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“I can barely lift my hand.” I made a production of doing exactly that and letting it drop on the counter.

“Smart-ass,” he muttered.

“How can they see it when I can’t even see them?” I pointed out.

“Three weeks. We satisfy the Blind Don’s request and you can see them.”

“Do we always have to do what he says? I thought you were the boss.”

Sandro looked over to Tommy and Divina and that was when I noticed her face had taken on a comical expression of worry as if no one ever questioned Sandro.

“Tommy, I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said in a measured tone that sounded a lot like he was praying for patience. “Seems like I have to spend some time with mynew brideand acquaint her with how things work.” He gave a brief nod to Divina. “Thank you for helping with the clothes and the groceries.”

Divina looked like she had won the lottery. She smiled, and the smile differed from the one glued to her face earlier. This one seemed more genuine. It reached her eyes.

“Thanks, Divina,” I clipped.

“Anytime. Just call when you need anything,” she gushed and tucked her arm into Tommy’s.

I held my tongue on another smart-ass reply, but exchanged a look with Sandro. I didn’t have a phone, ergo I couldn’t call her.

So I simply extended the smile on my face in acknowledgment.

When the couple left, Sandro turned to me and tipped his chin at the food on the counter. “Eat.”

He walked over to the coffee machine. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

When he returned with two mugs, he set one in front of me and leaned a hip on the edge. He was staring at the top of my head and I didn’t want to look at him because he was doing that leaning thing that made him hot again. I should picture him a foot shorter with a wart on his nose and buck teeth.

I glanced up at him.

Nope. Not working.

Let’s face it. I was once obsessed with this man. I couldn’t simply stop finding him attractive. The parts I hated about him always lurked beneath the surface.

The Rossis’ attack dog.

I thought he’d retired and was on the outs with the crime family after Frankie’s death. But apparently not. You never left the family. That had always been the mafia way.

“There might be hope for us after all,” he rumbled.

I couldn’t decipher his expression. Fond or amused. The corners of his mouth were twitching and there was a gleam in his eyes that made me shiver, not with dread like in the past few days, but with an anticipation because we were alone. Was he imagining what to do with my mouth like he threatened or was he contemplating what to do with me in my captivity. “What do you mean?”

“You pick up things fast.”

“I’m not following.”

“You didn’t push your questions about Raffa, knowing it would put me in a difficult position. I’d have to tell you off in front of them. And you weren’t sarcastic about the phone thing.”

“It’s not about picking up fast,” I said. “We’re husband and wife in front of Tommy and Divina. Mom always told me not to fight in front of other people, especially arguments that would put your partner in a difficult position.”

Sandro grinned. “I always liked Ava.”

I rolled my eyes. “I know.”

He continued to stare at me like I was a specimen under the microscope while taking a sip of his coffee.