Page 42 of Mafia Don's Twisted Proposal
“Weren’t you terrified?” Paige asks after I tell her about my first skydiving experience. Her eyes are wide with something between admiration and horror.
“A little, but that’s the point. The fear makes it incredible. The adrenaline rush is like nothing else.”
She glances at Dario, who’s deep in conversation with Lorenzo and Luca. “Sometimes I think I’ve had enough excitement for several lifetimes.”
“Yeah, I heard about the Bratva situation,” I say quietly.
“It’s not exactly classified information,” she says with dark humor. “They tried to kill Dario multiple times last year. I got caught in the crossfire more than once.”
Something haunted flickers across her face, and I quickly change the subject. “Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?”
Her laugh is pure disbelief, and we move on to safer topics. Time flies as we talk and eat and drink champagne. Eventually, people start migrating to the dance floor, including Paolo and Quinn, who move together like they were choreographed.
But I’m too distracted by Lorenzo’s heated stare to focus on the dancing.
“What do you think?” he asks, and there’s something almost vulnerable in his voice.
“It’s incredible. Like stepping into another world.” I look around at all these people—his people—and realize the scope of what Lorenzo commands. “They all just...accept me. It’s crazy.”
“That’s part of being my wife. My men will always protect you and show you respect.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “So I get the amazing house, the mind-blowing sex, and a personal army of mafia bodyguards. Is there any downside to this marriage?”
I mean it as a joke, but his expression turns serious.
“I wish I could say no.”
Right. The danger. The enemies. The severed body parts delivered to the front door. I think about the shadow that crossed Paige’s face earlier, but also how she lights up when she talks about Dario and their babies. Whatever she’s been through, she thinks it’s worth it.
Lorenzo leans in, and I meet him halfway. Our kiss is slow and deep, and for a moment, the party fades away. There’s just him and me and this strange new life I’ve somehow fallen into.
When we break apart, I’m breathless and dizzy and wondering if I’m completely out of my mind.
But as I look around at these people who’ve welcomed me, at Lorenzo who’s watching me like I’m the most precious thing in his world, I think maybe being out of my mind isn’t such a bad thing.
Maybe it’s right where I’m supposed to be.
16
LORENZO
The party is a success.
After the formal introductions and dinner, the evening has settled into dancing, drinks, and the kind of socializing that builds loyalty. Mia has been glued to my side all night, but when her friends finally arrive from LA, her face transforms.
Pure joy. That’s what I see when she spots Jill and Olivia making their way through the crowd, and the sight knocks something loose inside me.
Both women are taking in the backyard with impressed expressions. Jill Vecchio comes from money, but even she’s eyeing the crystal lights strung through the pergola with the calculating gaze of someone who knows exactly how much this kind of setup costs.
This time, Mia’s the one doing the introductions. I met them the night of the wedding, but that was different. Back then, I was playing the role of William Vecchio’s business associate, a carefully constructed facade I’d used to get myself invited in the first place.
Weeks ago, when I learned my woman would be in Vegas for a wedding, I set about discovering every detail I could. It was pure luck that Jill’s father happened to be the CEO of a cosmetics company with a worker strike problem. He was hemorrhaging money daily until I offered to solve it for him. No charge.
All I wanted was an invitation to his daughter’s wedding.
William was suspicious, naturally. But after I sent a few guys topersuadethe workers to end their strike, he gave me what I wanted.
“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Andretti,” Jill says politely.
