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“Piotr’s great, but I keep thinking I’m going to do something wrong and he’ll think I’m an idiot.” I lower my voice. “I mean, I know about sex, but reading about it isn’t the same as doing it.”

Emilia smiles, and I’m glad she seems to understand where I’m coming from. We can’t continue the conversation, however, as my aunt Angelia slides onto the seat next to me. My mother’s younger sister is usually fun to be around. She married an outsider, so isn’t bound by the rules of our world

“Livvy, you look stunning, sweetheart.”

I accept the compliment with a smile. “How are you?”

“I’d be a lot better if my daughter wasn’t trying to give me a stroke.”

“Why? What’s up with Alessia?”

“She’s marrying Dante Parisi.”

“What?” I can’t contain my surprise. “But she thinks he’s an asshole.”

My aunt nods. “Which is why I can’t understand it. Perhaps you could speak to her. Find out what she’s thinking.”

“Yeah, okay. Where is she?”

“Ladies’ room, but she can wait. Tell me what that gorgeous man gave you for your birthday.”

“This.” I point to the necklace.

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” she gushes.

“He also gave me a house in Westport and he’s buying me a puppy.”

Angela gives a low whistle. “He’s a keeper.”

“Yes, he is.” I look up and spot Alessia coming into the room. “Ah, there’s that cousin of mine. I’ll see what I can find out.”

I follow Alessia across the room, grabbing a couple of glasses of Prosecco from a waiter as I pass him.

“Here.” I thrust a glass at Alessia as I finally catch up to her close to the exit. “You look like you could use this.”

“Thank you.” She takes the glass and downs its contents in a single gulp.

“What’s this I hear about you and Dante Parisi?”

“My mom told you?”

“Yes, she’s really confused about it.”

Alessia pinches the bridge of her nose. “My father lost everything. Mom doesn’t know.”

“Fuck! Alessia, that’s awful.”

“Yeah. Dante swept in with an offer. If I marry him, he’ll bail my dad out.”

Stunned, I sip my Prosecco. “Why don’t you ask Antonio to help your dad?”

“He’s the one who put Dante’s offer to me. He strongly suggested I take it.”

Now her mood when Piotr and I got married makes sense. “He spoke to you at my wedding, didn’t he?”

“Yeah.” Alessia’s shoulders slump. I hate to see her like this. She’s been studying so hard, determined to forge a career for herself. Because her family’s not part of the Mafia, she thought she was safe from our fucked-up politics.

“I could ask Piotr to help.”