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I found their love story absolutely fascinating. Childhood friends and then he built an entire empire to protect her. Who wouldn't fall in love with that?
My phone goes off with a text from my husband with an address. In an hour, he wants me to meet him there.
It's not far away. So, I take my time doing my hair and putting on some makeup before I join my guards, who are waiting by the door for me. The nice thing is they are also my personal drivers. I hate driving around Chicago, so it's a win for me.
Matteo has even more bodyguards around me than my father used to by at least double. But he recently lost his father, so I understand it. He's being very careful right now.
When I asked him about it, he said that I am free to come and go as I please, but the bodyguards were not negotiable. Especially once it became public news that I was carrying his child. So far, I've been able to hide my pregnancy pretty well, but my stomach is getting a little baby bump. I don't know how much longer we can keep it a secret.
The car pulls up in front of a beautiful, abandoned storefront in a nice area of town. It's one of those eye-catching main streets with all sorts of shops and bustling activities. There are cafes, coffee and flower shops, all with some historical aspects. The way it’s designed everyone is enticed to come and spend the day.
The bodyguards lead me inside the building, and I walk in, finding my husband standing with his own bodyguards in the middle of a big empty room.
"What do you think of the building?" he asks, holding his arms wide as if showing it off.
"It's beautiful. Why?" I ask. Though I can’t help wondering what he's going to do with the building.
"I bought it for you so you can turn it into the bookshop you mentioned," he says.
As I stand there staring at him, my jaw literally drops open. How did he remember? I mentioned it in passing the first night that we were together. How I would love to have my own bookstore and plan community events with it. It's something that is impossible. When you work in the mafia or are the daughter of a mafia don, it is simply not possible. But when you're the wife of a mafia don, it’s even less feasible. So, I know there's no way I heard what I thought I heard.
"What?" I ask a little too stunned to put any more words together.
"Our first night you mentioned this is what you would want to do if you could do anything. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, and you will have to have bodyguards stationed around you constantly. But it's yours to build your bookshop any way you want.
There's a room upstairs that I think would make an amazing event room. And there's even an office with a great view out the back. This was your dream, and I don't care if it makes money, as long as it makes you happy."
"But Mafia wives don't work," I say still shocked.
"I'm giving you the choice because I want you to be happy. And that's more important to me. You will find I don't fit the traditional mold of the head of the family. Don't get me wrong. If I need to be, I can be ruthless, but not with those I care about."
Turning, I look at the building and examine the massive room we're standing in. Then I start to picture it. I can see where the checkout counter would be, and the rows of books and a cute little reading area, maybe a great little place for coffee. There's so much history in this building. The details around the windows are absolutely stunning. While things like the windows are new, the hardwood floors are original.
I can't believe he's giving me a choice. I thought when I walked down the aisle and said I do, my life would be over. That I would do nothing but sit around. I would always have to do whatever my husband told me, which is usually to sit there and look pretty, smile and keep my mouth shut. Oh, and give him babies. At least that's the life I would have had with Eric, I'm sure of it.
My mouth is curving into a smile when a beautiful blonde walks down the back stairs, causing me to freeze in my tracks.
"Holly, this is my wife, Aria. Aria, this is Holly. She is the interior designer that I hired to help you put this place together. All the bills go to me. But she goes through you for approval on everything," Matteo introduces us.
Holly gives me a genuine smile, coming over to hug me.
"Aria. It's so nice to meet you. I was just upstairs, taking measurements and I can't wait to hear your plans for this building. Your husband told me you want to have a bookstore," she says.
She's nothing but friendly and her focus is on me, but this woman is absolutely gorgeous.
Suddenly, I feel completely self-conscious because she doesn't have an ounce of spare fat on her. And this man just watched me eat two separate dinners last night because of how hungry I was.
"Get that thought out of your mind, baby girl," Matteo says in a stern voice.
When my eyes snap over to him, there's nothing but heat in his eyes as he stares at me.
"What thought?" I ask.
"I've come to know you pretty well. So I know exactly where your thoughts are going. I was very particular about my requirements for an interior designer. I knew that you wouldn't want some beautiful woman flirting around me. And there was no way in hell I was putting a guy around you to flirt with you. So, Holly, here was a great find. She's an amazing interior designer, and she's also married. Her wife is her business partner."
As soon as I hear the word wife, my body relaxes, and they both smile at me.
"Holly has also worked with your parents on a project. So you two should work together very well. Right now, I have a meeting that I need to attend. But have fun talking and making plans and I will see you at home."
