woman to woman. With the history between her and Caleb, it would just make things awkward.”

Martin’s left eye twitches. “I’ll let him know that’s where we’re going. He’ll have my head on a platter if I don’t keep him informed.”

Shit.“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll tell him that this was all my idea, and I bullied you into taking me.” Nothing. “Things are so precarious with Olivia I don’t want to rock the boat. We might not get another opportunity to put things right between the families.”

“Look…” Martin rubs his jaw with his free hand. “I hear you, but it’s more than my job’s worth.” He doesn’t add after he lost me inside Macy’s; we both know that’s what he meant. “I’ll squareit with Mr. Murray, and then I’ll accompany you to the Dragon’s Den.”

My heart is thumping. We’re still in Staten Island, and the car might not be speeding, but I’m not brave enough to try jumping out of a moving car, dodging the traffic,and Martin, and make my way back to Manhattan without incurring the wrath of my husband.

Martin faces the passenger window, phone pressed to his ear.

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