Page 44 of Empire of Seduction (New York State of Mafia #2)

nineteen

. . .

Maggie

Mikey went back to bed once we decided to close, and no one else was around.

After I ate breakfast alone, I decided to shovel the front walk.

There was no reason to do it, considering we were closed, but I liked being outside.

And doing something mindless would take my thoughts off Vito and his family.

By the time I finished, it was almost eleven o’clock. Damp with perspiration and thirsty, I went back inside for a drink. I found Mikey at the bar with his laptop.

He didn’t stop typing as I drew closer. “Thanks for shoveling.”

“No worries. I was awake so I decided to tackle it.”

“Wild fucking storm last night. You were okay out in the cottage?”

“Yep. You?”

“Yeah, Massimo helped to shut everything down so we could send everyone home before the worst of it started. The guy’s really great.”

Yes, he was. “Did we lose power?”

“No, not that I know of. I didn’t hear the generators kick on.”

“Good. I’ll go and take some readings on the tanks just to be sure. I told Bruce to stay home.”

I poured a glass of juice and drank it all in one go. When I refilled my glass, I noticed my brother staring at me strangely. “You okay?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m fine. Just a busy morning.”

“You’re doing that thing you do when you’re upset. Like a turtle in a shell.” He curled his arms up into his chest. “What happened? Did you fight with?—”

“Nope. Nothing happened. Everything’s fine.” I poured a glass of juice for Mikey. “And don’t call me a turtle.”

“Oh, boy.” He reached for his glass. “You’re really pissed off today.”

He was wrong. I wasn’t pissed off. I was . . . I didn’t know. Hurt? Sad? Annoyed? There were a whole host of emotions going through me at the moment.

A blast of cold air rushed in as one of the back patio doors opened. “Hello?” an accented female voice called just before a Mediterranean woman not at all dressed for the weather appeared.

Fuck my life.

Mikey swiveled on his stool and rose. “Hi. We aren’t open today, ma’am.”

Paloma D’Agostino crossed the floor in high-heeled boots that were more fashion than function. I saw her gaze assess my brother, then her mouth curved into a flirtatious smile aimed squarely at him.

Gross.

“Ciao, bello.” She put out her hand, which Mikey accepted. But then she leaned in and kissed both his cheeks. My brother turned red.

“Hi,” he said awkwardly.

“Mikey, this is Vito and Maz’s sister, Paloma,” I said quickly, lest he get any ideas.

“And this is your brother,” Paloma declared, still holding Mikey’s hand. “How adorable you both are!” She was looking directly at him when she said it, so I knew she wasn’t talking about me.

“I didn’t realize . . . ” Mikey started, then thought better of whatever he was going to say. “Where are you staying, Miss D’Agostino? At the B I only want his dick.

Which he’s giving me on the regular right now until he goes back to Toronto.

Got it? So put your manicured gel tips away and stop trying to start shit with me.

Because I promise, if you keep this up, I will take you down, mobbed-up brothers or not. ”

I snatched my gloves off the bar and stomped out of the tasting room. I went into the bottling room and flicked on the overhead lights. Then I locked the door behind me, lest anyone want to follow me and lob any more accusations my way.

Goddamn it. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this mad, this rattled. Maybe when Mikey lost the winery to Vito? But even then, it hadn’t felt like a personal insult to me .

Paloma had insulted me to my face. Repeatedly.

I hated mean girls. Women, whatever. Did Vito know what a bitch his sister was? Probably not, based on what I saw of their family dynamic this morning. Well, I wouldn’t be the one to tattle. I could handle Paloma for however long she was staying. It couldn’t be more than a few days. Maybe a week?

In the meantime, I’d stay with Mikey upstairs in the winery. There wasn’t a second bedroom, but there was a storage room big enough for an air mattress. No way in hell was I sleeping at the cottage or at my house while that woman was on the property. She might strangle me when my eyes were closed.

Or I might strangle her.

And I didn’t want to explain any of this to Vito. I needed time to process this and calm down. Whipping out my phone, I pulled up my text thread with BELLO.

Started my period. Feel like shit

Going to bed early. See you tomorrow

It was a lie, but the best I could manage at the moment. And men never questioned Aunt Flo.

I turned off my phone and got to work.

Later that night I was hanging out in the storage room, scrolling on my phone, when my brother arrived. He was carrying a paper bag. “What’s that?” I asked. “I thought you were finding the air mattress.”

“Your future brother-in-law sent this for you.” He handed me the bag.

“He’s not my future anything, asshole.” I peeked inside. I instantly recognized the contents. “Oh, my god. A meatball sub. And dark chocolate cake. I love that man.”

“Do I get some?” Mikey asked.

“No. This is mine.”

My brother lowered himself onto some boxes. “Why is he sending you food?”

“I told Vito I had period cramps when I decided I didn’t want to see him tonight.” I took out the wrapped sub. “Vito must’ve told Maz.”

“That’s very sweet. But why are you avoiding Vito?”

I shoved a huge bite of sub in my mouth and moaned. So, so good. Hot and cheesy, and Maz’s tomato sauce was perfection. When I swallowed, I said, “Because his sister pissed me off today and I don’t want to answer questions about it.”

“Ah.”

“She’s a total bitch.” I pointed at him. “Do not sleep with her.”

Guilt crawled all over his expression. “Too late.”

“What the fuck, Mikey!” I sat up straight. “She’s been here, like, a hot minute!”