Page 29 of Bellini Bound
“It’s a bloody form of blackmail,” Matteo supplied. “She can’t rat us out to the cops because, if she does, Enzo will turn around and provide the proof that will put her behind bars. Everyone loses if she opens her mouth.”
Lips parting, Summer gaped at me. “I don’t even know how to begin to process that.”
Her husband closed the gap between them, looping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple. “Now you can see why I prefer to shield you from our dark dealings.”
She shrugged him off. “Why should I be afforded the comfort of a shield when Allie has been thrown into the line of fire?”
Matteo locked eyes with me. “She has a point.”
Freaking women. They were more trouble than they were worth.
Careful, you’re starting to sound like Dario.
It wasn’t any wonder that I had a complicated relationship with the fairer sex. I’d spent a lifetime hearing my father degrade my sister, treating her like less, simply because she lacked a penis. Then there was the fact that my own mother had been shipped off to parts unknown the minute she served her purpose and produced a son—me.
Sure, I enjoyed the company of a warm body in my bed from time to time, but it never went beyond a few casual fucks, enough to release the tension that was my constant companion in my dangerous line of work. And I was forever grateful that I’d been born to the younger of the Bellini twins, because that meant I wasn’t herded into an arranged marriage like my cousins had been to create alliances with other powerful mafia families.
The joke was on me, given the circumstances that had led to my recent change in marital status. Now I was no better than my cousins, paired with a woman who was not of my choosing for the rest of my life because my family had determined the match.
Summer pointed a finger in my direction. “Fix it.”
“And how do you suggest I do that?” I challenged.
“Her whole life came crashing down when she was forced to marry you. Then you stripped her of her identity and her freedom. Neither of which was necessary.”
“She’s the one who locked the door, not me.”
“You’ve made her feel like a prisoner; it shouldn’t be a surprise when she plays the part.”
I drummed my fingers on the polished wood surface of my desk. “Still waiting to hear how you expect me to wave my magic wand and bring the dead man back to life.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, her lips pressing into a thin line of displeasure. “Usually, I’m a fan of your smartass remarks, but right now, they’re only pissing me off.”
Irritated beyond measure that everyone felt the need to weigh in on how best to handlemybusiness, I grunted. “The door’s right behind you if you don’t like it.”
A warning growl sounded from Matteo. “Watch it.”
“Whatever you say,Boss.” The mocking tone used to utter that honorific had my cousin’s jaw clenching so tight I heard it pop.
Summer sighed, moving closer to sit on the edge of my desk. “Drop the cold and callous routine. That’s not you, Enzo.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Her eyes softened, and she reached out to take my hand. “Neither did Allie.”
I let my head fall back against the chair, my eyes sliding shut as a vise tightened around my chest at the mention of my wife’s name. “I know.”
“Where’s the guy who is kind and caring and will do anything for his family?”
Windpipe closing up, I rasped, “He’s right here.”
“Allie is part of this family now, and you can rail at the injustice of how that came to be in private all you want, but she deserves to be treated as such.”
“You’re right,” I agreed, while keeping to myself the solution I’d conjured up to this problem, which likely wouldn’t meet her approval.
“Good.” Summer dropped my hand before turning to Matteo. “By the way, I need a new phone.”
My cousin’s brow furrowed. “Why’s that?”
