Page 30 of Single Malt Drama

I shook my head. “You don’t want your father’s position. Even if you did, and everyone agreed, I don’t want to be a mafia wife.”

“There has to be a way out of this, Nic. A way that doesn’t involve my best friend marrying my asshole brother.”

I’d always loved calling him my best friend, but to hear the words out of his mouth while debating the merits of marrying me cut deep. “I thought running away would solve my problems, but it only made them worse.”

“Never a dull moment, is there?” Marco kissed my cheek. “Thank you for explaining this to me. Do you think Gabe knows any of this?”

“It’s hard to say, but you can’t tell him. He’ll know it came from me, and so will my father when Gabe confronts him.”

“Nic, relax. I promised I wouldn’t repeat what you said, and I meant it.” He stretched out behind me and tugged my back to his chest. “Let’s get some sleep.”

Easy for you to say.“Okay.” Nuzzling into the pillow, I did my best to ignore his arm around me and his hand dangerously close to my breast.

After several minutes, Marco’s breathing evened out, and the tension drained from his body. I envied his ability to drift off to sleep despite our worlds spinning out of control. Try as I might, I couldn’t turn my brain off.

While he hadn’t asked outright, I suspected he wanted to talk to Gabe about the situation with my father. Part of me agreed, but the part that had been brainwashed about duty and loyalty and keeping secrets was terrified of the repercussions.

At some point while debating what, if anything, to tell Gabe and listening to Marco breathe, I finally nodded off. What seemed like minutes later, car doors slammed downstairs followed by shouting. From the sound of it, Enzo and Shanna were having quite the argument.

Marco startled, jumped out of bed, and peeked out the window.

I stared, trying to understand how he could go from practically comatose to wide awake so quickly. “Is someone here?”

He smoothed his sleep rumpled hair. “Enzo and Shanna are back. We should find out what’s going on.”

And I should have conversations with Gabe and Enzo.“Go ahead. I’ll be right down.”

He tilted his head, sighed, and left the room.

I waited until the door closed and bolted for the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face helped to calm my nerves, but nothing short of a miracle would take away the ache in the center of my chest.

Can I betray my family? What will my father do when he finds out? Will he hurt me? Marco? Why did I come here? I’ve put everyone in more danger. I stared at my reflection as if it would answer the questions. I let Maria and Alessio fill my head with nonsense about love, that’s why. As if I knew anything about it. My father wanted to sell me off like a broodmare. Worse, Marco’s offer was as much of a business arrangement as my engagement to Enzo.

I’d foolishly thought running from my father would give me control of my life, but I’d been wrong. So wrong. Leaving hadn’t solved my problems. It’d made them worse. Mother Mary, if you’re there. I feel so lost. I don’t know what to do. Please, give me a sign.

I walked downstairs and followed the sound of Marco’s voice to an office. Tugging at the hem of the borrowed T-shirt, I said, “Mind if I come in?”

“Sure.” Shanna smiled at me, but shot Enzo a dirty look.

Marco motioned to the computer monitor. “Who is that and why does she look familiar?”

“She was at Gabe and Maggie’s engagement party. I was hoping one of you would recognize her.” Shanna motioned me closer.

There were few people I could say I hated, but the woman on the screen topped my list. “That’s my cousin, Sophia Abruzzo.”

Marco’s mouth fell open. “You’re related?”

“My mother was Tommaso Abruzzo’s sister.” I clamped my mouth shut before I said too much. I’d tell Marco the full story, but I didn’t feel compelled to share it with the others. “I was surprised to see her at the party. I wasn’t aware the Marchionnis and Abruzzos were on friendly terms.”

“We aren’t,” Marco and Enzo said in unison.

Shanna frowned. “Do you know what business Sophia Abruzzo would have with the Mayor of New Orleans?”

“No, why?” The thought of running into Sophia in New Orleans made my pulse race. We absolutely hated each other. The woman was a slutty psychopath. A violent, slutty psychopath.

Shanna typed something into the computer. Another media player window popped up.

We watched the video footage of Sophia and an older man exchanging envelopes and engaging in a kiss.