Page 19 of Bad Husband

Heather disappeared into the staff room and Chiara looked at Rosemary. Both of them were worried as this wasn’t like Heather at all. There was nothing either of them could do, other than look out for her and be there when she was ready to talk.

“New person?” Chiara asked.

“Reporting for duty.”

She knew that voice and as she turned around, she was shocked to see Marco had arrived, complete in the colors of the uniform, which was a pale pink. Yes, her scary Capo husband was dressed in a pink shirt and grey pants.

Her uniform was a combination of pink and grey. She couldn’t believe it. Marco was all about crisp and uniform.

Chiara didn’t want to give anything away, and she turned to look at Rosemary, hoping it was all a big misunderstanding. It wasn’t.

“Chiara, I’d like you to meet Marco,” Rosemary said. “He wants to learn how to be a waiter, and, well, let’s just say he convinced me he’d be perfect for the job, and I know this can be a struggle for you and Heather, especially through the busy periods.”

“Hi, Marco,” she said, faking not knowing him for a second time that day.

This had to be a dream. She covertly pinched herself, and yep, this was real. This was so very real, and she was trying not to freak out.

“Between you and Heather, I reckon you could both train him. Show him the ropes.”

She wanted to be free from him, and now she somehow was going to be training her husband to work right alongside her.

Chapter Seven

Chiara didn’t say another word, and he followed her toward the staff room. He’d never taken a proper job like this. His father believed his real job was taking his place as Capo, so he learned the ropes of the Volpi empire, attached to the Bove Mafia. He didn’t work any other job.

Heather, the flirt, was at her locker, and she turned to smile at him. Gone was the smoldering look. “You’re the new guy?” she asked.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Rosemary wants us to train him.”

Heather snorted. “Let’s face it, training is your department. Out of the two of us, you keep this place running smoothly. If you need me, you know where to find me.” She flicked her hair behind her ear and left without another word.

Marco returned his attention to his wife.

Chiara went to her locker that had her name above it.

“Do they know who you are?” he asked.

“No, they don’t. I’m just Chiara here, so please stop,” she said, and turned toward him. “What is your game?”

“I want to win you back.”

She sighed. “There is no way you can win me back. No way at all.”

He looked at her, and there was no way he wasn’t going to do this. “I made a mistake.”

She gritted her teeth and looked past his shoulder. “A mistake is forgetting an anniversary. What you did was completely unforgiveable.”

“You know, anyone else would have killed you.” He winced as he knew it wasn’t the right thing to say.

The truth was, he’d been lenient with her. Any other capo would have killed her on the spot. They would have tortured her until she begged for death, and only when they felt the sport of hurting her was done, would they have killed her.

“Well, thank you for that.” She took a bow for him. “Thank you, my liege, for allowing me to live. Just casting me out, without even hearing my side. Assuming the worst, yes, that is so much better.” She pushed past him, and he gritted his teeth, because this was not what he wanted. This was supposed to be about winning her back.

It was completely idiotic. Running a hand down his face, he didn’t know who he was more exasperated with—himself, or the situation. He’d never had to fight like this for a woman’s attention or forgiveness. He didn’t care enough what women thought. They were there to be used. But Chiara was different. She was his wife, and it mattered to him what she thought.

There was no way he’d be able to hide in the staff room all day. Getting this job had proven most difficult. In fact, he paid Rosemary to give him a chance. She told him she wasn’t hiring him, and he’d given her a hefty lump sum that meant she was being paid to keep him around.