Page 8 of Because I Need You
And he considered it once or twice.
The final straw, for me, was when he tried to get me to seduce Loren’s twenty-year-old cousin, Violeta. I took her out to dinner, of course, but I couldn’t bring myself to give her false hopes. I couldn’t even bring myself to kiss her. It had very little to do with me being a nice guy and everything to do with the fact that I had two younger sisters. Besides, it wasn’t like Violeta had any information or anything valuable that I could use. My father just wanted me next to her to keep her father in check. Once it was clear that no one was safe from the Masserias, I broke things off. And still, without kissing or touching her, I broke the poor girl’s heart when I told her we couldn’t continue to see each other. None of that mattered now. I may have grown up a pawn, but I was a king now, or getting close to it. Still, this information threw me for a loop. Out of all the things my father has used me for this may have been the worst. He married me off? Anger hit me in the chest. I felt like hopping on a flight to Barranquilla and killing him myself. I could call one of my cousins to do it. Good relationship or not, they’d do it willingly. I knew that much.
“I didn’t even know Charles had a daughter,” I said, finally. “Do you have a copy of this certificate?”
She unfolded a sheet of paper and slid it over to me. I didn’t even want to touch the thing. Instead, I stared at it. It was a New York marriage license. Not even Chicago. I looked at the names and the date. I had been twenty-two at the time, but the signature was undoubtedly mine.
I let out a laugh. “That motherfucker.”
“I don’t even know what to say about this,” Loren said.
“As my lawyer, what would you have me do? This has to be illegal.” I tapped the paper. “I never signed this.”
Loren picked it up on an exhale and looked at it. “It’s signed by a judge.”
“Do you know this judge?”
“Yeah, he’s a real prick.” He set the paper back down and looked at me. “Probably great friends with your dad.”
“Sounds about right.” I looked at the paper again. “This happened eleven years ago according to the certificate, and I’m just now finding out, so it probably won’t matter. We just have to get it erased somehow. Make it like it never happened.” I shook my head again, looking at Loren. “Did you know Charles had a daughter?
“Nope.”
“She’s your cousin,” I said unnecessarily.
“Not really. Vinny was, is, my cousin through his mom’s side of the family. I’m a Costello, not a Bonetti.”
“I should’ve stayed on that god damn island.” I ran both hands down my face. “What the fuck?”
“Are you sure you didn’t sign this yourself?” Loren asked. “Maybe you were drunk? Or high?”
“I don’t get drunk or high, asshole.” I glared at him.
“At twenty-two?” he asked.
Fuck. “I never would have gotten married. Not drunk, high, or whatever else. Married?” I scoffed. “Fuck no. This had to be my father’s doing. Some agreement with Charles.”
“Can’t argue there,” he said.
“What do you have to do with this anyway?” I asked. “Why are you here?”
“He was one of my movers. I need access to his warehouses.”
“Seriously?” I massaged my temples and closed my eyes. “Who the fuck is not your mover, Loren?”
“People who don’t like making money.”
I opened my eyes just to roll them. He smirked. Nadia bit back a laugh. I sighed, dropping my arms.
“Okay, so what do you want from me? Who the fuck is this Isabel person?” I asked. “Do we have any information on her?”
“She’s pretty low key. She went to Rutgers. She’s currently dating the Mayor of New York.” Nadia paused to grin after saying that.
“You’re fucking joking,” was the only thing I could manage. “William Hamilton?”
“Yep.” Nadia was still smiling. My stomach turned. I couldn’t stand the guy and the feeling was mutual.
“Who cares?” Loren said. “What does he have to do with you staying married to her secretly until we figure out the warehouse situation?”
“Married to her secretly?” My voice rose. “How the fuck am I going to explain this to Natasha?”
“Really?” Nadia raised an eyebrow. “You’re worried about Natasha’s feelings all of a sudden?”
I frowned at that. Natasha was the woman I’d been seeing for six months now. Six months was a big deal for me. She’d met my sisters. On purpose. Not some run-in at a dark club or restaurant. That was a bigger deal. So, yes, I was worried about Natasha’s feelings.
“Was Natasha in Turks & Caicos all week?” Nadia asked.
I glared at her. “You know she wasn’t.”
