Savage Sinner: An Enemies To Lovers Russian - Italian Dark Mafia Romance (Sinfully Savage Mafia)

“Wait, so you were arranged?” My mouth drops open, my words soaked in disbelief. “Like, no dating? Had you even seen him before you married him?”

“Oh yeah,” she says. “I went to live with him the night he proposed. But we weren’t on the best terms at that point. Actually,” she muses. “I hated him. Hard.”

“Wow,” I murmur. “I can’t believe it. An arranged marriage? What century is it?” I giggle.

“I know. It sounds so incredibly old-world. But both families had something to gain, so we did it.” She shrugs. “And even though I swore it would never happen, we fell in love. Crazy, powerful, forever kind of love.”

“That’s unbelievable.” I shake my head. “I’d have never guessed you hated him based on the way you guys are always falling all over each other.”

“He’s a tough one. Doesn’t show much emotion. Having Aisling kind of changed the guy he shows to the world.”

“Yeah, I still see the emotionless guy,” I quip.

“He’s very protective,” Heaven says. “And he doesn’t trust easily.”

“I get that. He’s got a lot to lose.”

Heaven nods. “We both do.”

I swallow hard, feeling like a complete shit heel for even entertaining this dialogue with her. I need to change the subject. I can’t listen to any more of her gushing when I know I’m about to choke her with it.

“So, Patty and Maura — who are they?” I ask, trying to steer the subject away from the blissfully married bubble they live in.

Her face brightens. “My brother and my aunt. I’m so excited to see them! It’s been so long since we left Manhattan.”

“Dante said you’ve been out here for a while.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t a hard call to make after everything happened,” Heaven says darkly, lifting Aisling and sniffing her butt. She scrunches up her nose and holds her up. “Eww!” she sing-songs. “Somebody needs a diaper change!” Heaven starts to take her over to the changing table but I stop her.

“Here, let me,” I say, taking the baby from her.

She sinks back on the bed. “Thanks.”

“So what about the rest of your family?” I ask. “Are they coming to the christening, too?”

Her jaw tightens. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t speak to them,” she says abruptly.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, biting the inside of my mouth.

“Yeah, it’s been awhile.” She shrugs. “Difference of opinion, I guess. My father screwed me over and promoted my oldest brother Conor over me. Family business.” She presses a hand to her forehead. “My brother is an idiot and an asshole. A huge liability for my father and his business. But he promoted him anyway.” She rolls her eyes. “A lot more happened, but that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. And we haven’t spoken since.”

“I can’t imagine,” I say, a lump forming in my throat. What I wouldn’t give to have my brother back for even a few minutes, to feel him gather me in a huge bear hug, to tell him once more how much I love him and appreciated everything he did for me. “And there’s no way to fix things?”

“No,” she says with finality. “He’s dangerous, and I don’t trust him. I don’t want to be anywhere near his sinking ship. And I definitely don’t want him near my daughter.”

Hmm, I’m kind of feeling her right now, since I’m having those very same thoughts about my uncle.

Talk about the utter betrayal.

Siding with the enemy and saying ‘fuck it’ to family loyalty.

“It’s really terrible,” I say, treading lightly with my words since nobody likes big mouth opinions about their own family crap.

I know I don’t.

“Thanks,” she says, taking Aisling from me and hugging her tight. “My father hasn’t even met his granddaughter,” she says. “I mean, I fully expected Conor to be dead by the time she was born, but color me shocked. He’s still causing plenty of trouble back home.”

I manage to force out a nervous chuckle but really, I don’t want to be involved in this. I’ve heard too much, seen way more than that.

And done?

Well, damn.

I’ve done every single thing I know I’m not supposed to in this situation, including Dante.

Although…I don’t regret it at all.

I will live vicariously through those memories for the rest of my days.

Which may be few in number if I screw this up and my uncle has anything to say about it.

“Well, he’s definitely missing out. They all are,” I say with a smile.

She nods, dropping a kiss on Aisling’s forehead. “Yes. Yes, they are,” she whispers to her daughter.

And there’s that damn pang again.

The one that tells me I want more than I’m willing to admit.

Jesus, I need some distance!

“Hey, um, Heaven,” I say, twisting my hair around my finger. “I know it’s not great timing, but I was wondering if I could take off tonight to meet my uncle. He’s coming into town to check out the UNLV campus with me, and then we’d planned on having dinner.”

She nods but I can see she’s very far away from me and this conversation. “Tonight,” she repeats with a blank stare on her face.

“Yes. I’ll only be gone a few hours so I can help with the baby when I get back.”

And with a start, she snaps out of her reverie. “No, don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine. You have a great time with your uncle.”