The Marriage Merger

I found an old hotel in Manhattan I’d been staking out and slept in the cellar. Near the janitor’s room. I’d wash myself, steal food, and keep hidden. Until Jerry found me. He was a janitor—worked there for years. I waited for him to throw me out and call management or the cops, but he did neither.



He let me stay.”



She didn’t say anything when he stopped. He refused to taint her with his criminal actions, of the violence during his years with his foster father. She’d never understand. After a while he gave her the rest.



“We didn’t talk much about what had happened. He’d manage to steal me another uniform and began to show me the ropes. He told management I was his nephew and got me a job. I learned starting at the bottom of any establishment is the way to learn it all. you know the employees, the gossips, the codes, and the behind-the-scene shit that happens in all hotels. He pushed me to be more, and I finally got an opportunity at the Waldorf hotel. I traveled to Milan on an internship and stayed for a while with another hotel and finally traveled back to New york.



“He had a heart attack on a Tuesday at two forty-five p.m. I was doing okay for myself by then, but then I found out the truth. Jerry was previous military and had received a purple heart in Iraq. He also came from a wealthy family, but after the war, he dropped from sight and gave it all up.



I opened my door to two lawyers who told me Jerry left me everything. I was a multimillionaire at twenty-five years old.”



Her focus was almost physical, as if poised on his every word and drinking it in deep. Instead of avid curiosity, he felt only a deep peace and understanding from her, making it easier to go on. “He left me a note he’d written when I was twenty years old. It said, ‘Make your mark.’ I took off for a while to get my head straight. Blew a lot of money.



Then decided to focus on doing exactly what he wanted— proving myself a success. When Purity opens, it’s for him, because he was the only one other than my parents to ever give a shit.”



He let out a breath and waited. For the questions. The probing. He didn’t blame her and knew how women needed to push until it was painful and there was nothing else to give. He waited in dread, and finally, she moved.



Julietta lifted her head. Cocoa brown eyes gleamed brightly, but no tears showed. She lowered herself over him and kissed him. Thoroughly. Gently. As if he was precious glass and deserved all the care and love in the world.



“Thank you,” she whispered.



She rested her head against his chest, intertwined her thigh with his, and gave a long sigh. Then drifted off to sleep.



He waited for the pain to flood his conscience, the feeling of being unclean, of never being enough for the mentor who had saved him. Instead, there was nothing. A void where the rawness had once hidden. A curious wave of relief whooshed through his body, and he suddenly imagined himself lighter and more at peace.



Chapter Fourteen



“Strange. There’re a few extra cars at Mama’s today. I guess she invited some guests to dinner.”



Sawyer linked her hand within his and winked at Wolfe.



“Good, maybe there will be even more food to munch on.”



She laughed and shook her head. “you two are amazing. I’ve never seen grown men eat like they’ve never had real food before.”



“At least I help you clean up,” Wolfe pointed out.



Sawyer shot him a glare. “Traitor. Wait till I get you in the gym. I’ll double-kick your ass.”



“ ‘Double-kick’ is a word, old man? Funny, I didn’t see you going all rocky Balboa on me when I got you in the ring. When you went down, you stayed down.”



“Who’s rocky Balboa?” Julietta asked.



The men traded a shocked look. “Holy shit, you’ve never seen Rocky one, two, three, four, five, or six?” Sawyer asked.



“If there’re six installments, that does not bode well for me,” she said, reaching the door.



“Marathon, baby. Tonight.”



“Behave, boys. I hear voices.”



“Surprise!”



A roar filled the room as the door opened. Julietta looked inside in pure shock. She couldn’t speak as the image before her finally registered. Her family. Crowded in one room, together.



Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed her fingers against her mouth. “Mio Dio, why did you not tell me you were coming?” Julietta rushed forward and was immediately clasped in a cocoon of safety and warmth. With laughter, tears, and shouting, she reached out and grabbed onto Carina, holding her in a hug that also tried to encompass her brother-in-law and Michael.



Carina laughed in delight and squeezed her back. “We wanted to surprise you! We told Mama we were coming but never thought we could pull off such a huge coup.”



Michael lifted her in his arms and swung her around like she was five years old. “We all had to get off work from La Dolce Maggie, and we had to make sure the twins were finally ready to visit their aunt.”



Two matching boys hid behind Maggie’s legs, peeking out curiously at the loving chaos in the room. one sported bright green eyes like her sister-in-law, and the other a deep bark that pegged him immediately as the brooding Luke, exactly forty seconds older than his brother, ethan.



She squatted and held out her arms, lowering her voice to a soothing tone. “Hi, Luke. Hi, ethan. I’m your aunt Julietta.



Can I get a hug?”



A gentle prod from Maggie caused the two to toddle over. They both wore designer jeans, T-shirts, and matching leather jackets. Sturdy walking shoes helped them keep their balance as they entered her arms. Julietta pressed her lips to soft baby locks and breathed in their clean scent like a drug. “oh, I’m madly in love.” She lifted her face to the boys, beaming. “And I love the outfits.”



“you should see what your sister-in-law gets for my two. I swear Nick has a heart attack every time I open one of her gifts.” Julietta rose to her knees and laughed in delight when her gaze snagged on Alexa and Nick. She’d never met them but felt as if they were already family from the stories and photos. Alexa was Maggie’s best friend from childhood, and Nick was Maggie’s brother. With a squee, she gave matching hugs to the attractive couple. Corkscrew curls hung wildly around Alexa’s face, and her gorgeous curves reminded Julietta of Carina: earthly and sensual in a way most men craved. Nick sported blond hair in various shades and amused chestnut eyes.



“yeah, I thought your brother would keep her in line, but she’s just as outrageous as ever. I came home one night to find Lily demonstrating the ‘Gangnam Style’ dance moves while Maria proudly wore a T-shirt proclaiming her ‘Too Cool for Drool.’”



Maggie punched her brother in the arm and rolled her eyes. “If I left it up to you, they’d be studying Mozart and being too nerdy for high school.”



“ruin your own kids, Maggs.”



Alexa sighed. “Children, please. We just arrived and you’re already fighting.”



Julietta pressed her lips together in amusement. “I can’t believe you were able to get coverage for the bookstore.



I’m so excited to finally see you here!”



“Nick is in between projects right now, and since Carina came to work for me, I’m super organized at BookCrazy.



We were able to squeeze out a full week of vacation. of course, we didn’t have to worry about the hassle because we took Michael’s jet, and it was completely relaxing. I just hope we didn’t put poor Mama Conte out this week.”



Mama Conte held baby Maria in her arms, her eyes filled with joy as she gazed around the room. Her voice snapped with command. “Don’t ever say such a thing. This house has been empty much too long. It needs children and laughter. you stay as long as you like.”



Julietta hugged and chatted until a strange silence fell over the room. She swiveled her head and caught her husband’s gaze.



Pure discomfort and the urge to flee echoed from his eyes. Wolfe shifted his feet and looked nauseous and un-comfortable, staying as far away from the crowd as possible with his back pressed against the door. Her heart lurched, and she walked back into the foyer to slowly take each one of their hands and link them with her own.



“This is Sawyer, everyone. My new husband. And this is Wolfe, a very close friend who’s more like family.”



Max stepped forward, his dark good looks battling with Sawyer’s smooth blond grace. The male testosterone crack-led in the room and kept her transfixed. “you’re a sneaky bastard, you know that, Sawyer?” Max challenged, standing in front of him. “Not a lousy phone call or e-mail to tell me you got hitched. I guess we’re now related in some strange incestuous way.”



Julietta held her breath, about to tell Max to back down, but a smile curved across her husband’s face. “Too bad. Who the hell would want to be related to you? you suck at poker and you’re butt ugly.”



Max leaned forward. “But I’m taller, and I can beat your ass.”



“only when I let you.” His gaze slid to Carina. “And thank God I finally did.”



A short silence fell. Then the men boomed with laughter and clapped each other on the shoulder in that half hug grown men use. Totally not getting their code, Julietta shook her head and tugged Wolfe into the fray. “I love your tattoo,” Maggie announced, taking control and stepping in front of Wolfe. “Serpent. Goes down the chest, too?”



“yeah.”



“Very hot. And I love the cut of your hair. Do you model?”



He narrowed his eyes as if preparing for mockery. “No, of course not.”



She gave a thoughtful snort. “you’d be amazing in a cover shoot. I see you work out. Great biceps. ever think of modeling?”



Michael grabbed onto his wife and pulled her away. “La mia piccola tigre, please leave the poor boy alone. He does not want to strip to his underwear for your camera.”



“Why not? He’d make a ton of money. The photographs I can do would be extraordinary.”



“Are you really serious? Is that something you think I could do?”



Michael groaned. “Here we go.”



Maggie practically hopped up and down, ignoring her husband. “I’m working with a new Italian designer, and you’re exactly what he’s looking for. He needs edge. I’ll call him in the morning and set up an interview while I’m here.”



Wolfe straightened his posture. “Cool. yeah, I’m up for it. Thanks.”



“you’re not taking my best assistant away, are you?”



Sawyer called out.



Maggie smiled sweetly. “Let’s see how much Victorio wants to pay him first. Then we’ll talk.”



“Mi dispiace, Sawyer. My wife cannot control herself when she sees someone to photograph.”



Maggie wrinkled her nose. “I’m not cooking for you tomorrow.”



“Thank goodness.”



Julietta laughed at their easy camaraderie and the sexual spark that still shot like wildfire around them. As if underneath the teasing and insults lay pure combustion just ready to explode in private. Carina wrapped Wolfe in easy conversation that was such a part of her generous heart, and Julietta took a moment to immerse herself in the crazy chaos of family. She missed Venezia and Dominick, who would have completed the entire circle, but V had to dress a celebrity client for a movie premiere, and Dominick had decided to accompany her to London and stay for the week. Julietta made a note to call her so they could at least Skype.