Page 13 of Made to Sin

When the auction came around, the necklace sparkled brightly in its glass display. It shined like a shimmer of hope for the many victims, and though there was no escape for me, I found hope too.

An old man I didn’t recognize won the bid for thirty-fivemillion dollars. I knew he knew it was worth less as the bid below him was only ten million. It was a purposeful bid, a bid to win.

For whatever reasons he had, it didn’t stop me from bawling like a baby.

ITWASASCALDINGAPRILday, the middle of the transition from spring to summer. Though the fruits weren’t completely ripe during this time around, I enjoyed an assortment of them on the kitchen island.

Maria kept me entertained with updates about Paws, who turned out to have a bad case of the flu. “So when I took him to the vet, and they told me it would cost four hundred dollars for a check-up and medication, I called them crazy and left!”

I laughed at the housekeeper’s frugal means. It was funny because Marco paid her the most out of his workers, considering she was head of staff and had been here the longest. Maria had enough money to retire years ago, but she said being home alone made her bored. Cleaning up my messes didn’t seem any better but to each their own.

Our conversation died down as a few unknown voices drifted through the front door and into the kitchen. Marco didn’t have many guests over, so this was odd. Maria and I perked our ears up to see who were the cursed souls that held my husband’s company.

Just then, a deep timbre I hadn’t heard in a while sent a chill down my spine. Luciano.

I was wrong, both sides of the party were unlucky.

The reminder of our last encounter brought back a wave of humiliation. By saying some blunt words, he managed to unveil the sham of a marriage that I had kept hidden for years. Sue me if I wanted to avoid him from now on.

Running away from problems wouldn’t make them go away, but it was worth a try as I planned to hide in my room for however long this meeting took.

I waited a couple of minutes for Marco’s company to move to his office and hopped down from the stool. I thought I had given it enough time, but the small group of men I didn’t recognize were still there when I left the kitchen.

Curse you, Lady Luck.

Marco beckoned me over to greet his new guests. “Katarina, come meet the Benevetis. They are joining us for lunch today.”

I pointed to my sleepwear, indicating that I wasn’t presentable, but he didn’t seem to mind. He even appeared satisfied that I was dressed in a thin silk set. Whatever showed the most skin of the young bride he managed to wed would be better for the boss’ ego.

I groaned in my head but followed suit. I might have been on his good side lately, but Marco was volatile. A small error could flip the switch in his warped brain.

When I approached the small crowd, he started the introductions, but I wasn’t paying attention. It didn’t seem like the Benevetis were either. Most of them were too busy leering at me. An uncomfortable wave of nausea crept up my throat as I became an exhibit in my own house.

Nonetheless, I gave a smile to the faces I saw and spoke with a satin voice. “It’s my pleasure to host lunch today. I apologize for being indecently dressed. I wasn’t expecting company this early.”

My eyes landed on Luciano, and my smile dissipated. If I didn’t know any better, out of all the suited men in the room, he would be the one I felt safest around. Though the dark look hewas giving me told me he was anything but that.

I shifted my gaze a smidge to the right and noticed a woman next to him. I was solely taught to acknowledge the men in this world, her presence flew over my head.

Her pin-straight blonde hair and stark blue eyes would be the first thing to attract one’s attention, but it was how she held herself that caught mine. Her tall, lean stature announced her presence no matter where she was at. There was no other way to describe her besides a modern-day depiction of Marilyn Monroe. If I had the bravery to be like her, I would.

I nudged my husband’s arm. “Marco, won’t you introduce me to her too?”

She caught my eyes, hers narrowing as if she were judging my importance. I bit my bottom lip as I waited for her inquisitive stare to be over.

Marco stepped in. “Of course, my love. This is Sofia, a special guest of Luciano.”

Special guest? I’d never heard that term used when talking about theCosa Nostra.Anyone who wasn’t in a family stayed out of our business. She must have had some connection.

I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Sofia. My apologies for asking so late, I didn’t notice you standing there.”

Merda, that came out so backhanded.

Her sharp eyes lit up in disdain at the ignorance, but she matched my cheery tone. “No worries, the men are the clients.”

“I wouldn’t call them anything more than lunch guests.”

She pulled a tight smile. “Oh, guess I misinterpreted. You could have fooled me.”

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