Page 5 of Innocent Union
Cecilia knows how to take a hint. “Ok. I just wanted to know how things with your suitors are going.”
“Oh, you mean the suitor who was a pedophile or the one who was just a douchebag? Take your pick.”
Her mouth drops open. “Uh …”
“Mia,” Theo says in his deep voice. “Cecilia was just asking you a question.”
“I know. But I don’t really appreciate you telling me how to feel, Theo. Not when you and Cecilia have hurt my chances at finding a husband.”
“I was worried about that,” Antonio says, joining the conversation.
“But we worked through it,” Cecilia says. “I thought everything was ok.”
“Well, it’s not,” I snap at her. “Thanks to you.”
Cecilia’s eyes narrow. “I chose to live my own life, Mia. You don’t get to blame me for that.”
“I do, actually. It’s because of you running off with Theo that no man wants me now. Not even the one who was a freaking pedophile.”
Mom sighs deeply. “We’re all hurt by this. But it will be ok.”
“Theo and I found love,” Cecilia says.
“Great. But the fact is, I don’t have a hot bodyguard to run off with. James is about fifty, so he’s out of the question.” James is our new bodyguard now that Theo works for Antonio instead of my mom.
Cecilia shakes her head. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Mia.”
“You did.”
“That’s enough,” Theo says directly to me.
Antonio and Nina look at me with pity, while Gemma and Viktor watch the drama unfold like they could use a bag of popcorn.
Before I can make a snide reply, the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it,” Antonio says.
The room is silent until Antonio comes back with another man in tow. Killian Brennan. Antonio’s second-in-command. With black hair, a scruffy beard, and tattoos all along his arms, Killian is honestly one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen.
My mom also hates him.
She stands up the moment she sees Killian. “Shoo. Get out of my house.”
“Ma,” Antonio says. “Show Killian some respect. He’s joining us for dinner.”
“He’s Irish,” she replies.
Killian winces. “I never knew anyone could make the word ‘Irish’ sound like such an insult as when your mom does it.” He has an American accent, but he’s Irish in all the ways that count to an Italian American Mafia woman such as my mom.
“Take a seat, Killian,” Antonio says, ignoring Mom’s glare.
Killian saunters around the table until he takes a seat across from me. “Hey, Mia.” He gives me a charming smile, and it makes me insides feel like mush in the best way possible.
I go tongue-tied and duck my head. No more fighting with Cecilia tonight. Whenever we have a guest, family drama is pushed to the side.
Mom sits down with a huff. “Fine. Dig in everyone.”
I try to eat, but the wad at the back of my throat prevents me from doing that. I refuse to cry at dinner, especially with Cecilia next to me. And with Killian across from me. That would just be humiliating.
