Page 114 of Claimed At First Sight

Avoid him. Entirely.

I won’t find myself trapped in discussions with him again where he stares at me as though I’ve become the most fascinating problem he’s encountered.

And if there are any more functions, I’d rather drink the vile concoction I made for Isa to avoid this Chicago trip and spend the evening violently sick.

That plan is simple, effective, and long overdue.

But avoiding Maximo is only half the solution. The other part of that scheme is to finally kiss somebody else. I’ve lost sight of that objective since our arrival here.

Considering how often my gaze seems determined to drift toward Maximo’s mouth, that oversight is becoming problematic.

I need proof that Maximo Marco has not somehow ruined my ability to find another man attractive enough to kiss. The only difficulty remains finding a suitable candidate.

Surely somewhere in a city of nearly three million people there exists a moderately attractive man who doesn’t belong to a criminal organization and won’t make my life significantly worse.

That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request, does it? The odds have to be in my favor.

A knock sounds at the door.

“Come in.”

I watch in the mirror as Mamma steps inside.

There’s worry on her face that shouldn’t be there first thing in the morning. I’m instantly on high alert.

“Did something happen?” I ask, forgetting my own issues.

Did she have a fight with Aldo? Surely not. They’re sickly sweet with each other.

Perhaps something has happened in Sicily? Is someone sick?

Mamma sits down beside me on the small upholstered bench.

“Have you heard from your sister?” she asks.

I frown. “Isa?”

I haven’t had a message from her since she arrived in Las Vegas the day before yesterday. She was with Sebastian, preparing to start her new life. I wasn’t expecting her to contact me again until after her honeymoon.

But Mamma doesn’t know any of this. She thinks she’s still in Sicily.

“I tried calling her,” she continues. “It goes straight to voicemail. Then I tried the house, but nobody answered there either.”

“That isn’t necessarily strange,” I say quickly. “You gave most of the staff time off. And Renata was probably out running errands. She’ll call you back.”

Mamma nods, though she doesn’t seem convinced. As if summoned, her phone rings. She glances at the screen.

“It’s Renata.”

I grimace. I know what she’s going to tell my mother. Isa’s lie is about to unravel.

Merda, I don’t want to have the conversation that’s going to follow this call.

Mamma answers, and I watch her closely. At first, nothing changes, and she listens quietly.

Then a small crease appears between her brows. A few moments later, her gaze flicks to me.

My stomach sinks.