Page 43 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

“I just had a few drinks.”

That was when I spotted it. Narrowing my eyes, I leaned closer to him. “Is that lipstick on your shirt?”

I pointed to his collar and he glanced down, like he could actually see something.

“Where?”

“On your collar?”

Lifting his head, I could see him searching for an answer, but he was too drunk to think fast.

“William?”

“I met up with a woman.” A gasp escaped me. “Before you jump to conclusions, it was for a side job. Something to make us extra money.”

“What does that have to do with lipstick on your shirt?”

“She is European or something,” he muttered. “She kissed me goodbye and must have left a smear there.”

“Who is she?” I questioned him, unsure whether I should believe him.

“Jenna Palermo.”

* * *

Palermo!That was where I heard that name before. Jenna Palermo connected William with the side job for the Morrellis. I learned weeks later he actually did sleep with her.

My ears buzzed, the fury and adrenaline rush mixing in my veins. I wanted to reach across and slap that woman’s face. Or at least scratch it. My anger burned bright with a dangerous need for revenge and to make her suffer. Something dark clawed at my chest, wanting to plunge a knife into hers, so she could feel the physical pain. Just as I had felt it in my heart when I learned about his infidelity.

Women like her just took, regardless of what the fallout could mean for others.

And now, she was here trying to wrap herself all around Nico. Not that I had any claim to that man. But it rubbed me the wrong way that she’d flirt with him in front of me, whether our arrangement was fake or not.

Nico finally cut the couple short.

“Bianca and I have to go.”

His arm around me, he guided us away from them. Taking a deep breath, trying to control the anger within me, I exhaled slowly. Then took another deep breath. My temper has always been my downfall.

“What’s wrong?” Nico’s voice was low, so only I could hear him.

Now wasn’t the time nor place to question him about Jenna, or why she got my husband a side job with him. I raised my eyes to him, searching his face. I wished I could get my answers just by looking at him. He was an enigma to me, as his eyes studied me.

He pulled me to the side, away from everyone. Once we were on the opposite side of the room, away from the crowd, he finally spoke.

“Talk to me,” he ordered.

I took a strangled breath then exhaled slowly.

“Jenna and William were-” I couldn’t even finish the sentence, the pain of betrayal still a wound that didn’t heal. “She got him the boat job with you.” I couldn’t tell from his expression whether he was surprised or not. “She and William had a thing. Are you and that woman-”

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly got himself together.

“No.” His answer was firm, short, no trace of deceit in his eyes and a sigh of relief left me. “Jenna Palermo and I never had any physical relationship. Why?”

I didn’t want to be part of any triangle. Mine and Nico’s marriage would be just a temporary arrangement, but I’d be faithful for as long as we were married. I loved my mother, she had sacrificed her life for me. So I could have better choices. It would be a disappointment if I got myself into a love triangle. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror ever again. To me, being the other woman was a special kind of sinking low. I knew the knowledge that she was reduced to just being the other woman shattered my mother.

I smiled nervously. “I don’t want…” How do I explain to him I didn’t believe in cheating, hated lying and deceit because my biological father used my mother that way and she suffered! Horribly! “Angie told me she was dating Gabito. And then seeing him with his wife and she was… flirting with you. And then remembering the name and William’s confession that he slept with that woman.” Words poured from my lips, my heart racing with nervousness. “I don’t believe in cheating. It’s wrong.”

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