Page 27 of The Mafia's Bride

When she glances to my uncle, there’s a flicker of warmth in her eyes. AtNico.

I’ve never seen anyone outside the family show an ounce of care to my uncle. But this slight woman? There’s something between them, a connection I’m not privy to understanding.

Nico is the Capo of the largest Italian family in Boston. Enemies have been known to plot his death. For a rival, for aCaptain, to look at him with such tenderness, is unthinkable.

As soon as the emotion comes, it’s wiped clean.

“Follow me.”

Nico chuckles, which morphs into a wet cough. She frowns, taking his arm and wrapping it within her own. If anyone saw, they’d assume he was leading her into the dining room, but I see the way she supports him. The way he leans against her shoulder.

Odd. Nico never lets anyone see him weak. Very rarely me.

The doors to the dining room are closed, sliding pocket doors with worn edges and brass handles. Ace turns to examine me, her cold eyes narrowing on my form.

I fight the urge to cower.

“I’m sure your uncle has made it abundantly clear what I expect from this arrangement.”

I shift, hands sliding into my pockets, to appear unaffected. “A fair deal between import businesses.”

She cuts me a glare. “My sister’s safety. That is above all else.”

“The great Ace O’Brien, brokered an entire deal with a rival family just to give her sister some sort of security in this world?” It’s taunting, and the Captain doesn’t take well to it.

Those eyes darken, but her face remains emotionless. I’m instantly on edge.

“I would sell my soul so Sloane would never have to.”

My lips pull into a smirk but it’s fake. There’s not much to joke about with her deadly tone. “A cute sentiment. But you do realizeyou’ve sold your baby sister into one of the most dangerous mafia outfits in the Northeast?” Safety is a hard ask.

That soft smile grows into something wicked and lethal. “And you do realize, I will kill you, and everything you hold dear if one hair on her head is harmed?”

I have to respect her for the direct way she says it, even with the current Capo on her arm. Maeve doesn’t care who she offends, she’ll make her point known.

The contract might be for two warring families to bury the hatchet, to grow an alliance and take in the spoils of an operation, but Ace is making it abundantly clear: she doesn’t care about the money or the business. She cares about keeping Sloane safe.

Something she can’t do in her clan alone.Why?

Nico shifts to say something, but it would be pointless. This is her home, her territory. We can’t say anything back, not without retribution.

Resolutely, I nod. “Understood.”

My singular goal has gone from honoring the arrangement and giving loyalty to a woman who would rather run from me, to now keeping that woman safe and protected from a life of bloodshed and death. Protected so my family, my organization, doesn’t go up in flames at Ace’s request.

Easy.

11

SLOANE

The wine bottle is empty and the fire at my back is making the room feel cramped, suffocating and not in the good way. The food sits untouched as we wait for the rest of our party to arrive and all I’m focused on is how I can get out of this.

The aunts are prattling on about lace and tulle and what pearls I’ll wear. About what colors will match best with my hair. About the seating arrangements and how Zio Tony cannot sit next to Zio Marco—whoever the hell those people are.

It makes my head absolutely ache to know this is for my wedding.Mine.

“Pearls in her hair,” the oldest woman says, gesturing to her own locks. “They would sparkle.”