Page 18 of His to Break

“You’ll get a generous payoff, but you’re done.”

“You’ll regret this, Volante.” There’s venom in his tone, but I ignore the threat. He’s upset right now, but he’ll get over it.

As I walk to the exit, I spot Dennis lingering behind the bar. He shoots me a reproachful glare, but fuck him. He told me what the problem here was, and I handled it.

“Tell Sonia she’s stepping up.”

He nods and I leave, feeling like a total shit. What I need right now is to fuck my beautiful wife. I stifle a groan as I get behind the wheel of my Porsche Cayenne. I’m going to have to go and retrieve Vinnie from my mother’s house. The prospect makes my stomach drop. No doubt I’ll have to deal with hysterics over my decision to marry without telling Mamma. This is shaping up to be a really shitty day.

CHAPTER 8

Vinnie

There are few people I’ve instantly felt comfortable with, but a mere half hour of arriving at the Volantes’ family townhouse, I was completely at ease. Leo’s mother, Ava, might look the part of the mob matriarch in her expensive blue silk dress, her hair and makeup flawlessly done, but she’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.

Olivia, who warmed up to me a little after her initial shock at discovering I was Leo’s wife, told me her mother would greet me like an excited puppy. She was right. The moment I stepped through the front door into the magnificent marble-floored hallway, Ava pulled me into a tight embrace, welcoming me as her daughter. Then she introduced me to Alessandro and his stunning wife, Emilia.

When Alessandro, a carbon copy of his brothers, tried to shake my hand, Ava pushed him forward to hug me. She admonished him for treating his new sister in such a formal manner. It was all overwhelming.

Alessandro didn’t stay for long. I was grateful for that. He’s got the same big bad mobster vibe going on that his brothers do. Though his expression softened whenever he looked at his wife, making him seem more approachable, I don’t think I’d have had such a pleasant afternoon if he’d stuck around. I wouldn’t have been able to relax.

“Have another sandwich.” Ava pushes the plate piled high with food toward me.

When she picked up on my accent and discovered I’ve lived most of my life in England, she instructed her staff to make a traditional afternoon tea. It’s not something I would usually indulge in, but I appreciate the effort. Her cook did an incredible job of producing finger sandwiches, scones, and delicate cakes at short notice.

“Thank you.” I take a sandwich with cream cheese and slivers of smoked salmon on my plate.

Considering who my father is, I can’t believe how welcoming the women in Leo’s family have been. Ava is incredibly nice and Emilia, although a little more reserved, was quick to offer her hotel as a venue for a party to celebrate my marriage to Leo. Olivia was fun to shop with. She knew all the best boutiques and was happy to spend my husband’s money. She was also good at issuing commands to the four bodyguards who accompanied us everywhere, ensuring they didn’t wreck our enjoyment of the experience. I’ll need to ask her for more pointers on dealing with these looming presences in our lives. The guards my father appointed to watch over me never listened to a word I said.

Before we came to the Volante family home, I was glad to have the chance to change into one of my new outfits. Meeting Ava is a big deal, and I wanted to make a good first impression on my new mother-in-law. The slim-fitting black pants and white silk shirt I chose are comfortable but feel smart enough for the occasion.

“You know, Vinnie,” Ava says, tilting her head to one side as she studies me. “You remind me so much of your mother. We were good friends for a time.”

That catches me off guard. Although I assumed the wives of two New York mob bosses would be aware of each other’s existence, I didn’t think they’d be friends. “You were?”

“Oh, yes. I first met Annabelle when she came to New York with your grandfather. It was shortly after he relocated here that he and your grandmother divorced. We met at a cooking class and became close.”

“You took a cooking class?” Olivia doesn’t disguise her incredulity. She’s been sitting silently next to Emilia on the sofa opposite us until now, allowing Ava and me to get to know each other.

Ava’s lips purse. “I didn’t say I’d passed the course.” She leans in closer to me and whispers conspiratorially, “I’m a terrible cook.”

“Me too.” I don’t know why I say that. I guess I didn’t want her to feel bad.

In truth, I have no idea if I’m a good cook because I’ve never tried. A succession of housekeepers fed me until Benny came along when I was eighteen and settled permanently into the role of personal chef.

As I think of him, I consider mentioning his situation to Ava. She might help me ensure his safety. Suspecting it might anger Leo if I recruit his mother to my cause, I decide against saying anything. I can’t risk my husband getting mad at me and taking it out on Benny.

“Really?” Ava picks up her dainty teacup and sips delicately. “Your mother was a natural.”

I smile, remembering the food my mom made for me when I was little. She was a big fan of traditional Italian cuisine. Pasta was a staple. I think it’s because that was the food my father enjoyed. She pined for the bastard until the day she died.

“How come we’ve never heard about this friendship?” Olivia asks.

Ava’s smile falters. “Because we fell out. When I was twelve, my father made an agreement for me to marry Carlo Bianchi when I turned eighteen. Everything was arranged. Then Carlo saw Annabelle at a party and he wanted her instead. He severed the deal with my father, leaving me looking like tainted goods.”

Olivia frowns. “Did you want to marry Carlo?”

“God, no.” Ava sounds horrified by the prospect, but I’m not insulted by her reaction. The man is a complete pig. “The thought of marrying him made me sick to the stomach, but I grew up around men like him and I knew what I was in for. Annabelle came from a different background. She had no idea how our world works. I tried to warn her about the type of man Carlo was, but she mistook my concern for jealousy.”

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