Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

DANI
I avoided Terzo the whole day. He didn’t bother me either, so I had the time to plan and bond with his sister, Celestina. She seemed genuinely to care about her family.
I wasn’t a psychologist nor knew anything about human behavior, but behind her smile and laugh, I felt like there was some deep pain and sorrow within her that I wished I could help take away.
“Do you have a dress?” she asked as we were just done with our spa and mani-pedi at home. When she told me she wanted a spa, I was expecting to book in a salon and not bring the salon to her home.
“Yeah. Why? Are we going to some party or club?”
“That can wait. Papa is throwing dinner for you.”
“For me?” I pointed at myself. I was surprised her father, the Don, would do something like that. I mean, I knew by now what he was capable of, but I thought that ‘welcome to the family’ was out of pity or his way of using me against my father.
I was wrong.
“Yes. You’re the wife of his heir, the protector of this family, the underboss, and the future Don. You’re the first lady now, Dani.” She smiled so brightly and never faltered. “Why do you look so surprised? We’re not barbarians.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You think of it, though.” She sighed. “Look, my family business has progressed for generations because of our commitment to it, our loyalty, and, of course, our hard work. You may think of us as criminals, but some politicians and rich people stole money from the poor and broke the rules more than we do. They are in their positions, not rotting in jail because that’s how money works. We do this to survive. So go ahead and judge my family and the people under our payroll, but if this business goes down, many people will lose their jobs.”
“Okay. Maybe I judged a bit out of ignorance, but all I think is the risks, the people who get hurt. I married a dangerous man who lives a dangerous life. Is it all worth it? Why not make it legit?”
“It’s legit, Dani.”
“Magnus said, it’s 75%.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course, he does with his numbers, but Terzo is doing his best to make things legit and pay taxes on time, and he even sold his soul, but he’s still a Siciliano. The authorities look at him as the bad guy. I guess that’s the price we pay for carrying the family name.” Sold his soul? Her words jarred me.
The shock on my face was immediate, and she saw it. “What do you mean he sold his soul?”
“Not my secret to tell, and I don’t even know the whole story. When it comes to some things that piss me off or things that I better not know, he and Papa choose to keep me away from it. I guess the same way as to why your mother never told you who your father was.”
“My mother never told me because of who he was. Her family shamed her for getting pregnant out of wedlock at a young age. God, they’re not even conservative, but they have high hopes for my mother. They expect her to finish college, marry an Ivy League, and live in an estate as they build a family together.”
“That’s what every parent wants, Dani. They want what’s best for their children.”
“I never met my grandparents, but that was what she told me every day when my grades dropped. And not my mother, though. She thinks I’m a mistake, a disappointment.” My heart sank. Maybe I was indeed a mistake and a disappointment. I mean, look at where I am now?
“I wonder what she thinks of you right now if she finds out you get married without her knowing.” She smiled. “You didn’t invite her, did you?”
“No. God, no. She kicked me out of her house when I asked if I could stay for a day.”
“Bitch.” Her brown eyes widened. “Wow. She’s something.”
“Yes. She’s a bitch.”
That’s it. We laughed together.
“We should start getting ready.”
I didn’t resist. I showed her what I got in my suitcases. “Most of my clothes are from Maverick.”
“Maverick is a good person. I hope you won’t keep grudges on her,” she said genuinely.
“I don’t wanna talk about it. My things are still in my old apartment, but my former roommate kicked me out, who I just found out was sleeping with my ex.”
“Well, this is just getting better, Dani. You were actually surrounded with bitches. Glad you get away from those toxic relationships. What you need is a detox.”
I picked up the black sequin mini dress with floral details. “I think I just have what to wear.”
“I approve it, my dear.” She looked at my hair. “You don’t need to do anything with that gorgeous blonde. I thought you were a brunette.”
I smiled. “Too bad. I’m blonde.”
“You’re gorgeous without hair, darling. I should go before my brother, your husband, sends his men to drag us out of this room. See you later.”
I put my glam expertise to work. I put on light, natural, dewy-look full makeup paired with glossy lips and shimmer eye shadow. I let my hair down with an effortless lived-in hair. That was all. It was done.
I put on the dress and the highest and sexiest heels I had. The Hardot sinner sandals could be a deadly weapon if someone tried to upset me. Thanks to Maverick, we had the same shoe size.
I was done finishing my look and sprayed a seductive scent on my neck and wrist when the door swung open.
“How are you still single?” My jaw was on the floor to see Celestina dressed to impress.
“I’m a widow.”
“Oh.” My chest tightened. I completely forgot. Terzo mentioned it. “I’m so sorry.”
She just shrugged it off, but I saw the glint of sadness in her eyes before it disappeared. “It’s fine. He was a dick anyway.”
“You look stunning. That’s what I was about to say.”
Her appreciative gaze strolled from my head to toe. “Damn, girl. You look hot. No wonder my brother wouldn’t let you go.”
I instantly felt a flutter in my belly. Before I could say anything, the door swung open. I guess it was not customary to knock before entering this household, or because this wasn’t mine in the first place.
Then Terzo walked in, in his clean beige suit and pants with a white shirt crisp inside and brown leather loafers to complement the outfit. He cleaned up so well that I forgot to blink and breathe for seconds.
His startling warm brown eyes darted towards me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
“Dani.” One word. Just one word coming from a hot mafia made me shiver, in a good scorching way.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice, but I only managed to come up with, “Terzo.”
“Well. Damn, brother. You can actually look human if you clean up nice.”
Damn indeed.
Terzo broke the gaze and looked at his sister. “Leave us. Wait downstairs.”
“Geez.” Celestina frowned. “No sex or making out or you’ll ruin her makeup.”
Heat rose to my cheeks.
“Just go, Cee,” Terzo demanded.
“Fine.” She didn’t go without pointing at me. “Making out can wait. The guests are arriving.”
There was a moment of silence, even if the door had been shut close seconds ago.
He stepped closer while I felt the urge to step back, but my knees wobbled and my feet felt like they weighed tons.
My mind reeled. What did he want from me?
Then he picked up something from his pocket. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you.” It was a black velvet box. I didn’t have to see what was inside. It was too obvious. Why was it always black? I had no idea.
“I don’t need it.” My wedding band was also with him. He didn’t get the chance to give it back to me before things fell out between us.
“Just for the show tonight.” Of course.