Page 70 of Forgotten Deeds

Romeo says something to Darius in Italian, and he replies. They continue their conversation, with Romeo’s hard eyes on me, and I try not to squirm.

“Glad to see no one was shot while I was gone,” Nicky announces, and I’m grateful the lion tamer is back.

“Odds increase when Sammy arrives,” Darius tells her.

“In that case, I’m off the clock,” Nicky says with a laugh. Turning to me, she smiles. “I’m not sure I told you congratulations!”

“Thank you. And I hear congratulations are in order for you as well.”

“Yes, thank you. Five months until the big day,” she tells me. “Just to warn you, Valentina is going to be mad she didn’t get to plan your wedding.”

“My cousin, Kat, married us at her place,” Darius explains.

“Very informal,” I add. And coerced, but I keep that last part to myself.

“Plead your case to Valentina,” Nicky tells me.

“What case?” A pretty young woman with a red-spattered apron appears, and it’s a day of double takes for me—it’s the barista from the coffee shop.

“Oh my gosh, Lily! I remember you, but I didn’t know you were Darius’ Lily!” She removes her apron before giving me a double cheek kiss. “Ha, and you told me you weren’t getting married anytime soon.”

“Valentina and I met at the coffee shop while I was studying,” I explain to Darius, whose eyebrows are raised in question. “Turns out I was wrong,” I tell Valentina with a soft smile.

“Aww. I love love stories. So spill, I want to hear how you two met.”

“At the park,” Darius and I both say at the same time, and I’m grateful for us getting our stories straight.

“I have a four-year old daughter, and she and I visit the park quite a bit.” Grabbing my phone, I pull up a picture of Iris, holding it up proudly.

“Adorable,” Nicky comments.

“Oh my God, sooooo cute,” Valentina agrees.

“Sooooo cute.” A man mocks Valentina, having joined us.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Valentina scowls at the attractive Italian man.

He smirks. “What can I say? Pussy loves me.”

Valentina makes a gagging sound.

Romeo barks something in Italian, switching over to English. “Apologize for speaking to my baby sister that way,” he orders.

“Ugh, I’m not a freakin’ baby!” Valentina huffs.

“Sorry,” the man mutters.

“You know how to make a first impression,” Darius tells the man, shaking his head. “Sammy, this is my wife, Lily.” So this is the dickhead Darius warned me about. Sammy’s playing the part well thus far.

Sammy grabs my hand, giving it a kiss. Darius growls, and Sammy smiles against my skin—prolonging the uncomfortable moment. “Lily, a pleasure. Can’t believe you married this stronzia.” He jerks his head toward Darius.

“Nice to meet you.” I remove my hand from his and glance over to Darius, who now has that look—the Diávolos crazy-eye look.

“Darius, if you kill Sammy, pretty please with sugar on top let me watch,” Valentina begs.

“Nobody’s getting shot today—I just want to enjoy dinner,” Nicky warns everyone.

“Who said anything about a gun? There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Darius says in a menacing tone.

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