Page 48 of Prideful Union
“Like what?”
“Like calling my wife’s mother a slut.”
Alessandro huffs. “If the shoe fits. The rumors are true. You told us yourself. Giulia Moretti fucked Franco Moretti, a man she was not married to. Her husband’s brother, in fact. How does that not make her a slut?”
I’ve been struggling with the fact that Giulia lied to me about who Lucia’s father is, but hearing Alessandro badmouth her feels … wrong. I’m not even sure why.
“You will not speak about my wife’s mother like that,” I calmly tell him, though I keep an edge in my voice I know he can sense.
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
I stare Alessandro down hard. “It upsets my wife. Your wife upset my wife. You have the audacity to tell me to keep my wife in line when your wife goes running around rampant. She started that argument between her and Lucia. Get her to stop speaking to my wife like that, or there will be consequences.”
Alessandro gulps. “Consequences?”
“You don’t need to know what those are if you don’t fall in line, Alessandro. But trust me in that you won’t have a job with me when you’re done. You might not even have your life once you’re done. I don’t take kindly to people telling me what to do or anyone who tries to ruin my reputation.”
“Your wife is the one ruining you,” he says.
I raise an eyebrow. “Are you really trying to argue with me about this? I’m your boss. You will get in line. And you will getyour wife in line. No more badmouthing Lucia or Giulia Moretti or me. What’s done is done. I may not like being deceived, but Lucia and I are married, and nothing is changing that. I told you all the truth because I didn’t want you hearing it from someone else, but that doesn’t change the fact I don’t want you repeating what I’ve said. You will keep your mouth shut. And so will Alexandria. So will all your wives.” I make a point of looking at them all. “Or there will be problems. Understood?”
The other three men nod, but Alessandro remains still, glaring at me.
“Do we have a problem, Alessandro?”
After a moment, he shakes his head. “No. I’ll stay quiet and so will Alexandria.”
“Good. Now, unless there’s anything else?”
They all say no.
Once they’re out of my house, I feel a slight weight off my shoulders. I also feel strangely protective of Lucia.
Seeing her freak out yesterday scared me a little. She just looked so unhinged. She looked … scared herself.
It made me realize how much her mom’s lie has hurt her. I’m not the only one who was duped. Lucia was lied to her entire life, thinking one man was her father when it was actually someone else.
For the first time since we’ve been married, I feel … empathy for her.
She’s struggling, even more than I am.
I find her in the living room, staring at the wall, not doing anything else.
“Lucia?”
She jerks and looks over at me. “Did you need something?”
For some reason, I want to ask her how she’s feeling. I know I’ve been hard on her when it comes to something that isn’t her fault. I feel guilty, I guess; though I don’t like admitting it.
Guilt isn’t a feeling I’m used to.
“How are you?” I ask. “Since yesterday …”
“Since you fucked me on the floor like I was nothing?”
I flinch. “You wanted it as much as I did.”
She sighs, her shoulders deflating. “I know. I did. But Santino, are we ever going to reach a good place in our marriage? Is that even possible for us? We scream at each other, and we have sex. We argue, and we have sex. It just doesn’t seem like a healthy relationship.”
