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"No. I leave that to you, Capo."
"Now I know you're a lying motherfucker," he says with a snort. "Because I haven't scared anyone in weeks, yet my house isn't on fire."
"Are you complaining?" I laugh quietly.
"No. I'm extending an invitation to said house. Amalia wants everyone here for dinner tomorrow night. She says I'm annoying her, and she needs company."
Cazzo.
It's not remotely close to time to introduce Aurelia to her brothers.
Or maybe it is time.
It's a dangerous game to play, but perhaps meeting them is precisely what she needs. Because I can talk until I'm blue in the face, but until the costs are real to her, I'm not sure it'll make a difference. She needs to see for herself exactly who her brothers are and what they're about. God knows, Brio probably hasn't been honest with her.
Whatever lies he's fed her, whatever bullshit he's sold her…the only way to undo it, is for her to meet her brothers and see for herself that they aren't the enemy here. Brio Cascella is.
"I'll be there," I say to Rafe. "But I'm bringing someone."
"You're bringing someone? Who?"
"A girl, motherfucker."
His silence speaks volumes. It usually does. He isn't the type of person who has to say much to be heard.
I know him better than anyone, though. I know where his head is at. Not that long ago, our family was a whole lot smaller than it is now. We didn't have women to protect or families to defend. We fought simply because it was what we were born to do.
Now, everything is different.
One by one, we've changed. One by one, we've fallen. And one by one, we've found something worth fighting for. I never thought I'd join the ranks of happily coupled-up motherfuckers, but Aurelia has me twisted in fucking knots. I see that shit in my future, and I want it. I just need her to want it, too. I need her to want to fight for it, too.
"I guess things really do change, don't they?" he finally asks.
"Yeah," I say quietly. "I guess they do."
"You going to tell me about her?"
"Nope. You can meet her tomorrow."
"Vaffanculo," he says, chuckling. And then he pauses. "Can we trust her, Mattia?"
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Can we trust her? Do I dare?
"Yes," I say with absolute conviction. Regardless of anything else, I realize it's true. I trust her.
Chapter Six
Aurelia
Iglare at Mattia as we drive back to his place, still fuming over the fact that he bought the dress I was admiring in the shop. The price alone makes me sick to my stomach. Eleven thousand dollars?
"That's insane. You're insane. Oh my god. I'm married to a crazy man," I mumble, unable to help myself.
Mattia chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he places his hand on my thigh. "Aurelia, little mouse. Do you have any concept of how much money you have right now?"
"Yes," I snap, my temper flaring. "Two thousand, nine hundred eighty-six dollars and forty-three cents." At least, that's what was in my account before Brio invaded my world and turned everything upside down.
"No, topolina. Try adding several zeroes to that."
