Page 16 of Inescapable Ties
I gazed at him with such intensity that it seemed to pierce through his very being, leaving a lasting impression on his soul.
“Fine,” he said.
Emilio grabbed a fistful of hangers and walked out of the bedroom.
“Hey! You’re going to wrinkle them,” I said, chasing after him.
He smirked, clearly enjoying my irritation. Emilio sauntered into the master bedroom, a confident swagger in his step that made me want to roll my eyes. He hung my clothes in the spacious walk-in closet with unnecessary care, each hanger placed just so on the rod.
“You’re infuriating,” I sighed.
“You’re not wrong.”
“Why do I have to sleep in here, anyway?” I said, not bothering to hide my irritation.
“Because you’re my wife.” He patted me on the top of the head, much like you would a small child. “And I like the bed warm when I get home late.”
“Buy a heated blanket!”
Chapter nine
Emilio
Afterthinkingaboutit,I really hadn’t been being the best husband. Two days into our marriage and I had disappeared on Luciana, told her what to do, and been a complete asshole. I had also denied her Starbucks, which was grounds for a divorce, apparently.
We weren’t going on a honeymoon because I was too busy with work. I was pretty sure all girls wanted to have a lavish honeymoon, so I felt bad denying her of that.
I suggested we spend more time together and get to know each other better. The two of us would be together for the rest of our lives, after all.
Or until I died. Which was highly likely, given my job description.
“Are you ready to head out?” I asked her.
The two of us were going to The Underground Vault. It was one of the Mafia’s clubs that also functioned as a secret underground gambling ring. The things that people were betting on and items being wagered weren’t exactly legal in a normal casino.
“Yeah,” Luciana responded. “Does this dress look ok?”
It was more than ok. She looked stunning. Luciana’s voice cut through the silence that had settled between us, her eyes searching mine for any sign of approval. My heart fluttered as I took in her appearance, feeling a swell of pride mixed with a twinge of guilt for not appreciating her beauty sooner.
“It’s nice,” I said.
I expressed my thoughts in a watered-down manner compared to what I had actually been thinking. Many of them were inappropriate, to say the least.
“Ok,” she said. “Let’s head out.”
As I started the car and merged into traffic, the awkward silence hung heavy between us. The tension was palpable, and I could sense Luciana’s unease as she fidgeted with her seatbelt.
“So, er,” I began tentatively, clearing my throat. “Do you have any favorite hobbies?”
“I run a YouTube Channel,” she responded.
“Oh? What about? Wait no, let me guess.” I paused, taking one hand off the steering wheel and resting it against my chin. “You strike me as a lifestyle vlogger.”
“Pft. No.”
“Too bad. A Mafioso husband could have really added spice to the channel,” I said facetiously.
She snorted. “I’d probably lose viewers if I put you in the videos. It’d repulse them.”
