Page 10 of Vicious Secrets
A flush burns every inch of my body. I shake my head before gingerly taking the box from his hand. Inside is a solitaire pear diamond ring and an iridescent silvery purple silicone band. It’s the same color as my favorite pair of work clogs.
“I wasn’t sure what’s allowed in the ER,” he says softly.
My mouth opens and closes. I don’t know what to say. Even if he only put fifteen minutes of thought into the rings, that’s more than I ever expected from a mob boss in an arranged marriage. Hell, it’s more effort than I’d put in.
“They’re both beautiful.” I slide the diamond ring on my finger and then smile up at him.
“What do you want in return?”
Oh, right. Our deal.
“I want to keep my personal bank account,” I force out.
“Simple enough. Smart, too.” Siro blinks a few times. The hint of a smile fades from his face. “Wait a few minutes after I leave before you wander off. My appearance should corral everyone downstairs and let you escape unnoticed.”
Fuzzy warmth rolls down my spine. Is he naturally this protective? Or does he pity me?
“Thank you, Siro.”
Strolling away, he opens the door with a yank, letting it hit the wall as if he’s sending a signal to the others in the house. Or maybe it’s a warning. Siro disappears down the hall. Leaving me with an overwhelming mix of confusion, desire, and relief.
Chapter 5
Siro
Myfathernearlyhasa heart attack when I tell him I gave Robyn the ring at the test. I hadn’t planned on it—I brought the rings to get approval from her parents. Apparently, I’m a sap for an honest woman. Her boosting my ego by cumming on my face in less than ten minutes was a bonus.
Two weeks later, I’m reuniting with Robyn at our engagement party. I don’t risk talking to her beforehand, but Lady Luck appears to be on my side.
Robyn’s playing her part of a newly engaged mafia bride perfectly. She keeps a soft smile on her face, steals glances from me from across the room, and leans into my embrace when I put my arm around her shoulders to guide her from introduction to introduction.
Standing in the foyer of Cesaro’s off-brand Tuscan mansion, I find myself annoyed by the clutter. There isn’t a foot of wall space or an inch of a table not decorated by something. Each little thing drags my eyes away and cascades into a dizzying lack of focus.
I shift my attention to straightening my cufflinks. My stark white shirt is a palate cleanser for my fucking eyes. A pair of square-toe, brown matte dress shoes come into view.
“Holy shit, man,” Vi says as he jabs his elbow in my side. “This is more awkward than my engagement dinner.”
“How? I didn’t face fuck my bride in the sitting room.” I hold my expression neutral despite the swirl of confusion in my head. His dinner was too entertaining to be awkward.
Vi curses under his breath. “Please lower your voice,” he grumbles. “I’m talking about your father making small talk with a mid-tier dealer. It’s all wrong, and you’ve got an incoming text.”
Nearby, Oscar and my father chat about football. Behind them, my mother hems and haws over mall-studio-style family portraits like she’s in an art gallery.
“About what?”
Vi bristles and spits his drink back into the glass. “I’m very fond of my kneecaps, Siro. You know that. Do you notice anyone missing?”
I roll my eyes and look up, meeting Robyn’s gaze. A spark zips between us and pins me in place. Her golden brown waves clipped above her ears, and a light wash of sparkly makeup around her hazel eyes. A purple, skin-tight dress highlights her curves and accentuates her ample breasts. I don’t know how in the fuck my dumb ass missed those the first time we met. She must have worn a scrub top three times too large.
From how she’s looking at me, the attraction is mutual. The way she’s politely undressing me with her eyes makes me want to drag her back to Oscar’s office for round two. Fuck my issues; I’d let her do anything to me as long as she let me make her cum on my face again.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and breaks me free from her spell. Vi’s attention drifts from my hand retrieving my phone to his wife.
A text from Vi’s soldier Danny makes my blood run cold.
Bratva targeting Mom. I think Dad’s faking it. Now Ari’s having fun in the club.
Danny’s our lone cousin. His mother, Aunt Tiff, is closer to my age than my father’s age. Tiff’s a popular member of the family. She’s spent the better part of her life raising orphans of made men like they’re her own children. Danny is her only biological child, and his birth nearly cost her her life. Her husband is my father’s Consigliere, Renzo Montoro. He’s a trigger-happy social climber and rarely sees eye-to-eye with anyone for more than a few days at a time.
