Page 38 of Fatal Scheme

“If you get uncomfortable, just use your safe word, okay? We’ll get some air,” I whisper, and she smiles softly, the dark and smoky makeup she’s done not necessary, but accentuating her beauty for the occasion.

“Thank you, Jasper. Anything else I should know before we get there?” She asks, leaning into my touch, yet keeping her fingers intertwined with Tyson’s.

Pretending we’re not a throuple – as Carter so graciously informed me would be our relationship title – is going to be the most difficult part of the evening because our girl craves physical touch from us both, usually in moments like this where we’re all close.

“I think I gave you the full run down. My mother and sisters are the easy part, it’s my father who you have to worry about,” I say, repeating the same sentiment I gave her before, but she only shakes her head.

“I’m a girl, Jasper. It’s the exact opposite. I just have to smile and flirt with your father and he’ll approve. Your sisters and mom will be over-analyzing my every move and transcribing each syllable that comes out of my mouth. It’s so different,” she argues, and although I understand her point of view, I worry more about my dad taking a liking to her over anything else.

He’s a mafia boss, can literally get any woman he wants, and he’ll stop at nothing when he finds something to latch onto. If the target of his obsession becomes Carter, I’ll have no choice but to react, and well, that just would be the worst possible scenario.

“I promise, Principessina, my sisters are spoiled brats. They’ll probably be on their phones all night, not even glancing in your direction. Like I told you, when my mom offers you wine, you always say red, and compliment the hell out of her cooking. It’s simple,” I explain, and she nods, taking it all in, but nothing can truly prepare her for what could happen on the other side of the door.

Tyson chuckles from the driver’s seat, a shit-eating grin on his face, and Carter raises her eyebrows, instantly catching on.

“What is it? Is he steering me into a trap?”

“No, it’s just … these dinners never go smoothly. I just want you to be prepared for a gun draw, or glassware being thrown, because nobody is off-limits in the Masseria household.”

“Except my fucking sisters,” I sigh, rolling my eyes as the words leave my lips.

“Except your fucking sisters,” Ty repeats, laughing as we pull up to the gate and punch in the code.

“Should I be afraid of them or something?” Carter looks between the two of us, confusion painted on her pretty face, and I chuckle at the thought of my kid-sisters being anything close to scary.

“Not in the slightest. They’re Daddy’s princesses who do no wrong.” I side eye Tyson, who’s still smirking like an idiot as we park the truck, signaling that this is it – now or never.

Taking Carter’s hand in mine, I help her down as she smoothes her dress, concealing the thigh sheath as we walk toward the door, Ty a few steps behind us.

“We can face this, my little ice princess.” I squeeze her palm tighter, attempting to convince us both, and she kisses the top of my hand in a reassuring gesture.

Together, we can accomplish anything, and before we even take a step onto the stone-paved walkway, the front door is thrown open, my mother smiling as big as the sky.

“Oh. My. God. You know, I thought your father was pullin’ my leg when he said you were bringing a date! She’s gorgeous! Honey, you are gorgeous, come inside, I need to know everything about the girl who managed to give me hope for future grandchildren!” She exclaims, the thick New Jersey accent dripping off every word she says.

“Um, hi. I’m Carter,” she smiles, holding her hand out, but my mother pulls her in for a bear hug, nearly stunning the poor girl in pure shock.

“What a beautiful name! Jasper Anthony Masseria, how in the world did you manage to convince this one to date you? I need all the details. Ty, honey, you look handsome as always!” My mom’s mouth runs a mile a minute, half the time we can barely understand what she’s saying as she jumps from point A to point D without a single breath, especially when she’s excited.

“Mrs. M, it’s been a while. Good to see you,” Tyson chimes in, following behind us as my mother practically drags Carter into the lion’s den, and I sigh, knowing this is going to be a long night.

Whatever happens tonight, I know Carter isn’t going to be scared off, or convinced that she doesn’t belong with us, and that thought alone propels me forward.

It’s one dinner, it can’t possibly be that bad.

NINETEEN

CARTER

This is horrible.

I’m not good with people, my mouth is smart, my comments are usually sarcastic or underhanded, and my sense of humor is borderline morbid.

What the hell am I supposed to talk to these people about?

I can’t just jump right into the mafia conversations, or bond over the fact that I’ve murdered people, too. I need to keep my cover intact, the mask having to stay perfectly in place and giving off the illusion that I’m just an ordinary college girl.

Of course, the only reason I’ve been asked to this dinner is because I killed two of the men who shot Jasper, so my acting skills have to be the best they’ve ever been.