Page 27 of Married With Malice

The day is coming when the same will be required of me. I’ll do what I need to do and then I’ll wash the blood off like it was never there.

Not for the first time, I wonder if I should just level with Annalisa about the reason why I took Cale’s old job and pledged allegiance to the mafia.

That would be a decent option if only my neck were at risk. But Anni has made it clear I’m nowhere to be found on her list of favorite people. She’s unpredictable and I can’t take any chances when it comes to protecting Cale and his family.

Anni leans back as she studies me. Frown lines pleat her forehead. She’s puzzled, expecting a quick comeback because that’s what I usually deliver. If there was ever an opportunity for us to be honest with each other, this is it.

But I choose my words with care.

“It’s true that I have reasons for taking an alternative career path,” I say. “What about you, Anni? You were always so spirited and independent. Yet with this marriage you’ve reduced yourself to nothing but a pawn in your father’s blood dynasty. Care to explain why?”

A spark of anger lights up her eyes. She controls it quickly and the fire fades. “There’s nothing more important than family honor. And my father knows what’s best for all of us.”

Bullshit. She doesn’t believe a word she just said.

Yet how can I blame her for not trusting me? I don’t trust her either.

While this conversation is at least bordering on civil, it’s also not useful. There’s zero friendliness between us and for the moment we’re at a stalemate. I may as well return to my laptop and read more real estate contracts.

Annalisa watches me as I stand up and stretch. Again, her eyes betray her by sweeping down with obvious interest.

I know little about her recent dating life but I’m guessing it’s been a while since she got any dick. I’ve gone through a serious drought myself. For over a year, all my time and energy has been sucked up by my new chores as Richie’s apprentice while ensuring that he never has any cause to turn his ire to Cale. It’s been impossible to let my guard down.

I’ll bet the need for release is one thing Annalisa and I have in common. When she’s ready to listen, I plan to make it very clear that I’m at her disposal.

Finishing my prolonged stretch, I reach down and brush a piece of imaginary lint from her shoulder. “I’ll let you get back toTitanic. Spoiler alert. The ship sinks.”

She mutters something as I walk away. It’s either ‘Dickhead’ or ‘Shithead’. Doesn’t matter. We don’t speak for the rest of the flight.

On the ground in Key West, Anni wrestles with twin barrel-sized suitcases and snarls when I try to help her. While it’s entertaining to watch her failing to control her own luggage, if I don’t step in then we’ll end up sleeping at the airport. She’s pissed when I grab the handles of both suitcases but I start wheeling them away at a rapid pace anyway. She needs to jog to keep up.

By the time we get to the resort, it’s been dark for hours. The oceanfront setting is peaceful and picturesque and exactly where you’d want to spend uninterrupted time with the love of your life.

Our situation has nothing to do with love but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the setting. I’ve never been in love at all, although I’ve left plenty of girlfriends in my wake. Some of them I felt more strongly about than others but love was never a factor. When a relationship runs its course, as it always does, I don’t miss the other half. I’m always ready to move on.

The bow-tied, overeager concierge arranges to have our bags sent to our suite and invites us to dine in one of the four restaurants on the property.

The casual grill close to the lobby seems like the best place to grab a quick bite. Anni is still in a sour mood so I’m unsurprised when she makes a point of sitting at a separate table. She stares at her phone, occasionally tapping out a text with furious fingers while doing her best to pretend I’m not sitting ten feet away.

Every few minutes her eyelashes flutter and she takes a furtive peek at my table. Each time she’s startled to find me watching. Sometimes I wave. Once I blow her a kiss. We both order hamburgers and I’m impressed to see how quickly she devours hers.

The second she pops the last bite in her mouth she’s ready to flee. I chew on the last of my fries and watch her go before signaling to the waiter that I’m ready for a dessert menu.

Anni can have a head start on getting settled into our room if that’s what she needs. Of course, it’s possible she’s on her way back to the airport to escape but I don’t think so. She’s already had her chances and didn’t take them.

A bowl of gelato arrives and I only eat a couple of mouthfuls before deciding I’d rather take a walk outside. There’s a boardwalk stretching the length of the resort and the faint rhythm of reggae music pipes from somewhere unseen. The sky is clear and the water is calm. There’s no smoky bite of autumn in the air the way there is in New York this time of year.

Half an hour ought to be enough time for Annalisa to get unpacked and maybe calm down a little. As a courtesy, I shoot her a text to let her know I’m on my way up to the room. There’s no answer. I wasn’t expecting one.

The cluster of larger luxury suites is located on the edge of the resort for maximum privacy. I’m really curious what I’ll find when I walk into the room.

She did mention she was tired. Maybe she went right to sleep.

Or maybe she’s waiting on the other side of the door armed with something deadlier than shoes to throw at my head. It’s a toss up.

Neither of these options are correct. All the lights throughout the suite are on and there’s water running in the main bathroom. One of Anni’s mammoth suitcases is open on the floor with folded clothes spilling out everywhere. It looks like she packed enough to move here permanently.

Meanwhile, my black travel bag and my lone suitcase have been parked beside the sofa in the next room. This appears to be a clear message that I’m expected to sleep out here.

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