16
Armand
I hear Daniela—my new wife—start crying as soon as I close the door, and have to force myself to walk away. Shame and anger gnaw at my chest as I stomp back to my room to change out of my wedding tuxedo. After almost a month of nonstop tension and a s****l slowdown between Daniela and me, I was hoping to reconnect with her by at least being able to offer up some really choice wedding-night s*x.
Instead, I pass along the lecture my mother gave her so that there will be no surprises. Then I apologize for my absence and leave. And I can see how much it hurts her. How much I hurt her, standing in the place of a proper husband, with no real love to offer.
I’m a burden to her now. She’s married to this life, to the Mob, to constantly having a target on her back. And she’s stuck wit
