“No. It seems Lo put your name on the list when Mia said she was coming here.”
She nods as she looks over to Lo and Gio who are sitting with Mia and Isabella in the area of my office set up like a living room.
“And the free drinks?”
“Lo again, although I have no problem paying for any drinks you want.” I wink at her. “I suppose I already have seeing as it was charged to the house account and I am the house.”
She giggles. “Whatever, big man.” Then she sobers. “I think Lorenzo likes her.” Her eyes stray to where Lorenzo is now rubbing ice on Mia’s neck while she looks a little green.
“I think you might be right.”
“That worries me.”
I agree with her, but want to hear her reasons why.
“Oh?”
She looks at me. “It’s not that he’s not a good guy. I actually think he probably is. He always offers a smile and nods my way when he sees me in the streets. Giovanni does too. They don’t have to. That is sweet that they even bother to acknowledge me.”
I bristle at the thought. I haven’t seen her in two weeks, but my men were able to. They never mentioned it. My fists tighten.
“Hey. Like I said. They are probably great guys. Mia is just so innocent. I think that a man like him would ruin her. Besides, none of you seem to be attached. If he decided he wanted her, what would she be? A side piece? His girlfriend? If he did take her as his girlfriend would he be able to commit?”
I growl at her insinuation. This woman knows nothing of our life.
“InLa Cosa Nostra we take family seriously. While some men do step out on their wives, they are the exception not the rule. Even then, they are looked down upon for not taking care of their family. The only ones who really do it are the ones that have an agreement with their wife that it is allowed. If it is something she allows, then we have no room to judge. If Lorenzo did commit to Mia, he would be fiercely loyal to her. He wouldn’t cheat on her. He would respect, protect, and care for her.”
“Do you think those wives actually agree to allow their husbands to cheat? Why would they? I think you might be turning a blind eye to what is really going on. Most people are so frightened of you that they don’t want to share air with you. Others have some kind of hero worship for you and would be so nervous to even speak to you let alone tell you what they think.”
“ME, Tesoro. Not my men. Some of them maybe, but not most of the lower level ones in which this happens. I think it is more like these women know what they are getting into. By marrying a made man, they get a comfortable life that will always be protected. Even if the man dies, the family still takes care of her. So why not marry a made man, even if you don’t love him. Why would you care if he stepped out as long as he follows the rules? I think you are ignorant to the way of our life.”
“So that is the type of woman you would want? One who would let you step out?”
Anger swells within me.
“Who said I wanted a woman at all?”
She stares back into my eyes and the busts out laughing.
“Oh! So, you want a man? Is that even allowed or is the family bigoted too?”
I surge forward and tower over her as my hands cage her into the chair.
“Trust me. I want women. Many of them. I have had many women. I don’t want one singular woman to call my own. I don’t want marriage and children. There is no room for that in this life. If I were to take a woman though, she would have to be something special. Only then would I marry her and if I married her? She would be my everything. I would never so much as look at another woman because I would have everything I need right there in my arms every night. So, no, I would not share my body with others as I also would expect my woman to not share her body with another either.”
I watch as she gulps.
“Okay. Understood.”
I back away and sit on the edge of the desk.
“Okay.”
Chapter Five
Sofia
I meant what I said. I am worried about Mia, but I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t also curious about how he would answer. I didn’t expect the vehemence in his answer. I could see in his eyes that he meant every word that he spit at me. He would be loyal to that one woman if he ever found her.
