Page 86 of Christmas with the Mafia
Quincy’s eyes are wide.“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Will you be my bridesmaid?”
For the first time since we met, Quincy is at a loss for words and can only open and close her mouth like a fish in a tank.
All around us, people go about their business, shopping in the post-Christmas sales, the flurry of snow driving them into the coffee shop that we are in now.
“To Connor?”
Quincy’s voice is hopeful, and I roll my eyes.
“I’m not stupid.”
She leans forward and hiss whispers, “If you tell me it’s Nico, I beg to differ.”
“It is.”
The mug of hot chocolate is warm against my frozen fingers, but I am melting inside. That feeling has never left me since I shot that bitch Desiree on Christmas day and earned my passage into the Ravera mafia.
It’s funny how life works out and miracles can happen. This one got a little distorted along the way, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m in love with a criminal and more than happy about it.
Quincy shakes her head, which is no mean feat considering her layers are layering magnificently right now. As well as the ski suit, she is wearing a fur-lined bobble hat, ski gloves and boots and several layers of thermals. If anything, she appears a little flushed, which may be down to the myriad of shopping bags that she acquired in the Macy’s sale.
“Talking about Connor.”
A flicker of distaste crosses her face, and I’m pleased to report she could be talking about a stranger for all the reaction that name brings.
“Aston heard something about him that was very interesting.”
“How?” I wasn’t aware that Aston ran in the same circles as my cheating ex.
Quincy leans a little closer and glances around before whispering, “Apparently, he lost his job at Viper Holdings.”
Now my heart does beat a little faster, but my expression is blank.
“Apparently, he got into a fight at the gala and didn’t come off well. He was fired for gross misconduct and wasn’t even given a reference. The last these guys heard of him, they were in the cab at the time, was that he was working in a haulage yard in Queens offloading lorries.”
To be honest, I’m shocked. There is only one person who could have engineered Connor’s downfall, and part of me is sad for him; the other part of me is cheering from thesidelines. He treated me badly. He lied and cheated his way through our relationship and showed no remorse.
When I picture the way Nico treats me, there really is no comparison, and he is considered to be the bad choice. The math isn’t mathing when it comes to Nico Ravera. The cold, cruel, soon to be head of the Ravera mafia. Yet with me, he is the perfect boyfriend. Attentive, rather sweet and generous and possibly the best lover I have ever had. Not that the list is long, or frequent, come to think of it. The bar wasn’t really that high anyway, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
I shrug. “He is of no concern to me. However, you are, and I want you to be my bridesmaid so badly. Please, Quincy, say you’ll be beside me every step of the way in this.”
“Does your mother know?”
Again, she avoids the question, and my heart sinks.
“Yes.” I shrug, the harsh words of my mother still scorching my sparkle.
“She told me I had always been impetuous and it wouldn’t last. That depending on when the ceremony is, they may be out of the country and unable to attend.”
Quincy’s mouth drops, and her eyes fill with tears.
“She’s such an uber bitch.”
“She is.”
“Well, I’m not your mother, and of course I’ll be your bridesmaid; however, I must insist on a bulletproof bridesmaid dress.”
