Page 105 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

He grins wider. “Sergio. The only name you really need to remember.”

Matteo shoots a dirty look at him and a veiled one at me. Then he introduces me to the other brother, Dante.

“Always thought it’d be a cold day in hell that Matty got hitched,” Dante says. “Pretty ironic that he ended up in Heaven.”

That comment gets plenty of laughs, and it isn’t long before my brothers edge in on the action. After more hugs and well wishes, we’re surrounded by our families, holding flutes full of champagne.

And as Aunt Maura fusses and beams, and I go through the motions of a happy alliance, all I want is to get out of here.

Aunt Maura gives me a squeeze. “What kind of world would this be without our own little slice of Heaven?” she says.

“Well, it’d probably be a quieter one,” Patrick says from behind me. He and Quinn and Niall bring over shots of whiskey and hand them around. “Now that we’re done with the chick booze, let’s get to the hard stuff.”

“I resent that,” I say, swallowing the fiery, amber-colored liquid.

The shots keep coming, but Patrick pulls me away from the group, his expression curious and maybe a little incredulous.

“Heaven, is it me, or do you actually like your husband?” he asks. “Because the way you guys are acting makes me think that tonight won’t be the first time…” he clears his throat, “that Matteo’s gonna be in Heaven.”

I give his arm a whack, playing the part I’ve been ordered to play. “Patty, it’s kind of crazy to me, too.” I look back at Matteo, whose dark blue gaze is intense on me. “It just, I don’t know, happened. So fast, too. I’m still kind of in shock myself.”

“You took one for the team, that’s for damn sure. I just never expected you’d fall for the guy.”

I wish I wasn’t falling for him. But I keep that to myself. “It’s the best of both worlds, right? Everyone is safe, and things worked out for me and Matteo.”

My gut churns, reminding me all is definitely not well and that Dominguez is still a threat. But I also know Matteo will make good on his arrangement with Dad. He has a network, and if Dominguez wants to battle, Matteo will call in the troops.

I take a deep breath. Yes, everything will be fine. And I’ll do what I have to so I don’t get sent away. And Conor?

I’ll take care of Conor myself when the time comes.

“So, is it true about Italians in the bedroom?”

“I’m not talking about that with you, Patty.”

“Talking about what?” Matteo says, grabbing me from behind and spinning me around to plant a kiss on my lips. “Behaving?”

“For now,” I say so only he can hear as Patrick prattles on.

“Maybe now’s a good time to go,” he murmurs, pulling me close to his broad chest.

“Okay, I don’t really need to witness what you’re going to do to my sister, so this is probably my cue to exit,” Patrick says and disappears to chat up a waitress.

I look up at Matteo, the smiles all disappearing. “We can’t go. There’s a party, and we’re playing the role of happy couple. Remember?”

“Heaven…”

But we can’t leave yet, and the evening passes by in a flash of laughter, dancing, and chatter.

It’s perfect.

And everything I never thought I’d want in a million years.

Or it would be. If it were real.

I gaze around the dining room, noticing that one grimacing face is missing from the party.

Conor.

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