Page 32 of Marrying the Mobster
There’s humor in his voice, which makes me let out a dry laugh. “Well, it’s not exactly a lie, is it?”
“Now that Oleg has hosted us in his home, the polite thing for me to do is return the favor. We’ll have a dinner or something and keep up our charade until Oleg is content to move forward without requiring me to marry his daughter.”
I don’t reply right away, finishing up my message to Tracy. Since I’m in Diego’s good graces, I don’t say anything risky. I keep it light and simple, assuring Tracy that I’m all right and asking her how business is before telling her I’ll return to work soon. Diego reads over the text before sending it.
I want to ask him if I’m lying to Tracy, or if he’ll ever allow me to go back toBelleza. But I don’t want to push my luck. If I can earn other privileges, then I can figure out a way for him to let me run my business. I just need to wait for the right time.
“Is this how it’s always done?” I ask instead. “Arranged marriages? It seems really … old-fashioned.”
“As a group, mafia menareold-fashioned. But, no, it’s not typical. Most marriages happen within mafia families, not between them. The exceptions are situations like this—when two families are trying to work out an alliance.”
“It doesn’t seem fair to either of you.”
“In this business, fairness is rarely part of the equation. It’s about men trying to gain the most they can without giving up too much ground.”
“So, you’re telling me this is really a dick-measuring contest?”
Diego gives one of those strained half-smiles. “Precisely. Oleg just needs a little more time to understand who has the bigger dick.”
My eyes fall to his lap and the fabric covering his crotch. Embarrassment floods me when Diego catches me staring and laughs.
“Careful,gatita,” he murmurs when I turn away and squeeze my eyes shut, humiliated. “You know what happens when you play with fire.”
The low warning in his voice sends two opposite reactions racing through me—arousal and fear. I knew the first time I laid eyes on Diego that he would burn me. What I never counted on was being tempted to leap into the flames.
I clench my jaw and remain silent for the rest of the drive, my head aching from too many thoughts at once. Diego has let me know without words that he wants me. In the beginning that scared me, because I couldn’t be sure what he was capable of. Really, I still don’t know, but I think the chances of him killing me were cut in half when I agreed to his new terms. With us living in such close quarters, it seems inevitable for him to cross the line. Will I make things harder on myself by fighting it? If giving him what he wants will make him ‘generous’, there’s a chance letting him have his way with me could be my way out. Maybe not right away, but after I’ve taken smaller things inch by inch.
I have a lot to gain, but even more to lose. Diego is a hard man—controlling, vengeful, and hot-headed. I want to think I’d be in control by making the first move, but the small voice in the back of my mind whispers that I’m fooling myself. Diego will be in control, and once I allow him access to my body, what else will he consume? What will be left of me?
By the time the car comes to a stop, I’m more confused than ever and exhausted by a long night. Diego helps me from the car, then releases my hand and marches toward the house without a look back. He doesn’t seem worried that I’ll try to run, confident in my fear and our agreement.
Before I go to follow, Jovan steps in my path. He’s more serious than I’ve ever seen him, his eyes somber and his mouth pinched.
“He has a thing for you,” he says, jerking his head toward Diego’s back. “I don’t know why, but he’s fucking losing his mind over you.”
I roll my eyes and try to move past him. “He’s thinking with his dick. That’s all.”
Jovan blocks my way. “He can have any woman he wants but hasn’t touched anyone since you came here. He’s had every reason to kill you, but finds a way out of it every time. I know Diego better than anyone, so allow me to give you a word of advice. If you’re smart, you’ll use that to your advantage. It might save your life.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “The agreement we made already did that.”
“I guess that’s true for now. Once you stop being useful, your agreement will mean nothing. Unless … oh, I don’t know … he’s getting what he really wants from you.”
This time Jovan stands down when I shove past him, annoyed and conflicted. He might be right, but I don’t like being reminded how uncertain my situation is. As if I could ever forget.
“Just food for thought,” Jovan calls out after me.
Ignoring him, I hurry to catch up with Diego. He’s waiting for me at the front door with a questioning look, but he doesn’t ask what Jovan said to me.
I’m on edge all the way to his bedroom, dreading what might happen and still wrestling with a final decision.
I pause just inside and hold my breath, watching Diego shrug out of his jacket and then loosen his tie. He isn’t looking at me and he doesn’t say a word, so I sit to take off my shoes. By the time I finish, he’s gone. Through a slight crack in the bathroom door, I hear the shower start up and then the rustle of clothes.
Falling onto my back, I close my eyes and try to untangle my thoughts. Nothing makes sense and no choice feels like the right one. But I have to dosomething. I can’t just sit around waiting for Diego to push or pull me in one direction or the other. I need to make a move, and soon, or Jovan’s prediction may come true sooner rather than later.
I sit up and glance at the bathroom door. Steam wafts through the crack, and the patter of water on tiles is all I can hear.
You know what happens when you play with fire.
