As if something shifts around us, the small bakery is filled with yelling. Someone grabs my arm, twisting it behind me. I don’t realize what’s happening until I hear the words, racketeering, extortion, and federal agent.
Fuck.
PIPPA
Marissa is sitting in the café when I arrive. I notice her profile before I see anything else. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I hesitate at the door. Looking to my right, I notice there’s a man in a suit. Frowning, I turn toward him, but he looks down at his feet.
Shaking my head, assuming he’s some kind of protection, I decide to ignore him. Tugging the door open, I take a step inside. Marissa must sense me. I watch as she turns and a huge smile appears on her lips as she lifts her hand and waves.
Inhaling a deep breath, I walk over to her table. I’m not the same girl that I was the last time I saw her. I’m married now, married to a Made Man in the Zanetti famiglia mafia. What the fuck am I going to tell her?
“Let me see that ring,” Marissa snaps as soon as I sink down into the seat across from hers.
Reaching for the coffee that is in front of me, I act extra dramatic with my hand. “Which ring? This one?” I ask, wiggling my finger.
She grabs my hand, pulling it closer to her from across the table. “Oh my God. Who is he?” she cries.
“Someone I’ve known for years,” I say, deciding to tell her as much of the truth as I can.
“How come I didn’t know anything about him?”
Pressing my lips together, my eyes search hers. “We reconnected a couple weeks ago and then it just happened.”
“You didn’t invite me,” she says softly, not hiding her hurt as she drops my hand.
Wrapping my fingers around my coffee, I look down at my lap, then lift my gaze back to meet hers. “It happened really fast. I didn’t invite anyone. My sister and aunt were there, but that’s all.”
She tilts her head to the side, narrowing her eyes, then sighs. “Okay. It’s weird though. Are you knocked up?”
My coffee is against my lips and I choke with a cough. “I’m not, yet,” I breathe.
“Yet?” she screeches.
Laughing softly, I shake my head. “Yeah, Massimo wants children now.”
“You’re twenty,” she cries. “That’s crazy, what about your future?”
Shifting my eyes to the side, I let out an exhale. I knew I should have cut all contact. I should have deleted my Instagram. I shouldn’t have posted the picture and I shouldn’t have come here and met Marissa for coffee.
“This is my future, Marissa. I’m not in college, I can’t go to college. I’m Massimo’s wife, that’s who I am.”
“You’re crazy,” she snaps. “You’re too young to settle. Too damn young. Don’t ruin your life.”
Leaving the coffee on the table, I stand. Tears well in my eyes as I shake my head from side to side. She doesn’t understand and I knew that she wouldn’t. It’s not her fault, she doesn’t understand my circumstances.
To Marissa, life is fun and games. You choose a college major, you live in dorms, you date, and you have fun until you graduate. Then you start your career and get married. Later, you make two children, then buy a golden retriever puppy and trade your sedan in for a minivan.
“I’m sorry, Marissa. This is my life. I’m married now,” I whisper.
Turning around, I walk away from her. She calls my name, but I ignore her. Maybe I’ll be able to talk to her later. But right now, I can’t. She’s not wrong, I probably have ruined my life, but this was the best option I had.
Massimo is better than a line of strangers, and there’s the pesky little fact that I’m falling in love with him. Head over heels in love with him. It’s been days and I’m falling for my husband. I shouldn’t let myself feel anything emotional for him, but I do. I can’t help myself.
Chapter Nineteen
MASSIMO
The federal pig sits across from me. He hasn’t said shit to me since he read me my rights. Though I’m not sure why he doesn’t just put me in a fucking cell and be done with it, I’m not going to tell him shit.
I’m no fucking rat.
“I want to help you,” he lies. “I see that you were just married, don’t you want to protect your wife?”
I snort. He has no fucking idea that my wife is one of the most protected women in the world, just for the simple fact that she has my last name and then there’s the possibility that my baby is growing inside of her.
Pressing my lips closed, I stare at the agent.
He’s in his mid-forties, his hair is clipped short, he’s fit and his face is clean-shaven. If I had to guess, I’d say he gets pussy fairly often, even for a pig. Though, I know some women like that kind of thing.
“My wife is not your concern. Keep her off your mind entirely, she doesn’t exist to you,” I bark.
He smirks, thinking that he’s struck some kind of nerve. He hasn’t. Granted, I don’t want him anywhere near Pippa, but it’s not because I’m scared she’ll betray me. I know without a doubt that she wouldn’t.
She understands the repercussions of betrayal more than anyone. Her father died and her sister’s body was sold because of him. Pippa won’t say a single word against me, not that she knows anything anyway, not really.
He licks his lips, shaking his head once as he flicks his eyes from mine to the two-way mirror behind me. I don’t show any reaction to his move.
I have no doubt that his men are watching us, most likely recording us as well. They’re waiting for me to slip up, trying to gauge a reaction from me, one that they won’t get.
“We can protect her and you. Answer
