Page 40 of Precious Hazard

My forehead furrows. I must have misread his lips. “Say that again.”

“Surely you’ve noticed the two of them are dating.”

“Bullshit. It’s a stupid farce DeVille put Tara up to somehow. I haven’t yet figured out his endgame, but I don’t believe for a moment that shit between the two of them is genuine.”

“That’s unfortunate.” Ajello spreads his arms along the back of the sofa. “Because it is serious. In fact, Arturo will be coming to see you tomorrow to formally ask you for your sister’s hand. He greatly values traditions.”

“He can ask.” I grin. “And I will maim him.”

“What you should do, Drago, is ask yourself why your sister agreed to marry Arturo in the first place.”

Rage clouds my vision. I stand up and lean over the table, getting in Ajello’s face. “What did you do, you asshole? Did you threaten her like you threatened Sienna? Because if you did, I’m going to—”

“I did absolutely nothing beyond offering the name of a bride,” he interrupts. “Whatever made Tara go along with the idea of marriage is something between Arturo and her. If your sister wanted you to intercede in that situation in any way, she would have come to you.”

The anger pulsing in my head morphs into confusion. A moment later, a shocking revelation sends me reeling. There’s no way Tara is in love with Arturo. Which means she’s been faking with that bastard, probably for my sake. The question is, why? What did she get herself into this time? And why the fuck didn’t she come to me for help?

“Where the fuck is my brother-in-law? I’m going to put a stop to this insanity immediately,” I bark. “Whatever she did, I’ll fix it.”

“Like you always do?”

“Yes!”

“You’ll just keep on saving her over and over? Robbing her of every opportunity to solve her own problems? To own up to the mistakes she’s made and feel pride when she finally has a chance to overcome them? ” He cocks his head to the side while his gaze drills into mine. “Are you really that selfish? Or maybe… you’re simply afraid.”

My throat burns with the acid rising up from my gut, and I want nothing more than to punch this motherfucker. Because he’s right. And I hate him for it.

“You can’t expect me to just sit back and watch Tara ruin her happiness. Regardless of how they act, I know she hates him. Trying to prevent my baby sister from being miserable for the rest of her life,” I rasp, “isthatyour view of selfishness?”

“Actually, it will only be a year.”

“What?”

Something resembling a slight smirk dances on Ajello’s lips. It must be a trick of the light because the man never smiles.

“A little birdie told me they made a deal. Arturo and Tara. He’ll give her a divorce once their year of marriage is through.” A corner of his mouth edges upward. “And she’ll receive a million dollars for every month they’re together. That was her demand, which Arturo had no choice but to comply with. Very clever, that sister of yours.”

“Isuse.” I snatch the tumbler of whiskey off the table and down the contents in a single gulp.

“I know you love Tara. She’s the only blood you have left. But she desperately needs to learn how to deal with the repercussions of her actions. Alone. And this particular lesson is best learned when it’s lived. Despite this useless animosity between you and Arturo, you must know that he would never do anything to hurt your sister. So why not let this marriage play out and see what happens?” He shrugs. “Besides, there’s that little fact that you owe Cosa Nostra for saving your life after your skirmish with the Romanians. Surely, indulging me by not standing in the way of this union is reasonable in terms of repaying that debt?”

“What do you get out of it?” I snap. “This… this foolish marriage experiment or whatever you want to call it? And what’s in it for DeVille?”

“I want Arturo to be happy. And you undoubtedly want the same for your sister. I’m confident that he and Tara are actually a perfect match. Neither of them thinks so, but I’m certain this little ordeal will prove it to them. For it to be a success, though, I need you to do your part.”

“Meaning, just sit back, watch, and pretend I’m buying their charade?”

“Exactly.” Ajello rises and adjusts his jacket. “Trust me. I have a good feeling about this.”

With his hands in his pants pockets, the Italian don strides across the empty dance floor. Despite a slightly uneven gait, he looks as if he’s taking a casual stroll. Not a worry in the world rests upon him.

“A fucking brain disorder,” I mutter. “That’s what you have, you scheming lunatic.”

Next to my empty glass on the table, my phone vibrates with an incoming text. I ignore it, still too preoccupied by thatconversation. The man is obviously nuts. But he is also right. I’ve been squeezing Tara too tightly, trying to keep her safe. From everything. Even her own choices.

Maybe… Maybe it’s time to let her save herself.

But, if things go south… If that smug, pretty-boy bastard hurts my sister… That gold cross around his neck won’t be the only one he’s wearing. And he won’t survive my brand of faith.

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