Free Boss (Chianti Kisses #2) by Tara Oakes

reply. It’s true. I don’t give a damn about some clothes.
    She shakes me off, standing to face me. “You don’t get it, do you? Do you think my mom ever asked my dad questions about his business? I mean, I know I was a baby then and for most of my life I still had no idea what he really did for a living, but do you think she did? Do you think she ever asked him about it?”
    I’m lost. What does this have to do with her dress? I’m sure my facial expressions give my thoughts away, because V starts to get flustered, pacing the room.
    “What are you talking about, baby? I think you’re just shaken up from your hand.”
    She shakes her head emphatically. “No. No, don’t do that. I’m not some weak little missus that can’t think straight because she got a couple of stitches. Big deal.”
    I throw my hands up, exhaling deep and loudly. “I don’t get it, V. What… what are trying to say?”
    She tightens her lips, I can see the wealth of words behind her setting eyes, trying to make themselves clear. “How does this work, Dom? Should I ask the questions, not sure I’ll even get the truth, or should I just ignore it all, bury my head in the sand. Is that what my mom did back then? Is that what your mom did?”
    She’s practically yelling at me. We don’t fight very often, but most of the time, I at least have a clue what we’re fighting about. Not this time.
    “You could start by actually making sense. You’re all over the place, V.” I make sure to keep my tone down, not willing to contribute to the escalation.
    She cocks her hip to the side. “Sense? You want me to make sense? Why don’t you help me? Help me make sense of the fact that your new business protégé isn’t even stepping foot into your office, but instead is accompanying me to lunch with a gun !”
    I freeze mid-breath. Her eyes don’t let up. Fuck. I moan as I rub my temples with my fingers.
    “What do you--” I’m interrupted.
    “Don’t. You think long and hard, Domenico, before you even attempt to lie to me or to insult me by playing dumb.”
    I bite my lip. I promised V I would never lie to her again. We barely got past my hiding our family’s secrets from her in the beginning of our relationship. I though I had lost her. By the grace of God, she found her way back to me. I promised her then and there I would never jeopardize us like that again.
    I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. What do I say? Because of me, because of our business, you’re in danger? Someone is trying to use you to strong-arm me because they know it could work? Because I would do anything to keep you safe?
    I can’t tell her these things. I know I should, but I can’t.
    “V… I love you. It’s--It’s complicated. It’s under control, I promise. Just… just trust me.”
    A lonely tear drops. “So that’s how this is going to be? Ask my questions, but just trust you when you don’t respect me enough to give you an answer? Maybe that’s what happened when my mom would ask. When your mom would ask.”
    Her voice has lowered, softened. She walks past me to the double entry doors to our room, opening one and stepping back.
    “I think you should sleep elsewhere.” She’s firm.
    I stare at her in shock, moving to her. “V… you’re over reacting.”
    She throws her hand up, pointing its finger toward me. “No! If anything, I’m under reacting! Otherwise I’d be out that door fast enough to give you whiplash. Instead, I’m going to give you the opportunity to get your head out of your ass. But don’t test me, I’m not patient enough to wait very long.”
    And then she storms past me into the bathroom and slams the door.
    Fabulous! I guess we’ve just had our first fight as newlyweds. Fanfuckingtastic

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    CARMINE
     
    How many years has it been? There was a time when I would be able to answer how many years, months, days it was since I last saw her. Since the day I left without any warning, any goodbye. Over