Page 41 of Dante

“What’s the format?”

“She mostly just talks to the camera. She’s on a mafia kick now and just made this reel where the FMC and MMC have all this angst on their way to an HEA.”

Just like my real life, I think to myself. Except I’m not too sure about the ‘happily ever after’ at this point.

“Man, I don’t know what any of that means. I’m way out of my league.”

“You’ll pick it up. Do you like to read?”

“No. Not really. But I’ll watch your friend’s YouTube. Why mafia, though? Does she know you’re married to the leader of the New York mob?”

My heart lurches. “Of course not!”

“Will you ever tell her?”

“No. She wouldn’t understand.”

Angie nods.

We continue walking in the direction of Dante’s penthouse, still talking about my old life back home.

I notice Angie looking over her shoulder from time to time.

“What’s up?” I ask, turning to look behind us.

She grabs my arm. “Don’t you look too! Last time I thought it was my imagination. But this time I’m sure we’re being followed.”

Angie seems like a brave girl. Her sudden fright worries me. “By whom?”

“Not sure. I better call your husband to let him know.”

“You’re calling Dante? Does he know I’m with you?”

“Of course,” she says. “I texted him that I’d be joining your shopping trip.”

“But why?”

She holds her hand out, gesturing for me to be quiet while she turns away to converse with Dante. She speaks so quietly I can’t hear her words.

But I do catch the clipped, commanding tone of Dante’s voice.

When Angie disconnects, she turns back to me.

“Dante said we have to grab a cab immediately so I can get you home fast.”

“What’s going on?”

Angie doesn’t answer as she flags down a cab.

Once we’re inside, I turn to look out the rear window for signs we’re being followed, the way characters do in old movies. But it seems like normal traffic to me.

“Who was following us? Why?”

“I didn’t recognize them. But don’t worry. Dante will figure it out. He thinks they were Petrov soldiers.”

“Petrov?”

“A Russian outfit that’s trying to take over some of our territories. They’re relatively new arrivals and the main reason Dante’s dad wanted to unite the East and West Coast families.”