Page 37 of Mafia Darling

He went to Emilia and kissed her cheeks. “You are looking well,” he told her. “Is he still going on about your divorce?”

“Of course. He’s disappointed in the lack of grandchildren.”

“Tell him that is what your brothers are for. Let’s talk in my office before you leave today. I have some things I need you to check into for me. ”

Emilia nodded. “All right.”

Did Emilia’s accounting firm handle some of the mafia’s money? Knowing it was none of my business, I returned to my grapes. Something suddenly dropped on my head, startling me. “Hey!”

Fausto had put his baseball hat on my head, which he was now adjusting. “Wear this. You need to protect your face from the sun.”

I didn’t know what to say. It was sweet of him, but I wasn’t used to sweet Fausto yet. I probably never would be.

Bending, he kissed my cheek. “Have fun, amore. Try not to eat too many grapes, eh?”

Then he sauntered off, his ass total perfection in the worn jeans, while his broad shoulders stretched the fabric of his t-shirt. Would it be terrible if we slept together just once?

I nearly smacked myself. Of course it would be terrible! He had been a complete asshole to me.

Except my body didn’t care. It seemed fully on board for treating Fausto’s dick like an amusement park ride. Was this from the the pregnancy hormones, or would I still feel this way after the baby arrived?

When I turned, Emilia was watching me carefully. Grinning, she snapped her clippers at me like castanets. “What was that about not being together? Because that man is absolutely smitten over you.”

I didn’t have the heart to correct her. Fausto might seem smitten now, but what about the next time I did or said something he didn’t like? “Have you known him a long time?”

“As long as I can remember. Which is why I must start shopping for a dress to wear to your wedding.”

I plucked a grape off a vine and tossed it at her head.

* * *

Fausto

I opened the door to my office and found a stocky man waiting there with Marco. Everyone stood as I walked in.

“Fausto, my boy!” A contemporary of my father, Girolamo Condello was a don from another era and the head of Piedmont’s biggest ’ndrina. Like me, he was a member of La Provencia, our ruling body.

“Ciao, Mommo.” I kissed his cheeks. “What a pleasant surprise.” I had a feeling what this meeting might concern, but I hoped I was wrong. Marco’s worried expression told me he suspected, as well.

“You are looking well. It has been a long time since I have seen you out of a suit.”

“Forgive me,” I said with a self-deprecating shrug. “We began la vendemmia and I’ve just come in from the vineyard.”

“Ah, I do envy you and your vineyards. I would never turn down a glass of Ravazzani ciró.”

Marco poured wine while I sat. We both picked up our glasses and toasted. “Salute.”

I leaned back in my chair and asked the necessary questions about his wife and grandkids. Mommo had outlived two wives, and it seemed this last one might live long enough to inherit his fortune. Though who could say? The other two had disappeared suddenly.

He asked me about Giulio and business. I gave vague answers. Even with other capos I preferred to keep my information private. Besides, I wanted to move this along. I still needed to wash the vineyard off. Finally, I said, “I’m surprised to find you in Siderno. Are you on holiday?”

“I am here on business, unfortunately.” He set his wine glass on my desk, then folded his hands across his middle. “Enzo D’Agostino has been missing for a few days, his beach house like something out of one of those horror films. I’m told no one survived save his mantenuta and two soldiers hiding in a secret room.”

I resisted the urge to snarl at Marco. Sloppy work, leaving those two soldiers alive. No doubt they had opened their fucking mouths and spread tales of what happened far and wide.

Fury at my men aside, I tried to keep my tone light. “And you’ve come here to let me know?”

“I’ve come for information. I know you and your men were there. It’s been rumored that you and D’Agostino had a disagreement of some sort.”

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