Page 62 of Captive Vow (Mafia Marriages 2)

I swore to myself that the secret would stay between Paige and me. I reach for the whiskey bottle and pour myself a second glass.

Already I’m spilling all my secrets, and I’ve barely had anything to drink.

Dante used to joke that I’m the worst mobster—one who hates liquor. It’s not that I hate the taste or the effect it has on me.

The truth is that I hate what it did to my old man, how it made him into a monster. And I don’t want to become that guy, the one who beats his woman and kid.

I swore I’d never become that, but here I am, having whiskey just like my old man.

I’ve avoided it all my life like the plague, but I know one night won’t turn me intohim. Though it still doesn’t soften the blow as I refill my glass again, and swallow the amber liquid as I spill my thoughts to Dante.

“I caught Paige wearing Serene’s wedding ring.”

Dante’s mouth is hanging open.

I laugh darkly and finish my third glass of whiskey before pouring a fourth.

“I’ve rendered you speechless,” I say.

Dante holds his glass in his hand and swirls the whiskey around for a beat. “There has to be more to the story.”

He’s not wrong. When is Dante ever wrong?

I don’t want to confess that I went looking for the ring to have her wear to the therapy session. Dante doesn’t know that Paige accompanied me, pretending to be Nova’s mother.

When did I fuck up my life?

I give him the condensed version and stare back at him, waiting to hear what he has to say.

He’s quiet. I’ve never known Dante to be silent.

Shit.

Did I render him speechless twice?

“I still think there’s more to the story. Why would Paige go through your dresser and steal the ring?” Dante asks. “She had to know that she’d get caught.”

“Why does anyone steal anything?” I throw my arms up into the air.

Dante ticks his fingers off with each answer that he gives. “Money. Attention. The thrill of getting caught.”

I don’t believe that’s why Paige stole the ring. “No.” I can’t let go of the fact that she wore it when I saw her in bed.

“She could just be obsessed with you and wants to marry you.”

I don’t find his brand of humor the least bit funny right now.

“Do you want my suggestion or not?” Dante asks.

“I’d prefer to wallow in my misery.” I pour another glass of whiskey, and Dante snatches the bottle cutting me off from any more.

“You’ve had enough to drink, and I’m tired of watching you mope around. She’s a beautiful woman, and while I don’t take kindly to thieves, it’s hard to fathom that she stole the ring to pawn when she was caught wearing it.” He snaps his fingers as if an idea just hit him.

“What?” I’m not sure I’m ready to hear whatever it is he’s about to suggest.

“Paige probably has a crush on you and went snooping. Maybe she stumbled onto the ring, slid it on to pretend to be married to you, and couldn’t get it off?”

“You watch too much television,” I mutter. There is no way that’s what happened. That doesn’t sound the least bit like something Paige would do.

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