Page 66 of Married into the Mob
“Oh my gods. You didn’t tell me it had a terrace!”
This was too much. The three-bed, two-bath apartment was dripping in luxury. But she deserved to stay somewhere nice. Aunt Louisa had worked hard all her life, tended to Uncle after his accident, and brought me up, giving me advantages she’s never had.
“This is a dream come true. I can’t believe it.” She twirled around, arms outstretched, and took me onto the terrace. “Buthave they said when I have to leave? I can't enjoy it too much if it’s going to be whisked away tomorrow.”
I assured her this place was hers as long as she needed it.
“I don’t like being beholden to these people,” she whispered. Though my bodyguards were positioned at either end of the terrace, they probably heard her.
“They’re not all bad. Life isn’t black and white. There are so many shades of gray.” I was trying to convince myself of that.
We had two, no, three issues to discuss. Me and Hunter, me not living here, and Uncle. I juggled them in my head and started with the easiest.
“About Uncle.”
“No, I can’t talk about him,” she responded in a monotone “He’s dead to me and to you. What he did was unforgivable.”
His deception was still so raw, and I didn’t know where to start unraveling it. “But I have such fond memories of Uncle when I was growing up. Taking me to school, buying me ice cream, and helping me with homework.”
She put her arm around me. “One bad act cancels out all his good deeds. You wouldn’t say a murderer needed a break because they used to coach Little League.”
If she only knew what I’d done in the past few days, she’d be so disappointed. How could I judge Uncle when I’d done something equally as bad? Not that I knew where our “crimes” lay on the scale of bad, very bad, and so bad you were locked in a cell for life.
“Let me show you to your room.” I trailed along behind her. “You have your own bathroom, and look at this view.”
I stared out the window in the direction of Hunter’s place, that might be mine too. I was a terrible person having to tell her I wasn’t coming home. Well, I might spend nights here, not that Hunter and I knew how our life would look. But we were mates and married, and life partners usually lived together.Not because society demanded it but because they loved one another.
“Aunt Louisa.” I’d never called her Auntie for some reason. It didn’t suit her. She was Aunt Louisa, my guardian angel. I sat her on the bed and took both hands. “A lot has changed since the morning Draven dragged me into the elevator.”
“I hope he’s in jail for trying to force you to marry him.”
“Hunter’s brothers are looking for him.”
Her mouth gaped, then widened, and she put a hand over her lips, but she couldn’t hide the fear that registered in her eyes.
“You were with him. Hunter.”
She knew that, on the day of the marriage. I could only imagine how confused she was about what I’d been doing. Damn, I studied my chipped nails as a flush swept over my cheeks, brow, and chest.”
“Oh, no. No, Dellie. No.” She lifted my chin so I was looking at her. “He will never love you. It was a conquest. He and Draven were having a pissing contest.”
“Aunt Louisa!” She’s never used the P word previously.
“Forget him.” She cleared her throat which reminded me I’d promised to take her to the doctor. But she said she was fine, it had been a cold, and it was improving. “Getting out of our old apartment made me feel young again.”
I wasn’t convinced, but if she didn’t want to go, I couldn’t make her. Once my aunt made a decision, she stuck to it.
“We’ll get your marriage annulled.” Holding up her phone, she said she’d been trying to call Stefan, but he was on leave. “We can go down to City Hall tomorrow and start the process.”
I studied my paper clip ring and flipped over my hand, revealing my mating mark.
“You won’t understand any of this, but Hunter isn’t a bad guy.”
“He’s mafia, and just because he got you away from Draven doesn’t mean he’s any different. I didn’t bring you up to fall for a guy who lies, cheats, steals, and murders for a living.”
I gulped and stared at my ring again.
“You cannot go back there. I won’t allow it.”
