Page 20 of Sinful Hearts

“You have more say than I do.”

“You’re my wife,” I say. “And you’ll be my wife until the day you die.”

“What if I don’t want to be?”

“Too fucking bad.” I drop her foot and stand.

“Told you!” She throws up her arms. “Iama prisoner.”

“Are you behind bars? Shackled to the wall?” I snatch her wrist, raising it to show her free use.

She jerks out of my hold. “Give me the freedom to come and go as I please then.”

“You have to earn that privilege.”

She tilts her head up to meet my eyes as I step closer and loom over her.

“Follow the rules, Liliya. Don’t fuck with me, and I won’t make your life miserable.” I jab my finger in her face. “But if you spy on me or try to run again, I’ll bury you in those woods so fucking deep that not even your ghost will be able to escape.”

“You can’t kill me. My brother will start a war with you.”

“Your brother sold you to me.” I raise a brow and pet the top of her head. “I’d also gladly welcome a war. Killing men is my favorite pastime.” I rap two knuckles against the door and leave the room.

It’safter midnight when I enter the back door of Lucky Kings Casino, the business run by the Lombardi family. As far as the IRS knows, Lucky Kings is my employer and only source of income.

As soon as I left my home, I called a meeting with the others to discuss my shit show of a wedding.

Before entering the boardroom, I power off my phone, toss it in the basket with the others, and walk inside. Everyone is already here, and Antonio sits at the head of the table.

When the Lastros immigrated from Sicily with nothing but desperation and the clothes on their backs, Antonio’s great-grandfather took mine in and gave him work. Our loyalty to them was born from that.

My father was a capo, but he fucked up that loyalty when Antonio’s father died. Instead of accepting Antonio as the new boss, he sided with Antonio’s Uncle Sonny and died for it.

I was there when he died.

Saw the light leave his eyes and the last breath leave his lungs.

And I didn’t do or feel a goddamn thing.

Damien and my fellow capos, Julian and Leo, are also seated at the table.

These men are all I have.

We’ve shed blood and gone through wars together. They have my back as much as I have theirs. It’s why I chose Antonio over my father. Loyalty is thicker than blood in my veins.

“There’s the groom.” Julian smirks. “Celebrating his wedding night like a true romantic.”

I shut the door and then lift my middle finger in his direction. “Fuck off.”

Damien chuckles, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve spent three hours this evening explaining tomy wifewhy you didn’t mention it was the wrong bride.”

I ignore their amusement. Fuckers wouldn’t be joking if the roles were reversed.

Strolling to the bar cart in the corner, I pour myself a glass of whiskey and then take the chair beside Julian. It’s a rarity for me to drink this much, but it’s been a fucking night.

“I don’t like this,” I say. “The Russians are playing games.”

“Aleksy isn’t smart enough to play games,” Julian argues.