Page 118 of Mafia Boss's Fake Wife

I can’t wake her.

The second I do, the illusion will be over.

We need to stay together, for this. For now. Because the safety she has as my wife will buy her some time.

But after that?

I have to find a way to divorce her. I love her.

I love her far too much to shackle her to me for the rest of her life.

Sal calls me again, and this time, I take it. I’m walking around outside, pacing, as the nice Italian couple who owns the place cooks us breakfast. They made a big deal about us being newlyweds, a lie that flowed very easily when we checked in last night.

A lie that tastes like ash now.

“We don’t know anyone in Vienna. What the fuck are you doing?” he barks.

“None of your business.”

I can practically feel Sal’s irritation. “Marco…”

“Who could possibly know anyone in Vienna?”

Sal huffs out a breath. “I don’t know, man. I really fuckin’ don’t.”

“I need to know.”

“Because of your new girl?”

Ifreeze.

Seemingly sensing my reaction, Sal makes a noise. “You’re trying to fix her life for her.”

“I’m not.”

“Liam told on you.”

Fucking Liam. “I’m fine, Sal.”

“It wouldn’t fucking kill you to ask for help, goddamnit.”

I pause.

Sal almost never curses at me.

He heaves a breath on the phone. “You’re doing too much, man. You’re all over the fucking place. And I know why you did it for us, I really do. But if you want to help your girl, you’re going to need help yourself. You can’t watch out for her without someone watching out for you. Trust me, I know.”

I snort. “Do you?”

“Yeah, motherfucker. I had you watching out for me the whole time, remember?”

My heart pulses.

“All I’m saying,” Sal continues, “is that you have done this for all of us. Me. Elio. Dino. You kind of helped Elio and Caterina, anyway, but I wouldn’t say that you helped her.”

“No,” I say hoarsely. “I fucked that one up.”

“You got lucky on that one. But it’s time for us to help you, Marco. You’ve done enough on your own. You love this girl, right?”

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