It was only a matter of time before those two would disappear for another fucking session.

“I need some bloody lamb to cancel out this disgusting display of sweetness,” I muttered. Aria smiled up at me, and I squeezed her hip.

Matteo lifted Gianna up and did some fucking twirl.

“I’m not sure I can stand them together,” I said, rolling my eyes.

Aria grinned. “Admit it, you are happy.”

I hesitated. I was happy, happier than I had been all my life. I nodded toward the bowl Aria was still holding, trying to change the topic. “How did the salad turn out? Is there a chance of food poisoning?”

Aria gave me a knowing look.

chapter 10

ARIA

I grabbed the wig and positioned it on my head. It took me a couple of minutes to make it look natural.

I had chosen a hairdo I’d never be allowed to have because Luca would never agree for me to cut or dye my hair. The wig was a dark brown bob that was longer in the front than in the back. After spending our second anniversary on our yacht in the Mediterranean, my skin was tanned enough that the dark hair color didn’t look unnatural despite my blue eyes.

The wig changed my face completely, made me look more edgy, less sweet. I had chosen tight black jeans with a tight black-and-white striped shirt and white sneakers. I didn’t look anything like myself. This was the look of a college student and not a mafia princess. I grinned, ridiculously happy.

I stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where Luca was pulling a black dress shirt over his chest.

Luca halted when he spotted me, his eyes wandering the length of me.

I twirled around. “And? What do you think?”

“That’s not you,” he said.

“I know.” I grinned. “Nobody will recognize me like this.”

“You look happy,” Luca said quietly as he fastened his gun holster on his chest.

“I am,” I admitted. I’d finally go to college. I’d pretend I was a normal woman, not the wife of the Capo. It was strange that I was on my way to attend college while Luca would be heading out to deal with whatever problems the Famiglia was facing.

He was still tense, so I moved toward him and touched his chest. “Everything will be okay. Romero will be at my side.”

Luca nodded. “He will have to keep his distance now and then so he doesn’t attract attention. You are supposed to blend in.”

“I will,” I said.

Luca touched my wig, his lips twisting. “I miss your hair.”

“It’s only for college,” I assured him. “I’ve been thinking about how to make sure guys keep the distance you want them to.”

Luca’s eyes became attentive.

“Romero could pretend to be my boyfriend. He’s only two years older than me.”

Luca didn’t look convinced. “How would you pull that off?” Jealousy rang in his voice.

“We could hold hands. That would be enough because people will always see us together anyway.”

Luca nodded. “That could work. And I trust Romero with you. He will be respectful.”

I laughed. “He will refuse to hold hands, trust me.” I paused. “Don’t talk to him. I want to take him by surprise later.”

Luca smirked. “You are devious. Romero is loyal. He will lose his shit if you make a move on him.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll ask him to pretend, that’s all.” I tilted my head. “So it’s okay if I hold Romero’s hand, or if he wraps his arm around my shoulder?” I wanted to make sure Luca could deal with it and wouldn’t make Romero’s life hell for it.

Luca kissed me possessively. “With anyone else, no, but Romero, yes. He knows you are mine.”

Everyone in our world knew I was Luca’s.

I couldn’t stop staring at Romero. He looked like a college student in his dark jeans and checkered shirt. The girls would be throwing themselves at him. He drove us in his own car, a dark gray Dodge Charger.

Romero glanced my way. “I will attend as many courses with you as I can. We will have lunch together, and you won’t walk anywhere without me.”

I sighed. “Yes, I know. We’re practically attached at the hips.”

He parked the car, then got out, but was too late to open my door for me. “Stop it,” I muttered. “Pretend you are my boyfriend and not my bodyguard.”

Romero’s eyes widened, and he gave a shake of his head and took a respectful step back.

I held out my hand. “I think it’s the best way to get men to back off, Romero. You are intimidating. Don’t be a coward,” I said teasingly, wiggling my fingers at him.

He eyed them as if they were poisonous snakes about to attack.

Deciding to cut this short, I moved toward him before he had a chance to back away, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me. Caught by surprise, he rocked forward and steadied himself with a hand on my hip.

My God. The look on his face would bring me through many dark hours in the future. I laughed and he withdrew his hand as if he’d been burnt. “Aria,” he murmured imploringly, tugging at my hand, but I didn’t let go.

“Calm down, Romero. People will get suspicious if you refuse to hold your girlfriend’s hand.”

Anger filled his eyes, and I felt guilty for making him think he was doing something Luca wouldn’t approve of. I released his hand.

I sighed. “I talked to Luca about this. He thinks it’s a good idea if you pretend to be my boyfriend so other men back off.”

Surprise banished the anger. “He said that?”

“Call him,” I urged him, and of course he did. After getting Luca’s okay, he relaxed visibly.

“I told you so,” I muttered.

“Luca is my Capo,” Romero said firmly. “I can’t go against him, especially not when you are involved.”

“I know,” I said, growing frustrated. “I’m well aware that I am your Capo’s possession.”

“You aren’t Luca’s possession. You are his.”

I wasn’t quite sure if there was a difference, and it wasn’t like it still bothered me much. After two years of marriage, I’d come to terms with Luca’s possessiveness. Romero held out his hand with a small smile. “Come on, Aria.”

I flashed him a grin, deciding not to let anything ruin this day for me, and slipped my hand in his, then we walked toward classes. Even without my blonde hair, several guys stared at me. I hadn’t expected it.

Romero grew rigid. “If they knew who you were they wouldn’t be leering.”

“They don’t know, and that’s exactly what we want.” I peered up at them. “Your death glares will scare them off soon enough.”

He chuckled. “I have to do what Luca would do.”

My chest tightened. I sometimes wondered how it would be if Luca wasn’t who he was and if I wasn’t who I was. If we were normal people, if we could stroll these halls together like a normal couple. Tears prickled my eyes because that was never going to happen. Luca had never had the choice to go to college. From the day of his birth, his path had been determined, a path of darkness, full of enemies even among our own.