Page 49 of Blood & Lace
"Fuck!"
I slammed my door and leaned against it. What was she doing here? What was Lucero thinking?
Onyx: Did you invite your family over?
Lucero: They just showed up, I swear.
Onyx: … why don't I believe you?
Onyx: You could have told me! I'm half dressed and your mom is in my kitchen.
Lucero: Our kitchen. I'm sure she doesn't mind. Come say hi.
Come say hi. I was going to kill him once and for all. This was it, tonight I was going to sneak out to where he took up my entire couch and stab eight needles in his neck. No, ten. Eventually it would work. It had to.
I swapped out my robe and panties for jeans and a blue T-shirt. When I stepped out a second time, more of Lucero's family had gathered in my kitchen. They nodded at me or said hello, and I was overwhelmed by how many of them there were. His mother, however, grabbed my wrist and dragged me closer.
"Taste," she said.
I tasted the sauce on her spoon and nearly melted. "Wow, that's really good."
"You think so?" she asked, smiling at me. "Family recipe. Now that you're married to my Luci, you can have it."
I raised a brow. "Luci?"
"Oh, I've been calling him that since he was a spoiled ragazzino. Don't tell him I told you though." She walked around the kitchen, putting more things on the counter. "Are you allergic to anything?"
I shook my head.
"Try the fish as well."
I did. I loved it. Fuck, was she just amazing at cooking everything? It tasted better than some of the high quality restaurants I frequented. Better even than my favorite place, Emerald Grand.
"How are you so good at this?" I whispered.
"Years of practice. So I can teach you all of this. Although, you're not technically a Marino." She frowned.
My heart thudded. "That wasnotmy choice. I've asked Lucero to change his name back a hundred times and he refuses."
"Yes, he can be stubborn, can't he?" She chuckled. "When he gets something in his head? Forget about it. All he talks about is that thing until he gets it. He was the same way with you. Saw you one day at a gallery, then talked my ear off for an hour straight."
I tilted my head. Lucero had met me at a gallery? I tried to think. How many years ago? I had been to many events, but I couldn't put his face to any of them.
"He said when you two spoke, he just knew you were the one for him." She sighed.
And we spoke? Fuck. Why am I drawing a blank?
"Ma, don't talk his ear off," Lucero said as he walked up and stopped to stare at me. "Hey."
"Hi," I muttered.
"Are you two fighting?" the woman asked, her eyes narrowing. "You know, couples get into fights. Marriage is all about how you navigate them. And good sex."
"Ma!" Lucero called.
She chuckled. "Okay, okay, Luci."
"Ma, please," he begged.
