Page 88 of The Viper's Wife

Alessia smiles at me with her perfectly lined red lipstick and bright white teeth. “Occasionally, on business.”

She looks like someone whose business involves private jets and hitmen on speed dial.

“How is the wedding planning going?” Claudia asks.

I stiffen, but Nico casually scoops up a menu and glances over the interior. “We gave Ruth free rein. She’s got an eye for it anyway.”

Claudia turns a calculating look in my direction. “Free rein? Valeria, you’re not involved in the design process?” It’s clear by her light tone, she thinks I’m making a horrible mistake.

Our server steps to the table, holding a plate layered with thin pink meat and a sprinkling of cheese and capers on top.

“She’s delegating,” Alessia says as she piles her plate with the appetizer. She smiles at me. “Valeria, do you work?”

My mouth goes dry.

Nico squeezes my hand under the table.

“She’s on a leave of absence, for the wedding,” he lies easily.

I glance toward him. He smiles, confident and self-assured. My heart rate slows. I squeeze his hand back and take a sip of water.

“You might consider quitting entirely,” Claudia says, the slightest hint of an Italian accent in her words. “You’ll need more time than you’d think to restore your body once you have a baby.”

I nearly choke on my drink.

“Ma!” Alessia says. She gestures to her food. “I’m eating.”

“Oh, come on, Alessia. We’re all adults here.”

Alessia rolls her eyes and leans toward me conspiratorially. “Mamma thinks every woman’s greatest achievement in life is to be pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen.”

To her credit, Claudia seems unbothered as she places a single, delicate strip of meat on her plate. “I only recognize what a blessing it is to be able to spend so much time with yourlovingchildren after giving birth. Many mothers would kill for that.”

My stomach twists into a knot.

Even in my wildest fantasies of owning my own place, of living far away from Chicago, I always imagined I’d be working. Being a stay-at-home mom was too far outside the realm of possibility.

But I stayed with Nico, it’d be more than possible—it would be expected. I would completely devote myself to our children, and Nico would provide for our every need. So long as those needs came second to the mob’s.

“Did you have a good flight over?” Nico asks.

The rest of the evening diffuses into polite conversation.

Alessia talks about her art gallery and clothing businesses. Claudia asks if Nico and I go to church—Nico shares a look with Alessia and answers sarcastically, “Yeah, twice a week.”

Claudia only gives a fond shake of her head and sips her wine.

If I didn’t know any better, the three of them could be any other normal, loving family. Nico is relaxed and laughs easily, his hand on my knee throughout the evening. He’s happy.

I’ve been wondering about the type of father Nico wouldbe, but what type of mother would I be? Is it possible to love your children so much that it outweighs the evils of the Family?

I sip on my wine, a light smile on my face so I don’t look angry, my mind a thousand miles away.

“Papà wants to know when you’re coming up to visit him,” Alessia says.

Next to her, Claudia takes a drink.

“Fatheris welcome to visit me whenever he likes. I am at his disposal,” Nico says dryly.