Page 34 of Sinful Hearts

My phone rings when I slide into the Range Rover, and Antonio’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hello?” I answer.

“I haven’t received your RSVP to Gigi’s birthday brunch.”

“I didn’t know we formally RSVP’d to shit,” I grumble.

“I expect you to be there.”

“Can’t. I’m a newlywed.”

“Fuck off with that shit. Liliya can meet the other wives. Maybe it’ll make her feel better since the man she married most likely acts like she doesn’t exist.”

Antonio knows me well.

“Unlike you, I wasn’t given a choice on my wife.”

“I almost died for marrying mine. I don’t recommend it. Be there. If you don’t bring Liliya, I won’t be happy.”

He ends the call, and I drop my phone in my lap, massaging my temples.

Defying a mob boss is dangerous. While Antonio is a killer, we grew up together and were friends before he became the boss.

Some bosses treat their men like shit. Those bosses either die at an early age or their men hate them. Loyalty is easier to break when your boss is a cunt.

When you don’t trust him.

I trust and respect Antonio.

When my phone rings again, I debate throwing it out the fucking window.

This time, it’s Maggie.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Liliya isn’t eating,” she tells me. “I’ve triedallday. The same yesterday. She’ll drink water, but that’s it.”

My wife starving herself is the last fucking thing I need.

“Keep trying,” I tell her. “I’ll be home in a few hours.”

If she hasn’t eaten a bite by then, I’ll force it down her throat if I have to.

I won’t have my new wife starving on my watch.

At first,when Aleksy approached Antonio about a marriage proposal, Antonio rejected the idea.

But then Aleksy sweetened the deal, offering peace with the Russiansanda portion of their New York–based businesses.

That second addition is why Antonio said yes.

He didn’t give two fucks about peace with the Russians. They aren’t strong enough to beat us in anything—not power, not wealth, and sure as fuck not street smarts.

We also don’tneedthe money. Lucky Kings, along with many of our illegal ventures, brings in plenty of revenue, but who doesn’t wantmoremoney?

We’re men. We’re fucking selfish.

So, Antonio agreed, knowing the Russian businesses would give us more avenues to funnel our illegal money through as well.