Page 95 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“It’s the first thing I’m going to do when we get back from Europe.”

Caleb smiles. “I’m excited for you too.”

Kyle joins us then, and as always, I study their body language, hoping to see a glimmer of something more. Something romantic. That hope fades when Sienna reflexively edges away from him. She barely makes eye contact before grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing server, and muttering, “Oh, well, time to mingle.”

Before the accident, Sienna was always the first person to get up and dance at a party, and the last one standing, and it breaks my heart to see her avoiding the dance floor like it’s something toxic. Almost as much as it breaks my heart when I see the defeated expression on Kyle’s face.

Caleb places a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder, but Kyle shrugs it off and heads outside, his eyes lingering on Sienna’s back as he passes by.

“She’ll come around in her own time,” Caleb says, pulling me against his chest and kissing the top of my head.

I wish I could be so certain. But I want Sienna to be happy, and if that means keeping her distance from the Murrays, then I’ll respect her wishes all the way.

I peer around the room at the smiling faces of the guests. I spot Denise with a small group of people, and wave at her from across the room. She waves back and winks at me. She’s still reeling from the knowledge that when she offered me a temporary job, she was introducing me to my future husband. She never saw herself as a matchmaker before.

A familiar figure appears in the doorway, young, tall and slender, with raven-black hair.

“Ivan,” I say at the same time as Caleb mutters, “Brailand.”

We face each other. “Brailand?” I arch an eyebrow when Caleb asks, “Ivan?”

Turning back to the two men who are now accepting a glass of champagne from one of the servers, I realize that this must be the secret boyfriend Olivia mentioned in the warehouse. Caleb had been worried that Brailand Voth had been abducted too, but it turned out that he’d resigned from his job and taken a step back from his regular life to protect the man he loves. Ivan Petrov.

“They make a lovely couple,” I whisper to Caleb. “I hope everyone can see that.”

“Well, if they can’t, it’s their loss.” He kisses me on the lips. “I’ll go and speak to them. Will you be okay?”

“Go. I’ll be fine.” I watch him walk away. His broad shoulders, slim hips, wavy hair… How did I get so lucky?

“You look radiant, Victoria.” The voice catches me unawares, and I turn around to find Don Dragonetti standing beside me holding two glasses of champagne. He offers one to me, and when I take it, he clinks his glass against mine. “To your future.”

I smile, sip my champagne, the bubbles fizzing on my tongue. “How are you feeling?”

No one had heard from the don since the incident in the Lake Placid warehouse. We didn’t even know if he would come to the wedding reception, so I’m surprised to find him looking ruggedly handsome in a smart black suit and crisp white shirt.

“Weary.” He sips his drink. “But don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“I won’t.”

“I hear you’ll be leaving for your honeymoon tomorrow. I won’t spoil your evening with talk of business, but please tell your husband that I will speak to him on his return.”

“Is it serious?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. Me and my big mouth.

“My dear,” Don Dragonetti smiles, “in this city, everything is serious.”

I want to ask about Olivia. I don’t know how badly she was hurt, but no one has seen or heard of her since that day, and I’m scared that I’ll ask the wrong question, and he’ll tell me that the gunshot was fatal. It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even see who fired the first shot. Then another went off, and when I peered out from beneath my arms, Ivan and Olivia were bleeding on the floor.

“Please don’t look so concerned, Victoria. I think your husband will appreciate what I have to say.”

Is he going to offer Caleb another chance to form an alliance? With Olivia out of the picture, it would benefit both families and should be a smooth transition on both sides.

“Is Olivia…” It will eat away at me if I don’t ask. “I mean, does she know what you want to speak to Caleb about?”

Don Dragonetti downs half his glass of champagne in one mouthful. “You didn’t see what happened, did you?”

“No. I was there when she threatened Ivan before you arrived. He wanted to leave. He didn’t like what was going on.”

The don’s eyes seek out Ivan who is deep in conversation with Brailand and Caleb, a wide smile on each of their faces. “He was worried about the fallout with the Murrays. My daughter unfortunately had no such qualms.”

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