Deceptive - An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance: The Toscano Mafia Saga - Book One by Arianna Fraser

Author:Arianna Fraser [Fraser, Arianna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

In which Ekaterina and Casey reunite and ice is used in an unorthodox fashion.

Ekaterina…

Graduation Day, La Sorbonne

At first, things were so shaky between Giovanni and me that I didn’t know if he would allow me to attend the graduation ceremony. But here I am, in cap and gown. I look out over the crowd in the Grand Hall, wondering if my family made it. I know Yuri and Tania will be there, she already called this morning when they landed, and she told me Maksim and Ella are close, too.

There was nothing from Mother. Not a word since she found out about our hasty marriage. If she’s not coming, that means she won’t let my sister Mariya join us, either.

“Babygirl!” It’s Casey, wearing his cap and down and using a cane to get to me.

“Oh, my god! Casey honey, are you all right? Giovanni wouldn’t let me call you of course you’re not all right, you’ve been through hell but you’re Casey you can handle everything so-” He hugs me, and I’m sobbing helplessly.

Pulling us into an empty reception room, he hugs me again before handing me a tissue. “I was keeping that in case I lost my shit onstage and started crying,” he said sternly. “Mop up those tears or you’re going to look like hell when you’re accepting your diploma.” He flicks my tassel that signifies I’m a summa cum laude graduate. “You have a reputation to uphold, girl.”

He doesn’t look bad; Casey is too pretty for that. But he is haggard. I can still see the new lines on his face from exhaustion and to my horror, a scar that extends from his left eyebrow down to his cheekbone. I put my hand on it, trying not to cry again.

“I’m so sorry, moy dorogoy, my dear. This is all my fault, I can’t-”

He cuts off my weepy apology. “Look, we did it together. I heard about what almost happened to you. It’s not like you got off scot-free, honey. The important thing is, we’re alive. We made it out. We’re graduating and we’ve got shit to do.”

He puts his hand over mine on his cheek. “You like my scar? I think I look rugged and dangerous as fuck. I’m totally going to top now. No more bottoming with a scar like this.”

“That’s what you’re thinking about?” I shake my head, laughing, “That your scar makes you a top?”

“Yeah!” The lunatic actually looks happy about this. “I’m not a twink anymore, baby!”

“I have no response for this,” I can’t stop laughing, which was, of course, exactly what he was going for. I squeeze his hands. “I love you. You are the best, most loyal of friends and I just… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say we’re best friends,” he smiles gently. “Some things will never change.”

“Forever,” I promise fervently.

We hear the opening strains from the orchestra and he steps back, straightening my mortarboard and tassel. “Come on, ‘Rina,” he grins, “Let’s go kick some French ass by being even more fabulous than they are.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.