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998 Words
“Everyone’s already inside.”
I can tell Gianni’s horrified that we’re the last to arrive, but he tries not to show it.
“Wonderful! Shall we go in?”
Quinn gestures toward the doors. Gianni takes Lili’s hand and drags her through them. Mamma follows, chuckling to herself and shaking her head. I’m following her, wondering if she’s starting to lose her marbles, when Quinn reaches out and grabs my arm.
Startled, I look at him.
His voice low, he says, “I’ve been thinking.”
“Really? Did you borrow someone else’s brain?”
“Very funny, viper.”
We gaze at each other for a moment as his fingers tighten ever so slightly around my upper arm. When I inhale, I smell him. Skin, heat, and masculine musk. Just his essence, undiluted by cologne.
My mouth starts to water. I think that faint moaning I hear is my ovaries.
He says, “It wasn’t fair, what I said about you not seeing Lili after the wedding. She’s welcome to go see you in New York anytime she wants.”
I’m so surprised, I almost laugh. “Are you sure? I thought you couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
His reply is stiff. “That’s why I said she could go see you, not that you could come see her.”
Why is he holding my arm? Why is my heart pounding? Why are we standing so close?
I say, “It’s good you came around, because I wasn’t going to obey that ridiculous order anyway.”
His lashes lower. He drawls, “What a shock.”
“I didn’t think you’d be surprised. May I please have my arm back now?”
His gaze takes a leisurely trip over me again, skimming every curve.
“Why do you always wear black?”
“Says the man who always wears black.”
“I’m a mobster. It’s the uniform.”
“It’s the uniform for widows, too.”
“You’ve been a widow for three years. Black’s only traditional for the first year.”
Surprised he remembered that detail, I say, “I’ll wear black as long as I’m a widow. Which will be forever, so I’ll always wear black. Is this the best time to be having a conversation about my wardrobe? You’re supposed to be marching around an altar right now, practicing for tomorrow.”
Ignoring me, probably because I’m making too much sense, he says,
“You won’t be a widow anymore if you remarry.”
My laugh is soft, but full of bitterness. “I’ll never remarry.”
“Never say never. What if you met the right lad?”
“I’m disappointed you decided to smoke something hallucinogenic before your own wedding rehearsal, Quinn, but never is the correct choice of word. It means not ever, at no time, absolutely not. The threat of my own death couldn’t compel me to walk down the aisle again.”
Staring deep into my eyes, he says in a throaty voice, “I said never again once, too. Turns out I was wrong.”
My heart starts to beat faster. I become aware of all the skin on my body at once, because it’s overheating. I feel like I’m being roasted from the inside out.
I try to sound normal, but my voice comes out faint. “What was your never about?”
His gaze drops to my mouth.
He’s about to say something when we’re interrupted by a woman’s voice.
“There you are! I thought we’d lost you.”
I look over to see a stunning brunette in a tight white dress standing a few feet away, smiling at us, her hands propped on her hips. She’s tall and curvy, with a glint in her green eyes that’s equally self-confident and mischievous.
Quinn drops his hand from my arm and steps back. “Hullo, Sloane.”
“Hiya, Spider! Introduce me to your friend.”
“Reyna, this is Sloane, Declan’s wife. Sloane, Reyna.”
Sloane and I shake hands while she smiles and looks me over with unabashed interest.
“So this is the infamous Black Widow. Babe, have I been dying to meet you. I have so many questions.”
Horrified, I glance at Quinn. “Black Widow? What happened to Queen Devil b***h of All Existence?”
He sighs. “I didn’t dub you that, viper. It’s what everyone else calls you.”
Sloane says, “I like Queen Devil b***h of All Existence way better! How badass! If you don’t want to use that one, I’ll take it. I can already see the tattoo, a sexy red demon with horns, a long tail, and a black diamond crown, sitting on a throne of skulls in the middle of a lake of fire. Right?”
She’s still grinning at me, shaking my hand. I’m starting to feel like I’m being filmed for one of those reality shows where they punk unsuspecting fools for laughs.
“Sure. We’ll get matching ones. I’ll put mine right above the spot where my heart’s supposed to be. You know, if I had one.”
When I smile at her, she throws back her head and laughs. “Ooh, I like you. I’d say let’s be besties, but I already have one of those. You can be next in line, though.”
I deadpan, “My life will be complete.”
She links her arm through mine and leads me into the church, throwing a glance over her shoulder at Quinn. As soon as we’re out of earshot, she murmurs, “A word of advice? Stay away from Boston for a while after the wedding. Like, forever.”
I’m not sure I want to know what she means, but I ask anyway. “Why?”
“Because, babe, any man who looks at a woman the way Spider looks at you is already thinking about how he’s going to ruin his life.”
- Writer
