Page 81 of Married with Mayhem

“That was damn good pizza,” Luca says and drops into a wooden rocking chair.

I twist the beer cap off and take the other chair. “I learned from the best. My dad had me shaping dough before I could write my name.”

Sabrina’s mother was very skeptical when I offered to cook dinner. I guess I don’t look like a good cook, plus she thinks of all kitchens as her personal domain. What sold her on the idea was when I pointed out that she’d be free to spend time with Anni and the baby while I toiled away in the kitchen.

Now and then Sabrina would walk in to check on my progress. I might have been trying to impress her with my abilityto shred mozzarella and throw a spinning pie in the air. I think I succeeded.

When I peeled off a slice of mozzarella and gave it to her to snack on, she smiled and my insides turned to mush. She leaned against the wall and nibbled on the cheese while appreciatively watching my forearm muscles pop as I used the rolling pin to flatten out the dough.

Yeah, I was showing off but so what? I don’t want her to think the only thing I’m good at is strangling mobsters.

There are plenty of other skills I’m just dying to demonstrate for her when the time comes.

After all, we’re sharing a room. We’re sharing a BED.

And one way or another, I’m going to erase that fucking prick who got his kicks by crushing her and screwing with her head. I’ll be as patient with her as I need to be but that girl is going to be mine. It’s inevitable.

Luca sips his beer and eyes me from his chair. “How’s your stay so far? I hope the guest room is comfortable.”

“No complaints. Slept like a baby last night.”

“That sucks. The baby wakes up every two hours.”

“So does your mother-in-law. How many times did she go wandering the halls in the middle of the night?”

“Wait, isn’t she your mother-in-law too?” Luca asks and busts up laughing at his own wit. “But yeah, every time I managed to close my eyes on the couch, she’d walk into the living room and give me a jump scare.”

“Sounds like you had a rougher night than I did.”

He shrugs. “I’m used to sleepless nights. Anyway, far be it from me to come between two devoted sisters who have been apart for too long.”

Sabrina spent most of the night in Anni’s room. I stayed in the background to give her privacy with her sister but every time I walked by they were sprawled on the bed, giggling together orfawning over the baby. Once they were sharing a giant tub of chocolate ice cream and laughing at the television. The last time I checked in was after midnight and they’d fallen asleep, curled up together like kittens with Sabrina’s head on Anni’s shoulder.

I went to bed alone but when I woke up, Sabrina was sleeping beside me. I was careful not to disturb her when I climbed out and took my time showering in the adjoining bathroom. She was still sound asleep when I left the room.

There’s no hint what tonight’s sleeping arrangements might bring. I’m not going to interfere with Sabrina’s time with her sister so I’m fine with waiting. She’ll come to me when she’s ready.

Luca is quieter than usual as we watch a drowsy summer twilight descend on the grassy front yard. True, the guy got shitty sleep last night but that wouldn’t usually stop him from cracking jokes and shooting his mouth off.

“If you’ve got questions, ask them,” I say.

He frowns down at his beer bottle. “What did Vittorio threaten you with?”

“Imagine the worst.”

“That if you don’t restore the family honor by marrying his niece he’ll drop you from a helicopter over shark-infested waters?”

“That’s not the worst.”

Now he studies me with more curiosity. “What was it then?”

I turn my head to make sure the front door is closed before answering. “Did you know that Vittorio was fielding marriage suitors for Sabrina?”

“She mentioned it to Anni but she laughed it off and said she had no interest.”

“Well, Vittorio’s got other ideas. He sees Sabrina as a problem to solve. He dislikes unsolved problems. If I didn’tmarry her then he planned to choose a husband for her, whether she agreed or not.”

“Fuck,” Luca says and deflates. “I never trusted Vittorio but that’s a new low.”

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