Page 35 of Until Death or Defeat

I was happy to see them all at my wedding but...Leo has always been one of the guys who you stay away from, because they always seem like they’re up to no good; He was always dragging Caesar into something.

Although, Caesar has always been the type who sees the good in everyone, so maybe he is trying to give Leo a chance? I can’t imagine my dad being okay with it though, because when my uncle left the mafia, he and my father had a pretty shitty falling out.

They saved face for my wedding, but I know that it’s stilltense. Of course, I wish more than anything all my family would make up. Maybe I should reach out to Leo?

I change into some joggers and a long sleeve as I make my way downstairs, wondering who would be around. I peek around the hallway, but I’m not hearing much. Just as I go down the staircase, I hear a woman excitedly call my name.

When I turn, I realize Artem’s mother must have stayed here last night.

“O—oh good morning,” I awkwardly muster as she comes over to give me a hug.

If Artem grew up with such an affectionate mother, why the fuck is he such a douchebag?

“Come sit with medochenka,” she ushers me to the dining table and makes me sit next to her.

Yay, more nicknames.

“I was just so happy to see my son married to such a beautiful young woman,” she says, clasping her hands together and laying her cheek on them. “And Roman tells me you even went to a good college?”

I nod awkwardly, pursing my lips. “Yes, I went to Columbia for my business degree.”

“Oy, how impressive!”

I smile at her excitement over me just going to college. It’s nice having someone recognize something I’ve done. I feel a sense of warmth from her that I haven’t felt in years since my mom passed.

She suddenly stands, “How rude of me not to ask.” I’m about to ask her what she means when I see her going over to the teapot on the stove, and I shake my head politely. She pours herself a cup of tea and comes back to sit next to me.

“I didn’t see your mother yesterday,” she asks softly as she takes a sip of her tea.

I shake my head slowly. “My mother passed years ago.”

She puts her hand on the back of mine on the table, but spares me the obligatory apology. “Well, I’m sure that was hard for you yesterday then, I hope Artem wasn’t too cold.”

I almost laugh but I stop myself. I have to remember to put on a good face. “He was fine.”

She sighs, setting her teacup down. “Artem takes a long time to warm up, but he was always such a sweet little boy. He was compassionate, and a lot like me—well until Sara passed away. So be patient with him,” she says with a soft smile.

Who the hell is Sara?

“Sorry, but Sara?” I ask, tilting my head.

She nods, and sighs. “Artem and her were?—”

“Mama, how great that you’re talking to my new wife already,” Artem says it politely, but I can tell he’s talking through his teeth. He comes in to kiss her cheek and then tries to do the same to me, but my hand pinches his side hard to tell him not to even try it, so he ruffles my hair to piss me off.

“Oy she is just so lovely! I really dreamed of having a daughter, you know? I’ve been waiting for one of my sons to marry forever,” she says, holding my hands in hers.

I smile at her but look up to Artem, who’s standing there with an unreadable expression. “I fly back in the morning with his father, so we don’t have a lot of time. But I hope to be back when we get news about my grandbaby!”

My eyes widen at her remark and Artem lets out a deep laugh, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“You’ll be the first one we call, Mama,” he says to her as he squeezes my shoulder, to tell me not to say a word.

“Well, let me leave the newlyweds,” she says with a wink as she leaves the kitchen, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding.

“I don’t know how a woman like that birthed someone like you,” I retort as I stand from the chair to face him.

He chuckles and leans back against his marble countertop, with his arms across his chest. His black button up is tight against him as his muscles pull on the fabric.