Page 28 of Savage Vow (Mafia Marriages 3)

The man I married works for the mafia.

And he’s an interrogator.

I don’t want to be on the other side of his wrath.

“I met a guy. We got married. Sorry to disappoint, but there isn’t anything more to the story.”

I breeze into the back room, fumble with my locker, and shove the ring into my jeans pocket for safekeeping. I shut the metal door with a loud thud.

“Can I borrow your cell phone for a few minutes? I lost mine.”

It’s a little white lie.

“You lost your phone? You don’t misplace anything. Ever.” Jocelyn stares at me, waiting for me to elaborate.

“What can I say? Married life is trying.” I stalk across the small space to her locker. “Can I use your phone?”

The lockers don’t actually lock, and she gives a weak nod. “Go ahead.”

I open her locker and grab her phone, unlocking it with her birthday as the passcode.

“Don’t take too long. The dragon will be wondering where you’re at, and I can only cover for you for so long.”

“Thanks,” I say. I dial my sister’s cell phone but wait until Jocelyn is out of the room and the door shut behind her before hitting the green call button.

“Hello?” Ivy’s voice resonates through the line.

She wouldn’t recognize Jocelyn’s number.

“Ivy, it’s Karina,” I say.

There’s a loud rumbling and clanking of pots and pans in the background. “Where the hell are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m at work. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, Ashton is just trying to help me cook lunch,” Ivy says.

It’s the middle of the week. What is Ashton doing at home? He should be in school today.

“Why isn’t he in school?” I ask.

“Parent-teacher conference day,” Ivy answers. “Don’t worry. I have it covered.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. At least Ashton is safe and in good hands with Ivy. “Thank you.”

My sister might like to party and be a bit of a wild child, but she recognizes what’s important, family.

“Listen, I want to see Ashton. Can you bring him by the hospital and up to the pediatric wing?”

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea? What if that ogre is watching you?” Ivy asks.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I shouldn’t be defending Aurielo, but he’s not an ogre. “He doesn’t have eyes on me all the time.” If he did, I wouldn’t have been able to make the phone call to my sister.

Which is enough proof that she can sneak Ashton upstairs in the elevator for a few minutes together.

“Okay, but we’re making lunch right now. Do you get off work at three?” Ivy asks.

“No, I promised to cover the next shift since I came in late.”

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