Page 48 of Explosive Union
Her smile drops from her lips as they twist into a snarl. “I gave you time to think about it. Surely your family must understand that it’s not the nineteen hundreds, and you’re more than capable of choosing your own wife.”
Fucking hell. What the actual fuck?
“Monica, I told you from the get-go that we were two people who were having fun—"
She nods. “I know, but, Rocco, I thought you’d change your mind.” Her hand slides up my shirt and rests against my tie. “We’re good together.”
This is why I don’t do fucking relationships. They never go smoothly, and someone always gets hurt. I should have listened to my gut and ended things a while ago.
I step backward and her hand drops to her side. This needs to be rectified immediately. “I warned you the last time, Monica, what would happen if you continued your shit. We’re getting married in just over two weeks’ time.”
Tears well in her eyes, and her lip trembles. “Two weeks?” she whispers.
“Monica,” I warn. I’m not an asshole most of the time, but I can’t deal with this shit. “Lay off the waterworks. It doesn’t suit you. You and I are never going to happen. You fucked my brother. Why not go and do it again?” I’m being an asshole, and I really don’t give a fuck. She’s been warned and yet she’s playing games, looking for attention.
“Have you met her yet?” she asks me, and I don’t answer, because nothing good will come from it. “Ugh, I hope you two are miserable together. You’re an asshole, Rocco.”
“It’s time for you to leave, Monica.”
She shakes her head and storms toward the bar. God, I’m getting a fucking migraine from this shit.
“Damn, bro, I’ve never watched someone’s heart break before. Fucking cold as ice.” Dario grins.
“You have some explaining to do, Figlio. The Gallaghers are not happy,” Mom says to me, her gaze on a table close by.
I sigh as I realize just who’s seated at the table. Makenna, Finn, and Denis Gallagher, not to mention their spouses. Fuck, just what I need. If looks could kill, I’d be dead from the death glare Makenna’s giving me. I simply smile at her. I’m not intimidated by them. The only person I owe an explanation to is Jade. No doubt these asses will tell her.
“Bro, I don’t think the smile is helping,” Elio chuckles. I glare at him. Bastard. He’s no help whatsoever. “Oh shit,” he mutters, his eyes wide with humor.
“Here I thought tonight was going to be boring as hell,” Dario laughs.
“Aldo,” the husky Irish voice says, and I grit my teeth as I see Makenna Gallagher walking toward us, the rest of the family in tow. They’ve now been joined by Edwina, Liam, Hayes, his wife, and Hayden. Fucking hell, I never realized just how many of them there were.
“Makenna, it’s lovely to see you,” my father responds. I’m pretty sure he actually means it too.
“Where’s the convict?” Elio questions them.
Hayes laughs quietly, and his wife smiles, but Hayden glares at my brother. “She’s busy, but she’ll be here soon enough. Why?”
My brother casually shrugs. “Merely curious, although now, I’m wondering why you’re all so protective of her.”
Hayes steps forward. “You have sisters, right?” He glances around the table. “Oh right, I forgot who I was talking to. The Famiglia don’t think of their women as anything but trophies. We’re protective of her because she’s ours. It’s that fucking simple.” He turns around and walks to the table that’s next to us. It seems as though the Gallaghers want to be close to us this evening.
The servers come around with champagne, and my father orders a whiskey. Monica hasn’t taken her eyes off me and it’s pissing me off. I’ve been nice about it. I never led her on. I always made sure she knew that our time together was limited.
“Aldo,” Liam says with a nod. “Would you mind if we joined you?”
My mom brightens immediately. “Oh, we’d love to have you join us. Why not see if we can bring the tables together. You know, we’re all going to be family soon.”
What the fuck? Did I enter a new dimension or something?
I glance at my brothers and see they’re both wearing the same confused expressions. Yeah, there’s something more at play here and I don’t fucking like it.
Edwina moves away to find a server, and I get to my feet and go in search of a drink that’s a fuck of a lot stronger than champagne. Tonight is going to be hell. Having Monica stare at us all night and now having the Gallaghers right on top is beyond fucked up, and Jade’s not even here.
Twenty minutes later, the gala has finally started and the bidding begun. There's a lake house retreat that Liam is bidding on for Edwina and Hayes. Hayden and Denis keep bidding also, and the man’s getting beyond frustrated. There are now three tables pushed together, with our parents, Killian, Henry, Liam, and Edwina Gallagher seated at one while the rest of us are at the other two.
The door opens and my gaze moves toward it, and in walks my fiancée.