Free Dante by Bethany-Kris Page A

“His marriage can happen anywhere. And he’s considered devout to the church. His convalidation will be easily granted with or without your input. I don’t know what you want—”
    “Shush,” Cecelia ordered. “I am aware, but that doesn’t mean I agree.”
    “You don’t have to,” Dante said.
    “Catrina seems … nice,” Jordyn said softly, shrugging.
    “Sure, if you’ve never seen her in action,” Dante replied.
    Lucian sighed, eyeing his wife. “ Bella mia , Catrina is not your usual Catholic Italian, despite her accent and seemingly innocent face.”
    “So I’ve heard as well,” Cecelia muttered, never taking her gaze off Dante.
    “Is that your problem, Ma?” he asked.
    “No. Look at my husband, Dante. Do you truly think that is what would bother me about her?”
    “I don’t understand,” Kim said, giving Gio a look. “What’s wrong with her?”
    “For our kind of family? Not a lot, really. She’s a Queen Pin, so the girl ought to fit right in at the dinner table without feeling out of place.”
    “Gio,” Dante growled.
    “Listen, asshole, my priorities don’t include lying to my wife.”
    “Seriously?” Jordyn asked, her jaw falling slack. “Like, top of the food chain drug dealer?”
    “ Sì ,” Antony answered before anyone else could. “She’s a very popular and successful one in her business because of her higher end clientele. That’s not to say she doesn’t have people on the streets, because clearly she does. Which was how she came to Dante’s attention in the first place. At her age and without a family backing her trade, her accomplishments are quite a feat.”
    Antony flicked his hand in Jordyn and Kim’s direction. “Now, move on from Catrina’s profession please. We don’t discuss business in the kitchen inside this home.”
    “Sorry,” Kim and Jordyn mumbled together.
    “Catrina is a hellish woman that I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley,” Giovanni said, making Lucian chuckle. “But she’s exactly what Dante needs, both in his private life and business.”
    “Let’s disagree on the private life, but I’ll give you the business side of things,” Dante said.
    “Hey, I didn’t say I liked her, man, just that she might work for you.”
    “We’re not like that.”
    “Would you ever be?” Cecelia asked rather harshly.
    Dante scoffed. “That is none of your concern, Ma.”
    Antony stepped in to block the glare Cecelia was leveling on Dante. Placing both his hands to the island countertop, he stared his wife head-on. “Enough, Cecelia.”
    Quietly, Lucian and Giovanni urged their wives out of the kitchen without a backward glance.
    “This is all on you,” Cecelia whispered to her husband. “You did this, and I am so angry with you for it, Antony.”
    “So be it, but you have to step back now, Tesoro .”
    “So angry,” she repeated.
    “Dante, go find your fiancée and give her our apologies for the awkwardness and rude behavior,” Antony said without facing his son. “Do let Catrina know she will be treated with the utmost respect from this point on … from everyone.”
    Whatever was going on between his parents, Dante didn’t want to get in the middle of it, so he did what his father asked and left the kitchen. It didn’t take him long to find Catrina. She sat on a couch in the family room and he joined her. 
    Dante cleared his throat, unnerved. “I apologize for what happened in there, Catrina. Cecelia isn’t … that’s not my mother. She doesn’t act like that. Not usually.” 
    Catrina shrugged, tilting her head to the side. Her gaze shimmered, full of mirth. “Oh, I think that’s exactly who your mother is. Not that I mind, naturally.”
    “What?”
    “She’s your mamma , Dante. Of course, she isn’t going to approve or be happy with your choice in marrying me.”
    Dante leaned back into the couch and rubbed at his forehead, willing the ache that was starting up to leave. “You don’t understand. Listen, Cecelia