Page 82 of Christmas with the Mafia
On autopilot, I follow him, and as we hover near the brandy decanter, I reach for two glasses, and he whispers, “Desiree is being used by the Rossis. I have learned under the radar that the Rossis are planning a massacre, and it appears that your wedding is the time and the place. She is convinced that he loves her and will spare her life, but as we know it, she will be the firstone to go.”
“How do you know?”
“Contacts.”
“Do you trust them?”
“I trust my own ears.”
His smile is sinister. “Georgia Rossi was an easy target. One night in my bed gave us the opportunity to bug the Rossi stronghold.”
“How?”
I’m amazed at the way my brother extracts his information, and he grins. “If you considered Desiree was a loose cannon, you haven’t met Georgia. She thrives on adrenaline, and fucking me in her brother’s bed when he was out of town turned her on to the point of madness. While I had that pleasure, my men were installing the software, and all of our information has come from her shocking disregard for her family’s safety.”
“I’m impressed.”
I’m not lying; I am because Simeon never fails to deliver the goods, and his methods are admirable.
As the brandy splashes into the glasses, he whispers, “Regina will be fine. She’ll consider it a lucky escape when the don has a word, and for three days’ work, she’ll earn more than she would in her lifetime.”
Rage is boiling inside me to the point of eruption, and I hiss, “Regina will be my wife, and that will not change.”
“But–” He appears confused and I say through gritted teeth, “You think I’m using her to play the don for a fool?”
“Yes.”
He shrugs, and I resist hurling my fist into his smug mouth as I growl, “I amnotusing her. I am not messing around, and her well-being is the most important thing to me right now, so whatever happens in the near future isunfortunate but will not destroy my plans concerning her.”
“I’m sorry, Nico.” He has the grace to apologize. “I never thought you would actually catch feelings for any woman.”
“Feelings?” I raise my eyes. “I never said I had feelings for her, Simeon. Regina is mine, and that is all the feelings that count.”
“I understand.”
An amused smile lights his lips, and he grins. “Keep on telling yourself that, Nico. Sure, she’s your possession to pick apart to the bone until there’s nothing left. I get that. It would be an amusing pastime for any of us, and now I know your intentions, I’ll make sure she is delivered back to you in one piece.”
Words are unnecessary now, and I couldn’t give a shit what he thinks this is. I want Regina for every part of her, and if I have to marry, there is nobody else qualified for the job.
The shot of brandy burns on its way down, and I slam the glass on the bar and say roughly, “Excuse me.”
However, before I leave the room, my heart drops when my father’s chair is empty and every pair of eyes is trained on me, telling me that I’m too late. I fell into the trap, and Simeon’s distraction tactic is the oldest trick in the book.
Forty-Two
REGINA
I love Sophia.She is a kind and considerate hostess and reminds me a little of Nico. He must get his warmth from her personality, and he must have taken it all because the rest of the family are seriously emotionally retarded.
Katrina is bored and keeps on scanning her phone, and Desiree spends most of the time scanning my face as she sharpens her monstrous talons on her words.
“Tell me what you do for a living, Regina?” She says loudly as we sit in the music room while Sophia plays the piano. It’s unbelievably rude, and I smile, nodding toward Sophia and mouthing, “I’ll tell you when she has finished playing.”
Desiree sneers as Katrina yawns loudly, crossing and uncrossing her legs and huffing, “I may head back to the others. Vito likes me to be with him.”
Sophia stops playing and says firmly, “The men are talking, Katrina. They will not appreciate the interruption.”
“Boo hoo.” Katrina rolls her eyes. “As if that includesme. Vito is like a puppy dog around me and will only be too pleased if I interrupt their boring conversation.”
