Page 19 of Dark Breaker

My face darkens. “I don’t think Fabio is the kind of guy who would let a wife go so easily. He seems very… possessive.”

Massimo nods. “I think he’d rather keep a bad marriage going than endure the shame of a divorce. If it’s any consolation, if you’re discrete, you can probably have lovers. Just make sure he doesn’t find out.”

“He won’t,” I agree. Not unless I want my lovers to go home in body bags. I think it’ll be too stressful for me to see people outside the marriage anyway, though. Unless Fabio has mistresses, of course. Then all bets are off.

“Well, put on the movie,” I urge Massimo. I lay back in my seat. With luck, I’ll lose myself in the romantic comedy they’re watching and forget everything.

Yeah right. Fat chance of that happening.

* * *

I’m driving idly alongthe road that circles Ustica. It’s a Saturday, there are no classes today. I decide to pull off nearScogli Patti, a secluded, rocky beach. I hop off my Vespa and make my way down to the water. There are small boulders everywhere, most of them reaching up to my hips. It’s dead quiet here, so I sit on one of the rocks and watch the waves.

I could have walked along the private beach at our villa. It’s prettier than here—the landscapers spread sand along the shoreline and planted palm trees everywhere, giving it that private island feel. But there’s a chance I’d bump into one of my brothers, or Angela. Out here I’m completely alone, with only my thoughts for company.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I sigh. Not so alone after all. I wonder if I should have turned it off.

Curiosity gets the better of me and I check who it is. Michela.

I’ve known her forever. She used to be in love with my brother Matteo, before he died. His death brought us closer together.

Coming to Nunzio’s party tonight?

I scrunch up my nose and text back:Ew, no.

Nunzio Sciara. One of my ex-boyfriends. Stalker extraordinaire.

I receive Michela’s response:Haha j/k. I was thinking we could practice tonight.

I’ve been playing the electric guitar for a couple of years now, and Michela is my jam partner. She has a piano, too, so I sometimes swap back and forth between the guitar and that.

I text back:Not really in the mood.

Any news on your sham wedding?

I frown.Other than I hate it and have to go through with it or else my whole family will die? No.

Your wedding night is going to be fun.She sends me a Snap.

I open up Snapchat and have to laugh when I see Michela with a blood-splattered wedding dress overlaid atop her body. The blood drips from vampiric fangs that cover her mouth. Gotta love those Snapchat filters.

Yes, it’s quite probable he won’t survive the night,I text back.

I start when someone says my name behind me.

“Rosa. Fancy seeing you here.”

I turn around slowly, dreading who I’ll see.

Yup. It’s Carlo Ciminna, another ex-boyfriend. Stalker extraordinaire number two.

I reach for my handbag. I have a mini can of Mace stowed within for occasions like this.

Carlo looks his usual trashy self. He’s wearing a white tank top, ripped jeans, and has his hair fashioned into a faux hawk. He’s somewhat cute, except for his tendency to sneer like he’s doing now.

I don’t know what I ever saw in him.