Page 45 of Single Malt Drama

“Nonsense. Nothing has changed. Your father and I expect a wedding this weekend. You and Enzo can return to Sicily together.”

Shanna muttered under her breath and turned away.

Trying to figure out my next move, I glanced between Enzo, Shanna, and Marco. I had nothing. No cards left to play. Marco and I could continue with our plans, but we’d need to run as far from New Orleans as possible.

Marco pointed to his left ring finger before motioning between himself and Enzo.

I knew the answer before I asked the question, but I’d try anything to find a way out of this mess. “Gabe, did my father specifically name Enzo as the Marchionni I was to marry?”

“Yeah, he did.” Gabe sighed.

“I see.” Think. Nico. Think.

Marco shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor. His crestfallen expression broke my heart, but it also made me question his feelings for me.

Does he want more than a fake marriage? My stomach fluttered, but I put the thought out of my mind. We had things to discuss before I walked down the aisle, real commitment or not.

“I will have a talk with him.” I stood and moved closer to the phone. “His demands are impossible. I am married to someone else.”

Enzo glared at Marco, but he grinned his goofiest grin and shrugged.

“That certainly complicates things.” Papa Joe chuckled. “I’ll leave it to you to share the joyous news with your father.”

“Thank you.” I wanted to run from the room, but my feet refused to move.

Enzo said, “Goodnight, Pops.

Marco pressed the disconnect button before his father could reply.

“You two are married?” Enzo cracked a smile.

“Not yet, but we will be.” Marco looped his arm through mine and escorted me out of the room.

I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Laughing, Marco grabbed my face in both hands, pressed his brow to mine. “That was freaking brilliant. Don’t bother telling your father. I’m sure my mother is already burning up the phone lines.”

“Brilliant?” I felt as if I would faint, and he acted like I’d just cured cancer.

“Don’t you see? The Abruzzos are going down. Your father wants to keep the balance in his favor, right?”

“Yes.” I knew where he was going with this, but didn’t have the heart to tell him our situation had become infinitely more complicated.

“With them gone, he’ll let us out to keep the upper hand with the remaining two families and control which new ones come to the table. Badda-bing, Badda-boom. The marriage thing goes away.”

Marriage thing? Mine and Enzo’s or does he mean ours?I pulled away. “You must be relieved.”

He looked at me as if I’d asked him to join the priesthood. “Relieved? You think I’m going to back out on you now?”

I shrugged.

“No way. Not after what I went through to get the license.” His smile wilted. “Unless you’re having second thoughts.”

“No, if anything this news makes me more desperate for a way out.”

Once again, he stared at me as if I were insane.

“You know the legend of the hydra? You cut one head off and two grow back.” Other families will rise to fill the voids. The question is which ones and how awful will they be.

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