Blood Always

26

Maria Genovese did not do pajama parties, let alone enjoy them. However, the night in question was yet more proof that my life was turning upside down. Again, it had to be the alcohol. Perhaps I needed to stay away from booze. After Vegas. One didn’t abstain in Vegas. I was pretty sure it was illegal. “So, you three are in a race to tie the knot,” commented Camilla, the quietest of our cousins. “Which one of you will be popping out a baby first?” I groaned. “We already had to deal with that question from Mom, now you’re asking?” “Enquiring minds want to know.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and the others burst into a fit of giggles, all but Sofia, who smiled shyly. “Sof!” I barked. “You’re not pregnant, are you?” “No! I wouldn’t be drinking, dumbass. It’s just, I don’t think we’ll wait all that long. Nico’s already made it clear he’d like to start a family.” “Damn,” I said on a breath. “That’s a lot for one year. You guys just got back together.” She shrugged. “It’s only ever been him—why wait?” I did a full body shiver. “Because, kids will suck the life straight out of you.” Giada threw a pillow at me, managing to catch me unaware and smacking me right in the face. “Jeez, Maria. Tell us how you really feel.” There was the tiniest second where everyone waited to see if I was going to get mad. For once, the alcohol was playing in my favor, because the tendril of heartache that started to unfurl at their guarded reaction dissolved into numbness. The relief and levity pulled a bubbling laugh from deep in my chest, and the others followed suit. “I think my sisters and I have been in the spotlight enough lately,” I said once I’d regained control of myself. “Val is a little young, but what about you two?” I steered the conversation back to Giada and Cam, their brows shooting up to their hairlines. Giada recovered first, her lips twisting into a devious smile. “Maybe I’ll find Mr. Right this weekend. Some gorgeous high roller like George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven.” “He’d be seriously too old for you,” Alessia pointed out. “Why?” G scoffed. “Maria’s got herself a hot older man. Tell us, Maria, is Matteo as scrumptious beneath those expensive suits as he looks?” I legitimately choked on my martini, the otherwise smooth liquid shooting down the wrong channel and scalding my windpipe. The girls laughed as I coughed up a lung, but once I recovered and sipped from one of the open water bottles scattered around the room, they all sat silently waiting. My eyes bulged. “You seriously want me to answer that?” “Yes!” they all said in unison. “I need another drink.” I stood from my chair and delayed as I poured more vodka in my glass. “I’m not sure there’s anything to say—you guys can all tell Matteo stays fit.” I kept my gaze downward, deciding the counter could use a good cleaning if it meant avoiding their intent gazes. “Oh, hell no. You’re hiding something.” Leave it to Giada to press for more. “You’ve had s*x with him, right?” Normally, lying was second nature to me. Even after one too many drinks, I’d never had any problem before spouting whatever bullshit came to mind. But suddenly, the ability escaped me. I couldn’t tell them the truth —that my marriage was a sham. Giada alone would tell half the city, whether she was sworn to secrecy or not. I would have to do the next best thing. “I told you the relationship moved fast. We just haven’t quite gotten to that part yet.” When I looked up, they all stared at me with expressions ranging from ‘kid-at-a-candy-store’ to ‘club-bouncer-descending-on-a-belligerent-drunk.’ “Are you a virgin, Maria?” Giada gaped. Before I could answer, we all realized the humor in her wording and collapsed with drunken laughter. Once I recovered, I set the record straight. “Don’t be an i***t, G. Of course, I’m not a virgin.” “So, have you two not done anything?” “Well, I wouldn’t say that.” A chorus of whoops and hollers blasted through the room. “Okay, just tell us one thing—was it hot?” Giada seriously needed to get laid. “Unfortunately, yes.” I returned to my chair, pulling my legs into my chest. “Unfortunately?” All levity fled from the room, silent except for Lizzo singing in the background about how the truth hurts. Alessia’s brows furrowed when she spoke. “Why? He’s going to be your husband. Isn’t a crazy hot husband a good thing?” f**k. Now I’d done it. I took inventory of their expressions—not even Patrón shots had dulled their senses enough to let me escape without an explanation. I probably could have refused, but vodka had taken the wheel and insisted telling the truth would be the only way out. “If I tell you guys something, you have to swear on your lives you will not breathe a word to another living soul.” I glared at Giada. “Especially you.” With eyes wide, she made the sign of the cross. I let out a sigh and dropped my head back in defeat. “My marriage to Matteo was arranged strategically to unite our families. I’d only met him once before we announced our engagement, so no, I haven’t slept with him. Nor do I plan to—he’s a f*****g Gallo.” Stunned silence reigned supreme. Not even a murmured ‘holy s**t’ or a gasp broke the sudden tension in the room. “Um, we’re kind of new to all this,” Camilla finally spoke up. “Why is being a Gallo a bad thing?” Alessia thankfully chose to answer. “It was a man from the Gallo family who hurt me. And the Gallos were the ones who killed Marco. But,” she continued, turning to look at me, “Matteo is the one who saved me, and he was young when Marco died. If he’s going to be your husband, Maria, maybe you need to give him a chance.” Her words were spoken sincerely, but sensing the rising awkwardness in the room, she added, “and besides, those tattoos are hella hot. And his green eyes … seriously fuckable if he wasn’t otherwise terrifying.” “Alessia!” Sofia gaped in jest, and the girls slipped into an awkward fit of giggles, trying not to laugh at a sensitive subject. I gave in to a smile, hoping to soar past the subject without a host of questions. “I suppose I could have done worse for myself in the looks department.” “That’s the understatement of the century,” Giada chided teasingly.