Page 22 of Auctioned To Her Dad's Mafia Enemies

Chiaccherone, Luca’s cat, winds its way around my feet andcries. It heard my voice and thought its master was home and now it’s sad. Thestupid animal doesn’t like anyone except my brother. When we’re home, it sitson Luca’s lap, making him look like a Bond villain. He brings him treats in hispockets and kisses him like he’s a baby. No wonder the cat loves him so much.

I nudge it aside with my foot.

“So, this business?”

I use the napkin to wipe my face one lasttime, my belly now perfectly full. “That was delicious, Mama. Thank you. Nobodycooks like you.”

“Not even Antonio?”

I smirk. “He’s a passable alternative.”

“You all need wives to cook for you. Look atme. I’m old, and not a grandbaby between four children. At mass, they pray forme.”

“Who prays?”

“Everyone.”

“Rosita will come back pregnant.”

Even though thinking about my sister that waymakes me want to murder someone, I’d be relieved if it gets Mama off my back.

She repeats the sign of the cross. “Maybe, butyou…” She wags her finger at me like I’m a toddler who’s misbehaving. “Don’twaste your time like your brothers. Thirty-two is a good age to start a family.I can help you find a good girl.”

“What about Luca and Antonio?” I’m theyoungest of her sons. Why the hell is the pressure to carry on the family namefalling on my head?

“You think your brothers can mold aroundanother person now? Luca is like marble, and Antonio is like steel. Don’t leaveit too long… I don’t need another brick for a son.”

“Mama.” I stand and dip to kiss her warm softcheek.

She grips my face between her palms again,assessing me with Luca’s eyes. “This life has taken a lot from me, Alexis. Myhusband. My son. Don’t let it steal the future of the Venturi name. It’s time.”

“I love you, Mama,” is all I can think of toreply because although there’s never a shortage of women in my bed, none hasever registered as a marriage prospect. What kind of woman can put up with thislife; the risks, the dubious conscience we need to hold onto power when behindyou there are even worse people looking to steal everything you have. It couldonly ever be a half measure of love. An expectation for someone to love theparts of me that are acceptable and look past everything else. A love like thatisn’t worth it.

I think of Aemelia and the disgusted way shelooked at me as I crouched at her feet to wipe her. That disgust I can dealwith. I prefer it because it’s honest. The women who look at me like I’m anangel on the inside as well as the outside can never be anything but fake.Disgust turns me on because it’s something I can push against. It’s somethingthat burns with heat like rage and shame.

Mama taps my cheek a little too hard foraffection. “I’m going to be dead soon. Find someone else to love.”

***

I call Antonio from the car on my way to meetmy crew. “Anything from the rat?”

“Nothing.”

“You think the message has got to him?”

“Who the fuck knows? He’s at the bottom of awell. The coin has to sink.”

“So we wait?”

“We wait.”

I’m nota patient man. Neither are my brothers, and the longer we have to wait, thelonger pretty little Aemelia is going to be under our roof.

“How’s the kitten?”

“She has claws.”

I laugh at the idea that little AemeliaLambrettimight have hurt my huge, vicious brother.

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