Page 35 of Dark Breaker

“Afraid of a little shame, are you?” I tease.

Massimo chuckles softly. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

He has a point. I’m sure I’ll be the talk of all the mafia families if I turn Fabio down at the altar. Though he’ll definitely want revenge if I do something like that, so that kind of rules it out.

I sigh. I’ll go through with it.

I just hope I’m not making a mistake.

Hell, I know I am. But my life has been one big beautiful mistake, so why stop here?

* * *

I choosea nice blue cocktail dress for the fundraiser. It’s a dress I haven’t worn in a few years, and I’m a little surprised it still fits me. Then again, I shouldn’t be, considering I haven’t really gained any weight—or height—since I last wore it.

I’m sitting in the back of Massimo’s Alfa Romeo with Angela. I’m holding the box containing the engagement ring that Fabio sent me, and staring at it as if it contains a bunch of gross worms or other unpleasant things.

“You really think I should wear this?” I ask Angela.

“That’s up to you,” she replies.

Massimo glances in the rearview mirror at me. “Probably a good idea to wear it. Unless you want to deal with a pissed off fiancé for the rest of the night.”

I shrug. “I kind of like him better when he’s pissed off.”

Angela snorts.

Massimo frowns. “By the way, Fabio wanted to arrive at the same time as you.”

“Oh really?” I say.

“So it looks better, optics-wise,” he explains. “Like you’re together.”

“And what happened to that plan?” I ask.

“I explained to him what time we’d be arriving…” Massimo replies accusingly.

“I can’t help it if it takes me a long time to put on a dress,” I tell him. “Cut me some slack. It’s not something I do every day. Now if wore one of my jumpsuits, on the other hand, we’d be right on time.”

Massimo shakes his head ever so slightly. “Well, Fabio wasn’t very happy. He’s already there.”

“Wining and dining and brown-nosing with the best of them,” I say. “Why do I feel like I’m not missing out? Like, in the least?”

“Try to behave,” Massimo comments.

We’re forced to park several blocks away from the fundraiser. Massimo exits first, followed by Angela.

Before I get out of the vehicle, I hesitate, staring at the little box.

Massimo peers inside. “Well, are you coming or not?”

“Yes!” I waver a moment longer. Then I sigh, and mumble: “Fuck it.”

I open the box as fast as I can and slip on the ring. It’s definitely something that’s best done quickly, like ripping off a bandaid.

I get out and walk with Massimo and Angela toward the fundraiser building. I’m wearing relatively cheap flats, not Louboutin heels like Angela. I don’t know how she can stand walking in heels, especially while pregnant, but I don’t comment.

I glance at the ring I’m wearing. It actually fits quite comfortably, but otherwise I don’t feel a thing one way or another. Like, I think I should at least feel butterflies, or nausea, orsomething, but I get nothing from it. Not even the ball and chain feeling I had earlier. I’m just indifferent.