Page 14 of Of Oaths and Secrets

He watches me for a moment, weighing his words, then finally speaks. “I’ve taken the morning off. I’m taking you shopping for your engagement ring. It will allow us to get to know each other a little.”

His statement is so matter-of-fact that it takes me a moment to process it. Shopping for my engagement ring with a man like Rafaele Lucchese—someone who has barely shown a hint of interest toward me—feels surreal. This feels too real, too fast, just…toomuch.

I nod, trying to appear composed. “Of course. That sounds… appropriate.”

His smile widens just a fraction, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Good. Let’s go.”

“Oh, you want to go now, now?”

He cocks his head to the side. “Is there a reason you can’t?”

So many.“Well, no.” I glance down at my outfit again. “Just give me ten minutes; I’ll change.”

He shakes his head. “Again, why? Are you uncomfortable?”

I frown, momentarily caught off guard. Does he actually care? “No, it’s just not very capo’s-wife appropriate.”

He shrugs. “Who’s to say what’s ‘capo’s wife’ appropriate? And it’s a good thing I’m not a capo.”

“Yet.”

His lips twitch into a half smile. “Yet.” He gestures toward the door, and I glance around one more time, searching for an excuse.

“You’re safe, Nora. I will not hurt you.” There’s a certain edge in his voice now, a hint of exasperation.

“No, it’s—” I sigh. “It’s nothing. Let me just grab my bag and coat.”

He waits by the door as I do so, watching silently as I tell Donna where I’m going so she can inform my father. When I step outside, a tall man is waiting by the car, his build solid and muscular, with a shaved head and a hard, chiseled face that looks like it’s seen more than its fair share of fights. His presence exudes a calm but unmistakable strength, as if he’s always ready for anything.

Rafaele surprises me by stopping beside him. “Nora, this is Paolo, my right-hand man.”

“Moonlighting as best friend on occasion,” Paolo says with a smile, making me smile in return as he takes my hand to kiss the back of it.

“A position I may have to rethink,” Rafaele states, his tone flat. “Let go of her hand, and let’s go.”

Rafaele opens the car door for me and settles beside me in the back as Paolo takes the driver’s seat.

“Harry Winston,” Rafaele tells Paolo.

“Why?” I can’t help but ask.

“Isn’t he the king of diamonds?” Rafaele asks, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t it the place all girls dream of going?”

If only you knew what I dream of,I think, but only shake my head. “Why not go to Lorenzo Bellini Gioiellieri? It’s tradition.”

Rafaele meets Paolo’s eyes in the rearview mirror as if they’re having a silent conversation.

“Are you sure? It’s not the same quality,” Rafaele says, his voice laced with doubt.

I shrug. “It’s more than enough for me.”

He meets Paolo’s eyes again, and when Paolo winks at him, Rafaele glares back. “Fine, Lorenzo it is.”

“Yesterday took everyone by surprise,” Rafaele says in a low tone meant only for me.

“What did?” I ask, curious.

He glances my way briefly before focusing ahead again. “Your choice.”

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