Page 47 of His Wife

“He…uhm—”

She pulls my hand closer, spreading my fingers as she stares at the square-cut diamond with two baguettes on each side. “It’s absolutely stunning. My God, Alexius. You picked it without me?”

He cocks a brow, glowering her way. “I’m capable of buying my wife something without your help, Mira.”

She scoffs. “Be glad this ring has a huge fucking rock, or I would have been in a great position to tell you just how much of an idiot you really are.” Mira hooks her arm in mine. “Now, I need to know everything.” She glances over her shoulder at Alexius. “And I mean everything.”

“I’m not telling you everything,” I say, and she quickly hushes me.

“Shush. Let the man stew a bit. I promise you he won’t be able to do a goddamn thing for the next two hours while he wonders what the hell it is we’re talking about. Alexius is so high-strung all the damn time. I love screwing with his head every now and then. But seriously,” she stops just as we round the corner, out of sight, “was it like a mixing-pleasure-with-business kind of trip? Or was it an I-couldn’t-walk-right-half-the-time kind of trip?”

I wrinkled my nose and purse my lips. “A little of both?”

“Ugh, never mind,” she concedes, grabbing my hand again. “Tell me about this ring. What does this mean?” she asks urgently. “Are you two, like, married, married? Like, is it a permanent thing now?”

Heat prickles across my cheeks, a flutter of excitement starting in my stomach as I remember our time at the club, right before he gave me this ring. If any couple experienced one night that defined them, the night at Mito would be ours. That night raised our level of trust to new heights. Watching him make that woman come while his attention was solely focused on me, proving that there was no other woman for him but me—it shifted the dynamic between us. I no longer wonder about his time spent as a single man at Myth. I don’t feel this overwhelming jealousy tighten around my throat when thinking about the girls at their clubs, how many he’s fucked, how many he’s shared. It’s no longer of any consequence to me, to us, because what we have—what we experienced at Mito—it’s ours, and no one can take that away from us. I trust him. He trusts me. We trust each other. It’s a bond I know we’ll cherish. And he sealed that bond when he gave me a proper wedding ring that night, under the Italian sky at the top of the Spanish Steps. My heart’s been full ever since.

I smile, my soul floating with a happiness I’ve never felt before. “Yes. It’s permanent.”

“Holy shit!” Mira exclaims, trying to muffle her excitement by holding her hands over her mouth, but her green eyes are practically beaming. “You’re my sister-in-law for real now? Well, kind of. God, I don’t know what I’m more excited about. You and Alexius finally getting your heads out of your asses, or me finally getting a sister.” She wraps me in another tight hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

I’ve missed talking to her the last few days. Her energy. Her optimism. How she brings this entire household to life.

“Thank you. But let’s just see how it goes first before we bring on the fireworks.”

Mira’s lips curl in a sly grin as she taps her finger against her temple. “I’m already planning your first-anniversary party.”

“Stop.” I snicker. “We still have a few months to go before we get there. So, tell me, how is Mrs. Del Rossa doing?” I ask once Mira finally lets go of me, and we sit on the couch in front of the fireplace.

Mira pulls her feet up under her, leaning back. “Not good. I’m worried about her. She hasn’t received any guests since the funeral and hardly leaves her room. Not to mention the fact that she’s barely eating.” Worry creases her brow as she stares at the crackling fire. “I suppose it’s all part of the grieving process.”

“I wish there were something we could do,” I say, unable to imagine exactly what she’s going through after losing her life partner. All I can do is think of how I’d feel if something happened to Alexius, and we’ve only been together for a short while.

“The only thing that can heal grief is time.” She turns her gaze to mine. “How is Alexius doing? Is he coping…after everything?”

“I think so,” I reply. “He’s been less distracted during our trip than before we left. But I’m pretty sure that’s about to change since we’re back.”

Mira nods. “Things are strange around here for sure.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know. The brothers are all just acting weird, more secretive than usual.”

“Nicoli?” I ask, raising a brow.

She sighs. “He’s been even more distant, if that’s even possible.”

There’s pain in her words masked with a sneer. There’s something between the two of them, something so strong everyone around them can feel it—except for them. For him. Or maybe he does; he just chooses to ignore it. My bet would be on the latter.

“The other day,” Mira starts, “I overheard a conversation between Nicoli and Caelian.”

“Eyes and ears, huh?” I tease.

“Hey, these guys give us nothing. They just expect us to walk around here and look pretty without knowing what the hell is going on behind closed doors. It’s my God-given right to know exactly what’s happening around here.”

I snicker. “What were they talking about?”

“Swear this stays between us.”

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