Page 51 of Mafia Darling

Giulio shrugged, suddenly appearing like an angry youth. “Some.”

Fausto’s gaze flicked to me. “My office, Francesca. Now.”

I blinked. Was he for real? Ordering me around after last night?

He stalked out, denying me the opportunity to tell him to go fuck himself. Then I remembered my promise to talk to Fausto about the potential brides for Giulio. Well, now was as good a time as any. He and I were already fighting. What was one more disagreement thrown onto the pile?

Grabbing a roll out of the basket, I stood. “I’ll see you later, okay? We’ll watch a movie this afternoon.”

Giulio rose, as well. “I might be too busy. We’ll see.”

I kissed his cheeks, then carried my roll and coffee to Fausto’s office. The door was open, so I slipped inside and closed it behind me. He was sitting behind his desk, glasses on, staring at his laptop. “Have a seat, Francesca.”

I lowered myself into a chair, not speaking. Removing his glasses, he closed his laptop and picked up a piece of paper off the desk. “Read this.”

I took it from his hand. “What is it?” A bunch of legalese was at the top, but the word “agreement” jumped out at me, as did our names. “Is this . . . ? Is this for you and me?”

“Yes. I was working on it before.” He waved his hand. “I’ve had some alterations made since Napoli.”

Since I was kidnapped, he meant. Still, this was what I had asked for—a legal agreement that offered security to me and my baby. I set down my roll and coffee to give the contract my full attention.

Thankfully, it was in English so I had no trouble following what Fausto was offering. It was a staggering amount of money to be set aside in a trust, plus stocks and even gold, but there were strings. I shook my head, frustration scalding the back of my neck. Was he looking for ways to piss me off? “So I collect only if I marry you? We aren’t getting married, Fausto.”

He slid a black ring box onto the desk.

My jaw fell open and my breath started coming sharp and fast, like my lungs were on fire. “What is that?”

“Open it.”

“I don’t want to open it.” I was terrified of what was inside.

Reaching, he flipped the ring box open. Of course it was gorgeous. A huge emerald-cut diamond sat in a platinum band, smaller stones flanking the sides. Was I sweating? I felt like I was sweating.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

Was he serious? “It’s . . . Wow, there are no words.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Good. It’s stunning.”

“Va bene. It belonged to my mother.”

“So Lucia . . . ?”

He shook his head once. “She never wore this. She wanted a bigger stone.”

Bigger than this? Wow, that was some Real Housewives-level shit. “I-I still can’t accept it. I’m not ready to think about marriage.”

“Unfortunately, you must. The Guardia will try to wear you down. They will threaten your sisters or our child. You will never be fully protected until you are my wife. It gives you security.”

“And ties me to you for the rest of my life.”

“True, but take solace in the fact that men in my position don’t live very long.”

“Jesus, Fausto.” I rubbed my eyes and tried to ignore the way my stomach flopped at the idea of losing him. “That’s grim.”

“I’m a realist. Should something happen to me, say if I am sent to prison, then you would be protected and provided for. When I die, whether that’s tomorrow or twenty years from now, you get a large portion with the rest going to Giulio. I’m giving you nearly everything, Francesca.”

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