Page 34 of Made to Sin

Except when I woke up the next morning, my husband was very much alive.

There was no dark knight to save me. Not even an evil king who could steal me away.

DAYSBLURREDINTONIGHTSASmy life fell into a relaxing routine. I had the whole house to myself, doing whatever I wanted without the worry of my husband beating me for it.

Marco mainly spent his mornings at the Benevetis for business and his evenings at strip clubs for hookups, so I was given a break from my job as his wife.

But like every time I was happy, something came and ruined it. In this case, it was an old lady and her Portuguese accent. “Meu bem,SenhorCamello wants you to get ready to attendSenhoraSofia’s birthday party.”

Pretending not to hear her, I flipped a page in my book. She huffed in annoyance, and I smiled a bit to myself. Maria was the closest thing I had to a friend, so what was a friend for if not to annoy?

Sadly, she had the same idea.

I grumbled under my breath when she threw the clothes she had chosen for me over the top of my head but shook them off and continued to read. The ignorance worked until she landed a lacy red thong in the middle of the page. How ironic it was when the hero was taking off the heroine’s panties too.

I slammed my book shut, glaring at her. “Maria! Didn’t anyone tell you it’s rude to disrupt someone who's reading?”

She threw me a matching bra that nearly landed on my head. “Silly girl, if you’re not ready by seven, he’ll hit you with the stupid book.”

“It’s not stupid,” I weakly defended my raunchy romance novel. “And why do I have to attend a birthday party for someone who pushed me in the pool?”

“I do not questionSenhorCamello, and you shouldn’t either.”

My glare morphed into defeat, knowing she was right, and I dragged my feet to the ensuite. A few scrubs here, a few outfit changes there, I was dolled up for some birthday party I didn’t want to attend.

I sighed at the waste of precious time I could be reading but forced myself downstairs and out the double wooden doors before I rebelled and stayed home.

Waiting out in the driveway, Arnold held my door open. He informed me that Marco had already left, so I would be riding alone. I shrugged, climbing into the car, not caring much about my husband’s whereabouts or how I was going to meet him there. Arnold told me out of courtesy, but he knew the lack of concern I had when it came to Marco as much as Maria did.

The club was packed from its entrance to the line wrapping around the corner when we approached. When it came to long lines, I assumed people would be bored and grumpy, but that was not the case. Everyone looked almost excited to even have the chance to enter the club.

I heard the Benevetis were successful in their businesses, but wasn’t this a birthday party? Why was it this crowded?

Oh, I know.

Sofia probably had no friends with her attitude, so the event had to be public. Despite how immature it was, I silently applauded myself for coming up with the remark.

The humor died as Arnold blocked the window, opened my door, and exposed me to New York’s crisp breeze. Goosebumpsspeckled my exposed limbs as I hesitantly got out.

“Have a good night,Signora,”Arnold said before getting back into the driver’s seat.

I gave the man a straight-lined smile. “Thanks, Arnold, but we both know I won’t.”

“You never know what will surprise you.”

I didn’t think I could take any more surprises from theCosa Nostra,but I felt bad for wasting his time with my stalling.

“Goodnight, Arnold. Drive safe.”

With a polite nod, he slammed his door shut and left me on the curb alone.

I headed straight for the side entrance. If I had to wait in that monstrous line, I would demand to leave. It wasn’t like I wanted to be here anyway.

The bouncers didn’t pay me any mind as I stood in front of them. It was quite rude how they were looking above my head, considering I wore my highest stilettos tonight. Maybe they couldn’t talk unless a patron talked to them first.

I chose to approach the friendlier-looking, bald one. “Excuse me,” I said in a cheery tone.

He didn’t shift an inch, remaining at stiff attention. Not very social, I see. I lifted my hand, intending to wave, but before I could, he harshly grabbed my wrist in mid-air.

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