Page 18 of Hired By the Consigliere

Anger had my face heating and blood pounding in my ears at the thought of Aurora being with other men.

Aurora’s eyes widened. A blush tinted her cheeks, and she looked at some spot on the table. “You already know that you were my first… for money. Spending time with one man seems a lot better than spending night after night with a bunch of different guys, at least in my mind.” She shrugged awkwardly and took a sip from her cup.

“That makes sense.” I tried to tamp down my anger and the possessive voice in my head growling ‘mine.’

“So, how is this going to work? We're going to have to tell people that we’re engaged, right?”

“Yes. And unfortunately, we won't be able to tell them the reasons behind what we're doing except,” I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “I will have to tell Matteo, my don.”

“Your don. You said that earlier as well. So, you work for the mafia, then?”

I nodded. “I am consigliere of the Venturi family.”

“Consigliere? Wow. So, you're really in with them.”

I nodded again. “Matteo and I have been friends most of our lives.”

Her brow creased in serious contemplation. “And you're trusting me to be in that world with you even though you don’t really know me at all? You’re not going to have to kill me once this is all over because I know too much, are you?”

“Well, you've already signed an NDA so I don't expect that you will go telling anyone anything that you hear, see, or learn about me. You’re a smart girl, I'm sure you also understand how important discretion is when it comes to the Venturis and what happens to people who speak out against them.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t say a word.”

“Good. Now, do you have any family that you'll need to tell about the engagement?”

“I'm an only child and as you know, my mom passed away a few years ago.

"Yes, and I was sorry to hear that. I couldn’t say anything last night and risk looking like I didn’t already know."

"It’s something a man would know about his fiancée. And thank you."

"What about your father?"

"He died before I was born.”

“Wow. I’m truly sorry.”

She shrugged, trying to give the appearance of strength but there was a slight drop in her shoulders before she shook off whatever sadness our conversation had caused, shifting to happier topics. "I have a friend who's pretty close. I should probably tell her but that's it.”

“Okay. I will talk to Matteo this afternoon and fill him in on everything.”

“So, he will know the truth about us. And your donna, too?”

“Sì.”

“How am I going to know who knows the truth and who doesn’t?”

“Just assume that anyone you meet thinks that our relationship is real to play it safe. If they know the truth, they’ll let you know, if not, then you didn’t reveal anything to the wrong person.”

“Okay.”

“Once I talk with Matteo, we should arrange some sort of engagement party.”

“An engagement party?”

“Yes. We want this to be believable and if we were really engaged then we would be celebrating with all our friends and family, don't you think?”

“I suppose so.” She picked up her cappuccino and took a sip, bringing my attention to her bare left hand.

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