Page 34 of Bought By the Mafia

“It was, uh—” While Gio was scrambling for something to say, I jumped in. “What can I say? He swept me off my feet and a few months later, we were married. How could I say no to such a handsome man?”

“Wow,” Allison said. Even when she spoke, her voice didn’t sound convincing. “I never thought he would do it. I’ve always seen Gio as a lone wolf. Never to be tied down by anyone.”

“He must have been waiting for the right woman to come along.” I was going to end my statement there, but then I saw Gio’s clenched jaw and realized he did not like any of what I was saying. Good. I added. “He must love me that much.”

“Right. Yeah.” Her gaze darted between me and Gio before awkwardly saying, “I’m going to go put this on and see if I can fit.”

She went upstairs again, leaving Gio and me alone. Immediately after I heard the guest bedroom door close, Gio said, “In love?”

“Did I do anything wrong? I simply said what I should say as per our agreement. Appear like we love each other to the public and all that bullshit?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Funny you’re angry because I think I’m the one who deserves that, right? I wasn’t the one flirting with my ex-girlfriend.”

“You sound jealous.”

“I’m just let you know you should keep to the agreement you came up with.”

“Is that right?”

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“I don’t know. It’s just I’ve never seen you this riled up.” He folded his arms and leaned back. “You’re intimidated by her.”

“Me? By some supermodel who spent her time in South America doing some inane shit? No.”

He chuckled. “The inane shit she was doing was an environmental project to save an endangered bird in the Amazon rain-forest. I don’t know what you heard, but she’s not like you.”

I rolled my eyes. Of course, she was not only beautiful, she also had a heart of gold and saved birds during her spare time. “If she’s so amazing, you should have married her.”

He leaned in and stared me directly in the eye. “If your father wasn’t such an extortionist, maybe I would have.”

I gazed into his eyes to see if he was being truthful, but I could not detect deception. My suspicions were correct, but I didn’t expect that she was that important to him. “You wanted to marry her?” I asked.

I never got my answer. Before he could say anything, I heard a sound at the top of the stairs and saw Allison coming down. How long was she standing there? I wondered?

16

The question hung in the air like a foul smell. There was a time I thought I wanted to marry Allison. We got on well. She was the first woman I truly cared for. Contrary to popular belief, I have a heart in there somewhere and it felt something for Allison. Had it been love? No, probably not. But she was someone I got along with and would have been a suitable candidate for the mother of my children. I never felt that heart-stopping, violent affection for her, but I liked her. She was stable, predictable, and calm. But I didn’t propose and strangely enough, I don’t feel regret.

One would think someone in a horrible marriage such as myself would be yearning for a different wife, but that was not how I felt when I saw Allison for the first time in a long while. She was still the same person, still beautiful, still charming, but whatever fire that burned for her before was now extinguished. We were friends who had kept in touch over the years. Simona seemed to think we were more than that. And I didn’t know if I wanted to disabuse her of that notion. Seeing Simona getting jealous was validating. My toxic heart couldn’t get enough of it. It was more evidence that she and I were in the same boat. We hated each other, but we still wanted each other. If only physically.

Before I could answer Simona’s question, I heard a throat clearing. Allison was standing at the foot of the stairs wearing the clothes Simona had given her. They were over-sized and plain, but Allison could wear them like haute couture. She had a knack for making any article of clothing look good on her. It’s probably why she initially turned to modeling before focusing on environmental issues.

“I think I’ll be going back now,” Allison said. If she had heard what Simona and I had been saying before, she didn’t give any sign.

“You don’t have to leave now,” I said. It was more out of courtesy, but she also looked like she needed it. She looked gaunter than I remembered. And besides, we hadn’t caught up in a while and I genuinely enjoyed her company. “We were about to have breakfast,” I said. “Join us.”

Allison twiddled with her thumbs. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“You won’t be,” Simona said. “I was on my way out. You two can enjoy catching up or whatever.”

“You’re leaving?” Suddenly, I didn’t want Simona to leave. “Where to on a Sunday?”

“Contrary to popular belief, Gio, I don’t enjoy inconveniencing people.” She must have read my confusion because she then said, “I’m meeting with my assistant and taking the clothes out of his hands. And maybe look for a new place to store them while I’m at it.”

I wasn’t sure if this was one of her ploys and if it was, I couldn’t tell to what end it could be. She seemed like she genuinely would rather be elsewhere, even though a few minutes ago she looked like it was Allison she wanted to push out.

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