Page 26 of Own Me

"Do you have any complaints? Any worries?"

"No, ma'am."

"You weren't this nervous with me the first time."

That's because yesterday, I was mostly in shock, but now that the truth of her identity has truly sunk in, and I find myself recalling of all the other gory stories I've heard of howLa Stregahas tortured those stupid enough to piss her off—-

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

The older woman glances at Cesare, asking, "Is she also like this with you?"

"Not at all," her grandson drawls. "But maybe that's also because most of the time we're busy turning each other on—-"

"Cesare!"

His grandmother and I end up saying his name at the same time, withLa Stregasounding outraged while mine comes out in a dismayed squeak.

Cesare only smirks. "You can't say it didn't work."

La Stregaand I look at each other...and we end up grimacing at the same time.

Grrr.

Both of us find it rather galling to realize that Cesare's absolutely right, and although our conversation takes a serious turn after that, it's indeed true that I no longer feel nervous or intimidated inLa Strega's presence.

"The whole of New England has not been involved in the drug trade ever since I took the reins of ourfamiglia.It was about a year ago, however, that we started to hear rumors aboutsomeone from the Sorrentos wanting to change this. That's when I knew I had to do everything to find you—-"

"Because you believe be able to put a stop to it," I say quietly, "through my marriage to Cesare."

"Oh no,bambina. I don't just believe this. I know it will be so, and I mean it to be so.Ourfamigliais ready to go to war with whoever opposes us on this, but let us hope it will not come to that,sì?In the meantime..."La Stregareaches over the desk to gently squeeze my hand, saying, "I know you are looking forward to meeting your grandmother, but for now it is best to keep your existence a secret, just to keep anyone from...meddling.Va bene?"

THINGS HAVE STARTEDto feel overwhelmingly surreal again by the time Cesare and I leave his grandmother's study, and it's only when I'm already in the passenger seat of Cesare's sports car, and he's driving past the ornate gates of the Marchetti Mansion that I finally manage to get out of my thoughts.

I glance at the rearview mirror, and my heart skips a beat when I realize there doesn't seem to be a convoy of cars full of bodyguards following us.

If it's truly just the two of us now, then...is it safe to assume we're about to have our first date?

Eep.

The thought makes me giddy as a schoolgirl, and my heart starts racing when I turn my gaze to mymafiaboss.

Oh.

Is it just me...or does Cesare look so much cooler when he's driving, and especially with a pair of aviator glasses shielding his gaze?

"As much as I love having you stare at me—-"

Oops.

"I need you to concentrate and listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

It takes everything not to squirm in my seat while I wait for his next words. Is this it? Is he going to tell me we're about to go out on a date, and it's because he's changed his mind, and he's realized that what he really wants is a normal marriage—-

"You know that Boston is Marchetti territory,sì?"

I nod and say yes even as I try figuring out what this has to do with anything. Maybe...Cesare is just like his grandmother, and this is all a test? Maybe he wants to know if geography is a strong suit of mine, since it's something everyone expects from amafiaboss's wife?

"There is nothing that goes on in this city that ourfamigliadoes not control. Everything you see is ours. Everyone you will meet here works for us. Boston isours,in every way there is."

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