Page 81 of Married to the Devil

He doesn’t sound happy. I pause, not sure why, and peer around the corner. Byron’s standing with him, the pair of them sharing a bottle of wine, drinking straight from the neck.

“I think you romanticize the old days too much,” Byron says, swirling the bottle. “And this stuff is so bad I wouldn’t cook with it.”

Nunzio laughs and snatches it away. “You’re such a fucking prick. But I’m being serious. Life was good around here. Boring, but easy. Shit ran like clockwork. Until the bitch showed up.”

“I’m not sure how any of this is June’s fault.”

My chest heaves. I’m the bitch? I’m tempted to storm out there, but embarrassment and fear keep me in place.

“I admit, boss was losing his shit even before she came around.” Nunzio swigs from the bottle and gestures with it violently. “Pretty sure he’s got a few screws loose, you know what I mean? But throwing the girl in the mix and now all this is a pain in the ass.”

“You work too hard.” Byron takes the wine from him. “Maybe you should take a break.”

“And who’s going to pay my father’s medical bills?” His voice is low and thoughtful. “That man gave his life to the Corvinos, and now look at him.”

“Old age happens to everyone.”

“They’re trying to push him out. You know that, right?”

“I don’t believe it.”

“You’re such a pussy, Byron, I’m fucking serious here. Rafe’s making changes to this place.”

“It’s not my problem.” Byron steps away when Nunzio tries to take the alcohol again. “And we’re done unloading. You should get back to work.”

“Since when did you get a spine?” Nunzio steps forward and grabs Byron by the hair. I open my mouth to say something⁠—

Until Byron viciously kisses Nunzio.

Their embrace lasts a long moment, the two men violently making out, before Byron shoves him away. “We’re not doing this right now.”

“Tell that to your hard dick.”

“Fuck off.” Byron sounds happy though. “Seriously, I’m sorry about your dad, but you know it isn’t Rafe’s fault, and it’s not June’s either. She barely knows what’s going on around here.”

Nunzio turns away and his voice gets serious. “You barely know too, you idiot. No, shut up and listen. You might have to make a choice sometime soon. You might have to decide if you believe your shit and think Rafe and his bitch wife are decent people, or if protecting them isn’t worth getting yourself killed. I hope you make the right call.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Means what I said.” Nunzio brushes himself down. “You kiss like a slut. I love it.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

Nunzio laughs, dodging a slap from Byron, and stalks out of the kitchen.

I back away once he’s gone, heart racing, head trying to make sense of what I just heard.

Byron and Nunzio are a thing? I had no clue. I’ve never even seen them together before, though that’s probably the point. I doubt being gay is highly accepted in a super macho mafia family.

That’s not what bothers me.

No, it’s what Nunzio said about making a choice.

How is it going to get Byron killed?

And what does he even mean?

I’m deeply bothered as I wander back to where Priya and Hattie are sitting.