Page 110 of Wounded King

"What do you mean?" I stare from the little black card to him.

"As my wife, there are certain things that are expected from you."

I have no idea where he is going with this. "Like what?"

"Look, you're beautiful the way you are. You look gorgeous in my shirts, and if it were up to me, that's what you'd be wearing until the end of time."

I look down at the shirt I swiped from him yesterday. It has a little red spot on it from the spaghetti we ate last night. "I can get my things from my place and?—"

He shakes his head. "No. Or well, yes, I'll send Alejandro over there. Just tell him what you need, but that's not what this is about. You need a whole new wardrobe. People expect certain things from me, and they'll expect them from you, too."

Understanding begins to dawn on me. "You want me to go shopping?"

"You and Pippa, since it looks like she's going to stay a little while longer with Luciano."

I grin. "Shopping?"

He nods, and I begin a small dance.

His grin deepens. "I'm glad you're taking this so well."

"Are you kidding me? You're handing me a credit card and telling me to go shopping. What could be better than that?" As the words leave my mouth, a few ideas pop into my head, and my face flushes.

"I've assigned a security team to you. Alejandro is one of them, and the others are Bosco, Gus, and Vincente. They'll be in the hall. Here," he hands me a phone. It's light pink—my favorite color—and much thinner than any cell phone I've ever seen.

"What is this?"

"It's untraceable. All your apps and contacts have been downloaded. It has Alejandro's and the other men's numbers in it as well. Whenever you need to go anywhere, call Alejandro; if you can't reach him, call one of the others. I don't want you going anywhere without them."

I'm starting to enjoy this whole mafia thing. I get to have Marcello, and I'm going shopping with my bestie, with anunlimitedcredit card.

"Anything in particular I should be shopping for?" I ask.

"You'll need everything, from day clothes to ballgowns."

"Gowns?" I clarify. "As in more than one ball gown?"

"I'll introduce you to the family Friday night."

Yeah, things are definitely moving fast. "At a ball?" I ask because that's pretty much all my poor little brain can focus on right now.Breathe, Violet, breathe. It's not like you're going to meet a bunch of murderous mobsters… oh wait. You ARE!

"At a ball," he nods.

I have no idea where to find a ball gown. I've been to the mall many times, but I don't think JCPenney or Dillard's has anything fancy enough for that.

"Where do I go?"

"Alejandro will know." He takes his towel off and struts into his closet. I follow with my eyes glued to the sexiest ass that has ever walked the Earth. "I have a meeting to go to, but you will be safe, as long as you follow Alejandro's instructions."

I know there are a million other things I should be thinking about, my family for one, the bombs that were dropped during yesterday'smeeting, my father, and me getting married! But honestly, all that is just way too much for me right now. A shopping trip with Pippa sounds like just what my therapist—if I had one—would prescribe. A few hours away from the drama might do me some good.

"Who are you meeting with?" I ask, because there is so much going on, it's hard to keep it straight.

"Actually, I'm going to the courthouse. The jury is about to announce a verdict in my father's trial." He says, pulling out a pair of black slacks.

I remember his insufferable father coming to the hospital, threatening me, and choking Doctor Waspo. There is no love in me for that pompous ass, but he is Marcello's father. A wave of guilt rushes over me—again, it seems like it's been doing that a lot lately. I've been so absorbed in my own problems that I haven't even asked about Marcello's father. What kind of person am I?

"Do you want me to go with you?" I ask, placing my hand on his hard chest.