Page 6 of Between Us

“Then do something about it,” Alessandra challenged, although she knew it was useless.

“I've tried,bambina. You know I have. Your father will not hear me.”

Alessandra knew as much. Of course, she did. Once her father decided something, there was no changing his mind. Still, the frustration inside of her mounted until the point of spillover.

“It's not fair,” she muttered, doing her best to rein in her feelings. She’d already cried her eyes out every day since that fatidic Sunday afternoon, and it hadn’t helped with anything.

The car merged into traffic, and she glanced out her window to watch the passing buildings.

“I know,” her mother said more gently. She had nothing else to offer.

A victim of her own upbringing, Gabriella had married Nero in the same fashion her daughter was being forced to marry an outsider. The humiliation was all the greater for Alessandra because she couldn't even have a husband from their own social circle. In the mafia world, Russians had the worst reputation. Everyone and their sister knew it. Despite being upset about the unfavorable turn of events, Alessandra knewGabriella's heart ached with the uncertainty looming over her child's future alongside such a man.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence, neither woman in a mood to further discuss Nero’s decision or his motives for it. Alessandra didn’t think her mother knew the real reason for the unlikely alliance, but even if she did, she wasn’t going to share it with her. Her father had always been strict about the information reaching Alessandra’s ears, and this time was no exception. If her mother knew more than she was letting on, she was keeping it to herself.

Ronnie dropped them off in front of the restaurant where they were meeting Vito's wife and niece. The two women were already seated at their usual table in the corner, chatting over cups of espresso when Alessandra and her mother made their way inside.

“Gabriella, Alessandra,” Carmen greeted with a smile, air-kissing both of them. Luca’s mother was a beautiful woman, looking much younger than her fifty-two years. Her hazel-colored eyes lingered on Alessandra’s face for a second, and the soft lines around her mouth betrayed her displeasure, though she would never dare to voice it.

Alessandra felt uncomfortable being there. The awkwardness surrounding their current predicament couldn't be denied, although it was certainly going to be ignored.

Mia gave Alessandra a supportive smile over the rim of her water glass. During the years, Carmen’s numerous attempts at producing another Morano child had failed, much to Vito’s disappointment, who had been hoping for more heirs. As a result, Carmen was now dragging her adult niece to all sorts ofsocial outings in a desperate attempt to fill that void. Alessandra liked Mia just fine. Although a few years older than her, they got along well, and she could almost consider Mia a friend.

Over the course of the next two hours, the four women indulged in pricey food and small talk. They never touched the thorny subject of Alessandra’s impending nuptials to Roman Leskov, nor the broken arrangement between their families which was a shock in itself for their secluded universe thriving in the heart of Chicago.

After dessert, Mia excused herself to go outside for a smoke. It was a habit frowned upon by the women in their entourage, but her husband didn't mind it, and she tended not to give a fuck about other people's opinions.

Alessandra used the opportunity to get away from the table and the conversation centering on the latest gossip about one of their mutual female acquaintances.

“You look like you could use one,” Mia teased when Alessandra stepped outside, lifting the cigarette to her lips and taking a long drag.

“In times like these, I wish I smoked.”

“It's never too late to start.”

Alessandra knew Mia was only messing with her, but she couldn't help the sudden urge to do something she wasn’t supposed to. Something forbidden that her parents resented.

She didn’t pause to consider her next action. She was still angry about her father’s betrayal, and, for once, she wished she could tell him and the entire world to just fuck off. Snatching the cigarette from Mia's fingers, she brought it to her mouth. She'd done it before, on occasion, so this wasn't anything new to her, thoughshe really wasn’t a fan. Mia watched, amused, as Alessandra blew out a cloud of smoke.

“Did Luca talk to you?” Alessandra got straight to the point, effectively wiping the smile from the other girl’s face.

“No. He talked to Gio, though. He’s very upset about the whole thing.”

Alessandra let out a deriding puff of air through her nose. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious.”

“Why hasn’t he reached out, then? He hasn’t said a word to me since that day.”

Mia let out a heavy sigh. “Uncle Vito forbade him to talk to you.” Then her voice turned gentler. “I’m really sorry. Nobody expected that decision coming from your father.”

Alessandra knew as much. Not in a mood to further delve into that topic, she took another drag from the cigarette between her fingers before returning it to Mia.

“Is this what you do when your father is not around?”

Alessandra's head snapped up at the sound of the masculine voice she couldn’t place so fast. Her eyes widened a fraction when she recognized Roman standing a few feet away, sharp gaze fixed on her face. She hadn't seen him since that afternoon at her house when they had been officially introduced and then forcefully engaged not even two minutes later.

It took her a minute to find her voice.

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