Scorned Obsession (Scorned Fate)

I grabbed my newest strappy heels before I headed out to the living room where Sandro was waiting for me. It had been two weeks since girls’ night out and our weekend in Central Park. Our weekend of discovery, of talking about our hopes and dreams outside the crime family, of being honest with our emotions.

A turning point in our marriage.

When it became real.

Because we wanted it.

Not because we were forced into saying our vows.

We had discussed having kids, but agreed to wait until the organization was more stable. I had a feeling Sandro wanted to build a fortress before starting a family.

My husband turned from his spot at the French doors. He had a phone to his ear, but ended the call immediately when he spotted me.

His gaze traveled from my face down to my bare feet and then up again and then at the shoes in my hand.

“Need help?”

I grinned at him sheepishly and held out the shoes. I was wearing black satin leggings that hit mid-calf. The heels on my ivory shoes were five inches made easier by one-and-a-half-inch platform, but still.

Sandro grabbed the shoes and went down on a knee to put each one on. “Are you sure you’re not gonna break your neck in these?”

I put my hand on the counter to balance myself. “They’re comfy, don’t worry. Besides, they’re cute.”

He gave a shake of his head and I caught the flash of teeth in his grin. When he got up, he didn’t need to lean too far to give me a kiss.

“I thought we were just going to the Jabbin’ Java family opening?”

“Well, the girls and I may want to catch up later.”

“The girls, huh… How about us men?”

I fiddled with his navy-blue tie. He was wearing a white dress shirt for a change. I was slowly adding more variety to his wardrobe other than black. He didn’t appear to mind. He even seemed amused at my attempts to add color to his clothes…well, white for now.

“Well, the boxing gym is just across the way. Maybe you all could work out your frustrations some more.”

Sandro touched his jaw. “Nico has a mean left hook.”

My brothers and Sandro had sparred a couple of times. A healthier alternative for sure than beating the hell out of each other outside the ring and without gloves. Jabbin’ Java’s grand reopening was tomorrow morning, but Renz was excited for us to try some of his new espresso creations.

The Italian side of our family, of course, thought anything other than straight espresso or a cappuccino was blasphemy.

As for me, I was in the mood for his bacon-and-egg brioche. It had been too long since I had a fix. I grabbed my mini bucket purse that matched my ivory heels. “Come on, let’s go. I want to catch the brioche as it comes out of the oven.”

I tugged Sandro’s hand, but he didn’t budge.

I shot him a questioning gaze. “Is there something askew with my clothes?” Aside from the leggings, I was wearing a scooped neckline. Nothing too revealing. I wanted to show off my boxy-heel platform Jimmy Choos with the flared knotted straps over the toes. It was so girly, I couldn’t stand it.

He let go of my hand and dug into his suit’s inner pocket. “Before you go out with the girls tonight, I have a request.”

He set down a jewelry box.

I was more baffled when he slipped the diamond ring from my finger.

“Taking someone’s ring off is bad luck.”

Sandro’s face didn’t change expression, but I could just imagine his internal eye roll.

“I’m serious. It means we’re going to fight.”

He put the ring on the counter and picked up the box and opened it.

Nestled against creamy satin was an obnoxiously huge stone that put the word ostentatious to shame.

I laughed. “What is this?”

“Your new engagement ring.”

“Sandro,” I mumbled when he slipped it on. “This is outrageous. How much did you pay? Oh my God, it weighs a ton.” I looked up disbelievingly in his eyes, but his gaze was unrelenting. “Why?”

He emitted an annoyed huff. “Apparently, your ring is not big enough.”

“Are you still referring to that incident with that asshole Zachary Hellman?”

“Him and every man who looks at you and thinks they can still hit on you.”

“And a flashier ring is supposed to discourage that?”

“I don’t know,” he answered brusquely, pocketing the other ring, linking our fingers together to signal the end of the conversation. “Just give it a spin tonight and see how you like it.”

I already knew I wouldn’t like it, but I had to smile at Sandro’s possessiveness. Take a maybe two-hundred-thousand-dollar ring for a spin? That was insane. It made me feel guilty because the crime family was still recovering from the toxic asset removal, but Sandro had always said his money was separate, and if he wanted to spoil me with it, I shouldn’t feel guilty.

That was why I didn’t argue too much. It was only for the evening. Maybe I could convince him to return it.

“Get out!” Ivy exclaimed, grabbing my hand. “What happened to your other ring?”

When they heard her shriek, Sera and Mom gathered around us. We were at the entrance to the kitchen. I was about to check on Renz when Ivy emerged and her eyes went directly to my hand. I guess Sandro was right about a bigger ring being harder to miss.

I gave my most resigned look. “Sandro has it. He thinks if he gives me a gigantic ring, guys will stop hitting on me.”

Ivy laughed. “It does scream taken.”

“Or married,” Mom said, giving me a kiss at the side of my head. “You’re tall.”

Sera dropped her eyes to my shoes. “I have the same pair, but Matteo forbade me to wear anything above a two-inch heel while I’m pregnant. Those are so comfy, though.”

“That’s what I told Sandro. He thought I might break my neck.”

The four of us looked at Sandro, who seemed to be in a deep conversation with Dom.

Mom stroked my hair. “So, how has it been going?”

I laughed briefly. “You just checked on me this morning.”

“I’m glad you’re gaining more perspective on how to navigate your life in the family.”

“And I’m glad you opened up to us,” Sera said. She had the most experience being a mafia princess herself. “Any time you have questions about what to do, don’t hesitate to call. I can meet you for lunch or dinner or whatever.”

We gave each other hugs before I entered the kitchen.

Renz was laying down a tray of bacon-and-egg brioche when I walked in.

“Hey, Smurfette.”

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his torso and rested my head on his chest. “Deartháir.”

I’d been doing this recently when I was in the feels about what happened to us. It was as if I wanted to listen to his heartbeat to make sure that he was alive and okay.

“You’re feeling okay? Breathing okay?” I asked after we hugged for a while.

“Yeah. It’s great not to need the sling anymore. Can’t wait to meet Rossi in the ring.”

I gave a mock huff. “Would you guys give my husband a break?”

“Husband, huh?” Renz teased. I stepped back so he could transfer the tray to the cooling racks.

I rested my elbows on the counter, watching him move around. His movements weren’t as quick. He’d lost weight, but I heard he’d been working out again and Nico had been helping him regain muscle mass.

“Can you believe how things have turned around in less than two months?” Things were so bleak in the beginning, I never thought Sandro and I would be at this point celebrating with family. I drew the winning number in the lottery when it came to family. No one blamed me for what happened and that included Liz. I wanted Sandro to be part of my support structure because he’d had nothing like it growing up.

“It’s hard to believe you’re married.”

I lifted my hand with the new ring. “Does this prove anything?”

“Whoa!” His brow arched. “Does this have anything to do with the girls’ night a couple of weeks ago?”

“You heard about it?”

“Liz told me. Sera and Ivy spilled the beans about our brothers and Sandro being there.”

I wagged my finger with the ginormous rock. “What do you think? Overkill, right?”

“You’re asking me?” His gaze lowered to another tray of aromatic baked goods. My mouth watered, but I needed the answer to my question. Renz’s mouth twitched. He crossed his arms and leaned against another counter. “Think about why I elected to be good at something that would allow me to be with my wife twenty-four-seven.”

Why did I even bother to ask? Renz was the original obsessed De Lucci among my brothers. He embraced the whole idea from the start. “You do take obsessed to the next level.”

He nodded to my ring. “So I understand Sandro. And I’m not surprised he’s involving you in mafia business, even if it’s peripheral. From what I know, most wives prefer total ignorance of what their husbands do, but not you. And Sandro wants to share his day and not have to keep it from you.”

“That’s how I want it.”

Renz gave a brief nod. “And that’s what Dad is coming to terms with.”

I looked at the entrance to the kitchen. “I think he’s doing better.”

“And…that’s why the boxing gym is a good idea.” Renz circled back to how our conversation started.

Liz walked in with Sam trailing behind her. “Are you done here?” she asked Renz. “Uncle Paulie is about to say blessings.” She grinned at me. “Hey, Bianca.”

Sam skipped directly toward me and grabbed my hand. “Aunt Sera told us to look at your new sparkly.”

I laughed and showed off my ring.

Her mouth dropped open and her eyes rounded like saucers. “It’s big.”

“Yep.”

Sandro

The girls were talking about where to celebrate after this. They were trying to get Liz to go, but she declined and instead offered their apartment to hang out instead.

I was all for it. And so were Bianca’s brothers.

“You’re pregnant,” Matteo told Sera. “You can’t drink anyway, and you say your feet swell up when you stand for long stretches. Why not hang out on the second floor?”

“Because, Mr. Overprotective, once this baby comes, it’ll be late nights and diapers.”

“She has a point,” Liz said.

“Let’s just move to the third floor,” Cesar proposed. “That way Liz and Renz won’t have to kick you guys out, since they have that opening tomorrow.”

“Very sensible,” Renz muttered.

I stood in a corner observing Bianca’s family interacting. My family now, too. A heartburn like I’d had too much of Renz’s espresso experiments burned up my diaphragm. The De Luccis had always grudgingly accepted me into the family because of my friendship with Bianca. Dom and I were good. Nico and Matteo didn’t scowl as much anymore whenever they saw me. Ava had always liked me. But Cesar…Cesar was still pretty neutral. I shouldn’t take it personally. It wasn’t that he thought I was beneath Bianca. He’d never been a snob about money. It was always about Bianca’s safety and quality of life.

Ava’s eyes caught mine. She walked toward me. “We didn’t have time to catch up.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“That’s a beautiful ring you chose for Bianca.”

“Thank you for helping me out,” I said.

“Anytime.” She squeezed my arm. Ava accompanied me to the Harry Winston store. I was familiar with the luxury jeweler because diamonds were a lucrative part of our smuggled goods. There was a safe at the Rossi mansion that contained a whole sleeve of the highest-quality diamonds from the Northwest Territories of Canada. A pipeline was about to be negotiated between the Rossis and the Toronto Albanians. But I wasn’t about to put a smuggled diamond on Bianca’s finger. She was getting the full treatment. I would have put a bigger ring on her finger sooner, but a rock that size wasn’t immediately available in the store. Twelve carats. She told me it was absurd to take a two-hundred-grand ring for a spin. Little did she know the ring on her finger was over seven figures.

My gaze lifted in time to see Cesar narrow his eyes to where Ava was talking to me.

For fuck’s sake. I knew he didn’t like it that Ava accompanied me to the jewelry store. Jealous fucker. He retired too early and needed a different hobby other than his wife.

“I hope she’ll keep it,” I said. “She wasn’t impressed.”

Ava shot me a reassuring smile. “It’s hard to impress someone who has been given everything all her life and who the men in my family can’t say no to. But she’s always had a special place in her heart for you, Sandro. You don’t have to buy her things. Just treat her right. Treasure my daughter. I already see that you do. Cesar will come around once he’s assured Bianca is in good hands.”

I chuckled briefly. “I sure hope so.” Ava gave my arm another squeeze and returned to the gathering. The women had reached a consensus to take the party to the third floor.

Maybe I could share a drink with Cesar and thaw the ice between us further.

My phone buzzed.

Griselda calling.

Fuck. I didn’t need her nagging tonight. It was probably about the club.

I silenced her call.

Bianca bounded up to me. “Well, we’re continuing this shindig on the third floor.”

I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a kiss. “I know, baby.”

My phone rang again.

Dammit, Griselda. With one arm still holding Bianca by my side, I dragged out my phone.

It was Tommy.

Frowning, I thumbed to answer. “Yeah.”

“Uncle Raffa’s house has been hit.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, but dread gripped my muscles. “What?”

“They’re dead, Sandro.” Tommy was shouting and out of breath. I heard doors slamming and urgent voices in the background.

Sticks and Arnie came in through the side entrance.

More than a few of the De Luccis glowered at them. Arnie ignored the hostility and rushed to my side, panting. “You heard?”

“What happened?” Dom asked.

“There was a hit on Uncle Raffa.”

“Is he okay?” Cesar joined in.

I was already striding toward the exit. “He’s dead.”