Page 57 of Gin & Trouble

“In hiding in Sicily. I’ve tried to get them out, but it’s too dangerous. Now Tommaso has Valentina and is forcing her to marry Miquel Salvatore.”

Something flashed across his expression at the mention of the mobster’s name. Anger? Hatred? Maybe both, seasoned with fear? “Salvatore is a sick bastard, but that doesn’t explain why you’ve been lying to me and my family for almost a year.”

“It absolutely does. Tommaso started arranging our marriages before my father’s body was cold.” I wiped my eyes, hating the tears almost as much as I hated the steel in Dante’s expression.

He sat on the couch, stretched his long legs, and motioned in my general direction. “Save the dramatics. My mother was a mafia princess, I know yourtypecan cry on demand.”

Is he serious?

I’d hurt him. I got it. But that didn’t give him the right to outright insult me. “My…type?”

“Lying, manipulative…” He barked out a humorless laugh. “Do you really need me to explain?”

Yes. I’d lied. And yes, I’d manipulated him, but I hadn’t gone out of my way to hurt him.

And yet, that’s exactly what I’d done.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you the truth the minute I saw you without your Joker makeup.”

He flinched as if I’d struck him. Mentioning the old us, Danny and Julia, seemed to break through his newly formed crunchy shell and reach the man inside.

I lowered my voice. “I didn’t know it was you online.”

“That I believe.” And just like that the shell returned, harder than ever.

“Everything I’ve told you since I walked through that door is the truth, even though it’s putting my life in danger.”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “What about the stuff you told me online. Was that real or part of the act?”

“The names were different, and I was born in Sicily not Connecticut. Everything else was true.” I struggled to get the words out.

“Why are you telling me all of this now?” His smirk hurt almost as much as his insults.

“Because I fell in love with you and couldn’t stand the lies.” I couldn’t hold back my emotions much longer, and I’d be damned if I broke down in front of him. Not after he’d accused me of faking tears.

Dante stared as if he couldn’t quite figure me out, which was probably true. “Why were you investigating Harrison Meriwether?”

“Leo asked me to.”

He nodded and pushed to his feet. “Right. The woman he’s been hung up on for years was dating Meriwether. Did you find anything?”

“Not yet, but I’ve been distracted.”

Dante narrowed his eyes. “I bet.”

I had no idea what to say to him and doubted anything would help.

“I need a drink.” He strode to the kitchen, poured himself a shot, and downed it before pouring another. “Want one?”

“No thanks.” Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I checked my phone.

No word from Sophia or Iris. Where the hell are they?

“Expecting a call?” His expression turned cold enough to freeze Hell.

I wanted nothing more than to tell him the truth, to tell him I was worried about Sophia, but he’d made it abundantly clear how he felt about her. “I still haven’t heard from Iris.”

“Iris or Sophia?” He folded his arms.

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