Page 245 of The One
“Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?” I lean in, my lips brushing just below Mari’s ear before trailing down her throat.
She smiles, her laughter a soft melody. “Many times.”
Her hand presses against my chest, stopping me. “You can’t ruin my makeup or hair.Mammaspent hours getting me ready. I’m nervous as it is. I need this armor meeting the elite of Mafia society and your extended family.”
“Everybody will show you nothing but respect. You’re the queen of the castle now.”
“That’s exactly why they’ll watch me… to judge.” Her voice dips into uncertainty. “What if I don’t live up to their expectations?”
“You exceed mine,dolcezza. I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. All that matters is that I love you.”
Her smile is soft, the kind that lights up my entire world. I want to kiss her, to pull her in and keep her safe from everything. But to honor her wishes, I instead unbuckle her seatbelt and draw her onto my lap. She lets out a small sigh, melting into my embrace.
“I wish we could skip tonight,” I admit. “Just escape to Tuscany. Only you and me. Leave all this chaos behind, the politics, the power plays, and this never-ending grief.”
“I’d be up for that,” she murmurs. Her fingers tighten slightly against my chest. “I miss you when we’re not together. I hate what this life is doing to you, to us.”
It’s the first time she’s voiced it. While I feel the same, hearing it from her lips hurts in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I want to give her happiness, and right now, I’m failing.
The car slows to a stop.
I haven’t set foot in Tiero’s mansion since we returned to Sicily. I couldn’t. The memories here are too strong. But tonight, I have no choice but to face them.
I press a kiss to Mari’s nose, lingering for a brief moment before pulling away.
“Let’s go greet our guests and get this night over with.”
For the past two hours, I’ve done nothing but shake hands, accept condolences, and talk about alliances, positioning, and how to maximize profits.
I’m sick of it.
It’s a memorial for my brother, yet half the people here treat it like a goddamn networking event. They murmur their sympathies, but their eyes gleam with calculation. Tiero’s death created a tear in the fabric, and everyone wants to know how I intend to fill it.
I glance across the room, my gaze landing on Mari. She’s trapped in her own version of this nightmare, her shoulders squared, her chin high, exuding the grace and strength expected of her. That polite smile she wears, though? Fake.
Her mother stands beside her, guiding her through this sea of influential women. Wives, daughters, sisters of men who wield power in our world. They circle Mari like sharks scenting blood, assessing her, testing her. I see it in their narrowed eyes, in the way they lean in too closely, murmuring words I wish I could hear.
She handles it well. Too well.
That’s what worries me.
She hates this, yet she plays the role flawlessly. How much of herself is she losing in the process?
The thought unsettles me more than it should.
I need a fucking break.
Without a word, I slip away, stepping onto the terrace. The cold air bites at my skin, a welcome contrast to the suffocating heat inside. Thankfully, the terrace is empty. No fake smiles, no political games, no expectations.
I exhale slowly, staring through the glass doors at the room full of people. My people. At least, that’s what they’re supposed to be.
But how many of them can I actually trust?
As long as the De Marcos are powerful, they’ll stand beside me. But that’s not true loyalty, is it? It’s self-serving.
They came here tonight to honor Tiero, the great and ruthless leader. But this past week has shown me more than ever I’m not him.
Do I even want to be?
