I could barely force food down my narrow throat during dinner. Alessio was not talking to me, only to his father and Luca. I sat next to him like arm candy.
Maybe it was for the best. Every time he spoke to me up to that point, he gave me orders and intimidated me even more. Considering that I would have to share a bed with him that night, I preferred his silence. The odds of my passing out were high anyway.
I cast an oblique glance at Alessio. His facial features were attractive in an angular way. Sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and a dark beard. I had never seen him in less than a three-piece suit, but his muscles were unmistakable.
“My brother played soccer in high school,” Mia whispered, surprising me. I hadn’t told her much yet. We were strangers, even though we were sisters-in-law, not to mention that she was ten years older than me. Heat rose in my cheeks, realizing that she must have noticed me staring at Alessio. I couldn’t even imagine Alessio going to high school.
“You finished this summer, right?” Mia asked.
I nodded with a small smile.
“Yes. I was thinking of going to college, but…”
“But you were supposed to marry my brother.” “I should have married either way, but as a sub-chief’s wife, going to college is out of the question,” I said quietly.
My mother would have had a heart attack if she heard me being so honest with Alessio’s sister, but I was tired of trying to pretend.
“It’s true. You’ll be busy raising her children, so you won’t be bored.” My heart sped up as always thinking I was responsible for two tiny human beings.
I had absolutely no idea about children. I had read countless articles about raising children over the past four months, but reading and doing were two very different things. Most of the time I felt like a girl, not a woman, much less a mother. Mia touched my hand.
“It will be all right. I live nearby. I can help you if you don’t know what to do.” Alessio must have heard because he frowned.
“You have two small children and a third on the way. You will have your hands full. Gianna can handle everything.”
He seemed to know me better than I did. Or perhaps she would simply order me to be a good mother? Mia sighed, but did not answer him. My stomach knotted up even more.
I was so wrapped up when it was time for the first dance that I hardly noticed Alessio leading me to the center of the ballroom. The guests gathered around it, watching. My smile was in place. If there was one thing I had learned from my mother, it was to smile in the face of adversity.
With our height difference, dancing was not easy. If we had been a real couple, I could have rested my cheek against her breastbone. At that moment we were casual acquaintances at best.
Alessio led me onto the dance floor smoothly, as confident in his leadership as in any other aspect of our lives. My mind was spinning a hundred miles an hour, imagining our future, imagining tonight.
“Why are you shaking?” Alessio asked, surprising me. I looked at his emotionless eyes.
Did he really not know?
“Why don’t you order me to stop? Maybe my body obeys your command.”
Alessio’s expression stiffened.
“I expect you to choose your words more carefully in public. I am your husband and you will respect me.”
I lowered my eyes to his chest, a smile still frozen on my face. Alessio’s mouth pressed my ear as the dance ended. “Understood?”
“Understood, sir.”
Alessio’s grip on me tightened, but he didn’t have a chance to say more because it was Dad’s turn to dance with me. He kept asking me what was wrong, but I saw no reason to tell him. There was nothing he could do, nothing he would do. My mother’s lips moved restlessly during her dance with my husband. From her happy expression, one would think she was the happy bride.
“It’s my turn,” Christian said. My smile became less stiff as my brother took over. He gave me a quick smile as we began to dance.
I hadn’t seen him since he had moved out five years earlier at age 18. Unlike many sons of Underbosses, he had chosen not to work with Dad in Baltimore until he had inherited the title himself. Christian had wanted to make a name for himself and had gone to work under the Morettis.
“It’s so good to see you,” I said, hugging him tighter. He nodded his head. “It is.”
“You don’t look happy that I will soon be living in the same town as you.” Christian shook his head. “Not at this price.”
“You mean I’m married to Alessio?”
Christian looked around, but Alessio was dancing with one of his sisters some distance away.
“He’s not the right man for you.”
“Because he’s too old.” Christian let out a mocking laugh. “That’s just a small part of why.” “Do you know what happened to Gaia?” I hadn’t seen my brother since I had learned I was marrying Alessio. Asking that kind of question over the phone was too dangerous. You never knew if the FBI was listening.
“Only Luca, Mansueto and Alessio know.”
He hesitated.
“And?”
“The cleanup crew. Both died shortly thereafter in a tragic car accident.” For a moment I was sure I hadn’t heard him correctly. My vision was beginning to tunnel. “Dad said Alessio had no role in his wife’s death.” Anger flashed across Christian’s face.
“Dad needs Alessio’s support to stay in power. Father is a weak leader. It is only a matter of time before others try to have him removed. With Alessio in the family, people will hesitate. If I were already in power, I would not have given you to him. I would have controlled our people myself.” Power games. It was not something I wanted to be a part of, but without my doing, I would have become the pawn in this deadly game.
“You’ve been working with Alessio for the last few years. Is he really that bad?” Christian’s expression flickered with regret.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I sank my fingers into his arm.
“Tell me, please. I have to prepare.” But how can one prepare?
“He is effective and brutal. He does not tolerate disobedience. He has his men under control. Few men in our circles are as respected as he is. He is the best Underboss the Family has at the moment.” Christian shook his head. “I should talk to him.”
“No,” I whispered, terrified. If what Christian had said was true, Alessio would not let my brother get involved. Christian was a brave man, and one day he would make a good Underboss, but to risk his life for me? I would not allow that.
“Promise me, you won’t say anything. I swear.”
“I want to help you.”
“Then tell me what to do to make this marriage work with him.” He laughed cheerfully. “How should I know?” Our dance ended, and he fell silent, his mouth twitching in disgust.
“Obey him.” Despair overwhelmed me. Four months ago, my main concern was what kind of Pilates class I would take and whether I would find time to finish a painting.
Today I had to worry about how to please a husband, who might kill his wife and probably the men who had cleaned up the scene afterward.