Gian (Trassato Crime Family #1)(71)
“Evie, the first time we were engaged, it wasn’t real, but everything about it felt right. Since you’ve agreed to be part of my life again, my mom, Carmela, everyone has been asking me when we’re getting engaged for real.” I paused, cocking my head to the side. “By the way, my mom told me you ratted us out about the first engagement not being real.”
A blush stained her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to say. Your mom can be really intimidating.”
I pried them away. “I don’t care about that now. I only care that I still can’t refer to you as my wife to everyone and anyone who will listen.”
I opened the tiny box and held the ring between my thumb and index finger. It was several bands woven together with one princess-cut diamond in the center, holding them together.
“I picked this ring for you because, to me, it symbolized our journey together. It’s been twisted and taken a lot of unexpected detours, yet somehow we still ended up together. You’re my soul mate and my other half, and I can’t imagine anything better than spending the rest of my life with you. Evangeline Jeffers, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”
“Yes. Of course.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and showered my face and neck with kisses.
“Wow,” I mumbled against her lips. “You’re really picking a stroll down the aisle with me over a swim in the Hudson with cement boots?”
She shoved me in the shoulder. “Why do you have to bring up the dumb crap I said at a time like this?”
“Because I love you, and I love our story. It’s one of a kind. Exactly like you.”
Her eyes softened. “I love you too. Always.”
“Forever.”
***Sneak Peek***
CARMELA
THE TRASSATO CRIME FAMILY,
Book #2
By Lisa Cardiff
Chapter One
Konstantin
“I need a fiancée like a need a f*cking bullet in my head.” I slammed the shot glass onto the burled walnut countertop.
A toxic combination of loud music and vodka swam through my veins like a drug. Instead of mellowing me out, it only made me angrier. God knew, I should drag my pathetic ass home before I did something to piss off my dad even more, yet I couldn’t bring myself to move. So many things were wrong with my life, I didn’t know where to start. So I engaged in my favorite pastime as of late—drinking.
No matter how much I drank tonight, I couldn’t forget my sister was getting married right now, and she didn’t invite one family member. Not me, not Mom, not Dad. Not even an estranged aunt or uncle.
I couldn’t blame her. We’d meddled in her life behind the scenes for years. I threatened every boy in our high school who even looked in her direction. Once she moved to New York, things weren’t as simple. Her career took off, and we both had our own shit to deal with. Somehow she’d ended up engaged to a cheating, mealy-mouthed loser.
Granted, we could have handled things differently. We didn’t have to set him up to fail; he would have managed that all on his own. However, I didn’t regret it for a second. Better I sacrificed our relationship than have Evie waste the rest of her life on her piece of shit ex. But damn, I missed my sister. Although we hadn’t spent much time together over the past few years, she’d always been in my thoughts and my heart.
I loved her. She was the one person I could always count on, and she never had a hidden agenda when we spent time together. I couldn’t say that about anyone else in my life.
“We’ve already had this discussion. I’m done talking about it. Take the Trassato chick out a few times. Get to know her.” Anatoyli shrugged. “If it works out, then great. If not, tell your dad to go f*ck himself. You know he won’t make you marry her. I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who despises the concept as much as your dad. He’ll come around.”
“Then you don’t know my dad very well. He’s set on this dumbass plan, and nothing’s going to change his mind.” I lifted my shot glass and pinned the bartender with a glare. I should have asked for the bottle when I walked in an hour ago so I didn’t waste his time or mine. “Making money is the Holy Grail to my dad, and he’s got it in his head that if I marry Carmela Trassato, it’ll solve all of his problems.”
“Fine. Roll over like a dog, and do what your dad wants. You let him win every damn time, all because you’re too big of a * to challenge him.” He rubbed a hand down the side of his face, bringing attention to the scar that ran from his temple to his eyebrow. It made him look scary as f*ck, but for some reason chicks dug it.
I pulled an envelope from my back pocket and slapped it on the counter. “I should shoot your ass for talking to me like that.”
“Yeah, except you won’t, because without me, you’d be in the gutter somewhere licking your wounds.” He twirled his drink. “I’ve saved your ass more times than I can count in the past few months.”
“Yeah, whatever man.” The bartender refilled my glass, and I chugged the clear liquid the minute he turned his back. “I haven’t been that bad,” I grumbled—although, my denial lacked conviction. Over the last two months, I’d started more bar fights than I could count, f*cked more chicks than I could remember, and only my dad’s money and connections had kept the police from throwing the book at me.