Page 75 of Bad Bishop

“Yet, here we are.”

“Not for long.” A smile stretched across her lips. “This marriage won’t last.”

“Glad you brought up this subject.” I stepped forward, getting into her personal space. “Because next time you try to conspire to take her away from me, we’ll be doing less talking and more shoveling dirt over your body.”

We stood toe-to-toe. She was small but fierce, like her daughter. Under the coiffed mane, designer dress, and delicate features was a beautiful demon Vello was too much of a coward to unleash. His loss. I wanted to drink from Lila’s darkness in big gulps.

“You want me to believe you’ll hit a woman?” She tipped her chin up in fake bravado.

My mouth twisted with a lazy smirk. “To keep my wife, Chiara, I wouldn’tonlyhit a woman, I’d chase God himself with a fucking baseball bat.”

“You told Vello you wouldn’t kill me.”

“I lied.”

“You’ll spark a war.”

“This is an incentive, not a deterrent.” I stared deep into her eyes. “Anything else?”

“Stop pretending you care for her.” She pushed at my chest in frustration. I didn’t budge.

“Why? Sore spot?” I tilted my head sideways. She was clearly nothing but an expensive uterus for the don.

She ran a shaky hand over her hair. “Hard to believe Jesus died for your sins.”

“No one asked him.”

“You walked into this family two minutes ago and you already think you know what’s best for her? Tell me, do you have her best interest in mind, now that you’re planning a full-fledged war with the Bratva?”

She had a point. Lila wasn’t my top priority. But she pushed her way somewhere to the middle of the list. Before getting my dick wet, but after taking out the Bratva.

“Don’t pretend you have her best interest in mind.” She pressed on. “She means nothing to you.”

“You’re wrong. She does mean something to me. She’s my best business deal by a long mile, and I intend to keep my end of the bargain.”

“It’s the same business deal Vello made with me, and we all saw how it turned out.” Tears rimmed her eyes. “She deserves someone who loves her.”

“She’ll settle for someone who protects her. Oh, and I’m taking Imma today if I have to pry her from your cold, dead fingers.Imma.” I snapped my fingers loudly. Imma appeared from the hallway, sticking her head through the doorframe. I knew she was eavesdropping, because her face kept poking through the crack in the door when she thought no one was looking.

“Somebody called my name?” Imma asked in faux innocence and a strong Italian accent.

“Pack a bag,” I ordered, not breaking my stare-off with Chiara. “You’re coming with us.”

“Where are you going to house her?” My mother-in-law feigned amusement. “Your shoebox apartment can’t fit a mouse.”

“She’ll take Lila’s room.”

“Right.” Chiara snorted. “And where would Lila sleep?”

“With me.”

“What makes you think my daughter would stoop this low?”

“The fact that she alreadyhas.”

Lila tossed, turned, and didn’t sleep all night, but she never left my bed yesterday.

Chiara’s jaw swung open. I reached with one finger, closing it for her.