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Emma pursed her lips, then gave a small shrug. “I don’t have a choice, right?”
I shook my head. She didn’t. She’d have to attend even more social functions than me in the future to schmooze the wives of the Captains and certain politicians.
“I just wish people would stop giving methatlook.”
I let my gaze wander over the gathered guests, but people were careful to keep their faces neutral when they felt my eyes on them. Still, I caught the occasional look of doubt.
“What look?”
“Like I’m a liability,” Emma muttered, her eyes full of indignation.
I emptied my champagne. “They’re ignorant. Eventually, they’ll realize they were wrong.”
When people looked at us, they pinpointed Emma as the weakness in our relationship because what people perceived as her flaw was apparent to the naked eye. My flaws were well hidden.
One of my great-aunts, who was only invited because honor dictated it and not because my parents liked her, approached us with a benevolent smile. She stopped in front of us and supported her weight on her walking stick. She was probably around ninety. “Samuel and his wife,” she said with a too bright smile, but her eyes were like those of a hawk. “When can we expect offspring?”
My mouth set in a tight line. Emma took a sip from her champagne, her expression pinching.
“That’s a very private question, Aunt,” Dante said as he came up behind her. She clucked her tongue but excused herself with a tight smile. Valentina and Leonas joined us a moment later.
Dante gave Emma a small smile before he turned to me. “How about we discuss Leonas’s stay now?”
“Business talk at your sister’s birthday?” Valentina asked with a frown.
Emma shrugged and rolled her eyes.
“It’s not a milestone birthday,” I said. Mom had celebrated her fiftieth birthday with a huge party last year.
“Excuse us,” I told Emma and Valentina. I knew Valentina would keep Emma entertained until my mother could evade the chatty wives she was stuck with.
Leonas gave me a bored look. “Samuel.”
“Leonas,” I deadpanned.
Dante and I walked ahead toward Dad’s office. I didn’t see him anywhere. Maybe he was already waiting for us. Leonas trailed us a few steps, letting his cool gaze scan the crowd, but nothing caught his interest. Knowing him, he preferred a very different kind of celebration, with pot, booze, and girls.
As suspected, Dad was in his office, probably already tired of socializing. He greeted us with a new bottle of bourbon and handed glasses to Dante and me.
Leonas scoffed. “Come on, Uncle Pietro. I’m a Made Man. I fuck girls, I kill, I torture, and you refuse to give me a drink like I’m a little kid?”
Pietro looked at Dante, who had the last word on the matter.
I didn’t remember the first time I’d had a drink. Maybe after my first time when I was fourteen.
“As with almost everything, it’s a matter of moderation,” Dante drawled with a hard look at Leonas.
“Why would I want to fuck in moderation?”
“You won’t ever talk like that in front of your mother.”
“She knows I’m not a virgin anymore. There are no virgins in the mafia.” I could tell he was riling up his father on purpose. I remembered times when I was like that too.
“One drink,” Dante clipped.
Leonas winked at me. Dad handed him a tumbler, and we finally clinked glasses.
“Whoo,” Leonas exclaimed, letting out a hiss after downing the drink in one gulp.