Page 42 of Married to the Mafia

She nods. “I went to open the box and there was nothing in it but the chip. I asked my father about it but he said it was nothing to do with him.”

“So what did you do with the chip?”

“I tried to cash it in at the casino, but they told me I had to be twenty-one to go in. Dad wouldn’t go for me, so I just held onto it.”

“And you’ve no idea where it came from, right?”

“Right.”

I sit back in my chair, and suddenly it makes sense. Her father put it in the box. He’s a son of a bitch to keep her in the dark about what it means, though. “Where is your father now?”

“No idea. He left me a note to say he’s away for a couple of days.”

“And you’re not worried?”

She grabs more bacon before answering. “He does it a lot. He’ll be back soon and then he’ll call the police when he sees I’m missing.”

“You’re not missing. You’re here.”

“Kidnapped by you.”

“For your own safety,” I say, pointing at her. “When Iremoved you from Ricardo’s possession, you know what would have happened if I’d let you go home?”

“Let me guess. He’d have killed me.”

“I had no choice. It was my protection or death and I will not let you die.”

She wrinkles her nose as she looks at me. “You care about me?”

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t.”

“Bullshit. You married me so you could become Capo dei Capi. You already told me that.”

I get some food for myself. What can I say to her? She’s right. I only married her because she was means to an ends. Now the deed is done, I know there’s more to it than that. I want to keep her even after I’ve achieved my goal. I have no intention of giving her up anymore.

Corrado disagrees with my choice. Last night before I went to bed, I sat in the smoking room with him. We had cigars on the go in front of the fireplace, both of us lost in thought for a while. He turned to me and told me I was in danger if I kept her. It was as if he’d read my mind. “I was just thinking that,” I told him.

“She’s a target for the rival families,” he continued.

“Not if I’m Capo dei Capi. She’ll be untouchable.”

“If you get the post.”

“I have the chip. I married her. What else do I need to do?”

We lapsed back into silence. “I’ve no choice,” I told him when I was done with my cigar. “Let her go now and she’ll be a target because of her father. The Beluccis will try to bring him out of hiding by torturing her. I have to keep her. It’s the only way she’ll be safe, under my protection.”

“Hope you know what you’re taking on,” he said as I left the smoking room.

I look at her as she eats and wonder exactly what I’m taking on. “Tell me about yourself,” I say, sitting back in my chair.

17

Rose

Rose

The entire time I’m talking, I’m thinking. I don’t know how far it is to the kitchen, but it can’t be far. The food was hot when I got to the table. Can I get to the kitchen and get a knife? Stab him and get out of here?

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