Page 18 of His Vicious Vow
“I speak Spanish, Russian, and can get by in Chinese.” He shrugs like it’s not a big deal. “You get we’ll need to raise our children speaking Italian?”
My stomach flips at the question. All at once I’m reminded I’m supposed get him to think I’ve given in but run when I have the chance. How could I forget for even a minute? The mind-blowing orgasm might have had something to do with it…I need to stop letting him do that.
The waitress arrives with water glasses and asks if we’re ready. Sandro looks to me. “Go first, please.” I sigh.
He orders a lobster roll and a steak. I give in and get the crab cake and a stuffed pork chop. The waitress looks me over as I give my order.
I wilt as I wish I could find my voice to change my order. His hand comes down on mine. Holy crap that electricity surges through me all over again. How does he do this to me?
“Do you want anything to drink, piccolina, wine or a mix drink?” Blue glows down at me.
I’m not able to do more than shake my head.
“Are you sure, not even the Italian sodas you like? Do you have Italian soda?” He asks the waitress.
“We could make whatever you like.” She gushes at him.
I should stop being surprised by all the things he knows about me. “You can get a drink.” His order of a club soda with lime is what I see people who want to drink but can’t order.
“I’m driving, I take no chances with your safety.” He shakes his head at me. To the waitress. “A strawberry Italian soda for her.”
He hands the menus back to her with the slightest dismissive nod. If I weren’t locked into him, I’d have missed it. Head down she leaves.
I’d taken my eyes off him for seconds. I find him offering me the ugly engagement ring. Shaking my head, I pull my hand away. “It’s so ugly.”
“Really?” He’s genuinely surprised. “Bianca picked it out. She was sure you would like it.”
I stiffen. “Who is Bianca?”
“My little sister.”
I’m annoyed by the blush I feel spread over my face. “You raised your sister, you said.”
He nods. “I’ll tell you all about her. First, answer my question of where you got the Xanax and Klonapin.”
Bossy dick. “I started at the doctor’s office by telling them about the panic attack and asking them what to do. My doctor was nice enough to give me a thirty-day prescription of Xanax to start. But she wanted me to see a psychologist or psychiatrist or whatever for another prescription. Since my mom and Carlo would have flipped out I couldn’t. I called Nicolette Angelo, her dad is over the loop, she’s one of the few mafia kids we grew up with who is nice to me and my sister. I asked her where I could get more.”
Guilt hits me for telling him the secret. It doesn’t help when he frowns at the mention of Nicolette. “Her mom was heavy on it but gave her some when she needed it. She had some extra she could give me as long as I didn’t tell anyone, especially her mom. Then her mom got deported to Columbia last year. Nicolette gave me everything left behind but let me know she couldn’t help beyond that. When I ran out I started using weed and gummies. I hate smoking, it feels like it clings to everything, and my mouth is gross unless I brush my teeth.”
Why does he look relieved? “The therapist is the one Luca had Bella going to. I had no idea she was doing therapy but since he cleared her already, she will be good for you too.”
“I can go to therapy?” Therapy was something that could get you killed in the mafia. Secrets were more important than mental health.
He nods. “If it’s what you need, it’s what you get.”
I’m grateful the waitress brings our drinks. Trying to cover how he’s thrown me off. “So it’s just you and your sister?”
“My mom died when I was twenty. Bianca was only seven, it wasn’t easy on any of us.”
“I’m sorry. It was just the two of you or do you have any brothers?”
“No, it wasn’t just us. My dad was a wreck though, so it might as well have been.” He shrugs.
“Wait, your dad was alive and stopped taking care of your sister?”
He runs his thumb along his jaw. “Basically. He lived for my mother. The only thing that surprised me was it took him ten years to die. For years every time I answered my phone I wondered if it was the call to tell me he was dead. My mom asked me to take care of my sister while she was dying. It didn’t make sense to me. But she knew him well. Thankfully, I had Luca’s nanny who helped me out as her nanny even though she’d been retired for years.”
“Your dad was Al’s and then Luca’s second, wasn’t he?” I heard some of the history of succession in Vegas because Luca was supposedly my cousin and Carlo bragged on him being a Toro.