Page 44 of Till Death Do Us Part

“You look familiar,” Arm Candy piped up. “Do I know you from somewhere? TV?”

“I don’t think so…?” For some reason I wanted her name. I wanted to remember it.

“Margot.”

“Roma was Miss Illinois.” Kerry gave me a megawatt smile. “She’s our beauty, inside and out.”

Margot made anoohnoise. “Yes! I remember now.Loveyour dress. It’s like a gift that needs to be unwrapped!”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her. It was so frigging hard to do. It felt like moving my cheeks after they’d been cemented. But it truly wasn’t her fault.

Unless Margot knew what was going on between me and Felice, she was innocent in this. Didn’t make me want to hurt her any less, though.

“Well, we won’t keep you from the gala, Mr. Maggio,” Kerry said, throwing some relief my way. “If there’s anything you need, we’re here. On behalf of our museum, we hope you have a fabulous time.”

Felice thanked Kerry in Italian and, setting his hand on Margo’s lower back, ushered her to the next group ready to greet them. Or him. Margo was busy keeping one hand on Felice and her eyes on the dance floor.

“You can go, Roma,” Kerry said softly. “The party is running smoothly, and I think it will for the rest of the night. I planned for all contingencies, and you helped me secure the rest.”

We hugged and she disappeared into the crowd.

I needed a minute to catch my breath, to resolve the feeling of betrayal. Felice expected me to give up my family for…what? A fucking player? Okay.Yes.I’d said no to him more than I’d said yes, but it was so risky. Gambling everything I’d ever known for the unknown.

I kept telling myself I couldn’t give up my family for whatever existed between us, but then another voice kept shouting that my family shouldn’t abandonmebecause my happiness came in a different way than theirs.

Warm hands came to my shoulders when I ran into a chest. I looked up into Cassio’s eyes.

“Whatever you do, don’t let John see you tonight.”

“Why?” The word rushed out instead oftoo late.

“Red’s his favorite color, and on you…he might hurt someone.”

“I’m sure there was a compliment in there somewhere.”

He grinned at me. “You’re gorgeous, and you know it. But I was being entirely fucking serious. John is a loaded weapon, and you’re waving the red flag in a fossil shop.”

“I’m working this party. I’m not here for him.”

“Define ‘working this party’.”

“I meant that literally, Cassio. Besides. He’s here with someone else. Your worries can be put to rest.”

“Yeah, not likely. Even the dead come back to haunt.”

I left him standing in the hall, entering a bathroom full of women. Not the most optimum place to iron out my feelings, but I didn’t feel like finding Elsa to let me in the office.

By the time it was my turn in a stall, the bathroom had mostly cleared out. It smelled like a department store. As I washed my hands, I stared at myself in the mirror. This jealousy thing was new and ugly, and I didn’t know how to get rid of it. I hated Margot’s hands on him. I hated the thought of him leading her on the dance floor. I especially hated that I’d be alone tonight while he did things to her to make her scream.

“Damn you, Maggio!” I whispered, but it was more like a curse. I sent Babbo a quick text, letting him know I’d be spending the weekend with Elsa.

He wouldn’t be home until Sunday night, and Lo was watching Alina’s two kids until Monday. I flew out of the bathroom and went on a hunt for Elsa. She was still at the bar.

“Hey, can you do me a favor?”

“Name it.”

“Cover for me this weekend. With my family.”

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