Chapter 74: 74 ~ Mira
The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
The eerie silence that followed after that bloody scene came with chills. It felt like if anything as little as a pin dropped, it would sound like a trumpet.
Jace walked past me in that furious state without a word. I knew better than to say anything to his hearing before he would take out his anger on me.
Then I heard the door to his home office slam shut. It sounded so loud, I felt the walls shake. It was better to stay out of his way for now.
I went down to the kitchen after a while. The tension was still palpable. Enzo had been taken to treat his nose at god knows where. His father was out of sight, same as Donna Carmela.
I wondered if they fought because of Enzo trying to flirt with me. I immediately shook my head in disagreement. It had to be something else. Jace would never do that.
Getting into the pantry, I took out my ingredients and placed them on the kitchen island.
I wanted to bake a nice treat for him. Maybe it would help him cool off. At least I hoped so.
I contemplated what I was going to make for him as I set the ingredients on the kitchen island.
"What do you think I should make for him?" I turned and asked the chef.
"The don likes bomboloni." He answered.
"Oh that’s not a bad idea." I grinned.
I immediately got into making the treat - Italian cream-filled doughnuts.
It was ready within a few hours. I had my dinner in the kitchen in between. And after making a few batches of the doughnuts, I made a quick milkshake to add to the tray as I went up to give it to Jace myself.
I hoped I would not get up there and find out he had gone somewhere while I slaved away in the kitchen.
I knocked on his bedroom’s door a few times and there was no answer. My last option was his office. Thankfully he was in there.
"Hey," I grinned softly as I entered.
He simply looked at me. I saw the burnt out cigarette in his hand. Someone had obviously been very busy in here.
"I made these for you." I said, setting the tray down on his desk.
"That’s a lot of sugar." He muttered.
I blinked, not expecting his choice of words.
Play the part, Mira. That was what I said to myself as I forced a smile.
"I thought it would cheer you up. Sorry for trespassing." I muttered softly, turning to face the door with a feigned downcast sigh.
"Sit."
I bit back a smile as I turned to him with a neutral expression.
"Who put you up to this?" He asked.
I was taken aback by the question,
"What are you talking about?"
"You’ve been acting strange. I don’t know what your plan is, but it’s not going to work so you better cut it with the act." He insisted. The accusation in his tone was barely hidden.
"Jace, I am not Enzo who tried to betray you. It’s bad enough that you’ve kept me here against my will. And I’m just trying to make things work. I don’t want to keep being miserable here!"
I don’t know where the tears came from but they were the icing on the cake as I watched his hard exterior soften up. He got on his feet and walked around the desk.
"It’s okay," he mumbled, pulling me into his arms.
With a grunt, he wiped the tears that had quickly flowed down my face.
"Stop crying,"
I had never seen him look so uncomfortable. I almost laughed. Almost.
"I’m..." He swallowed. "I’m sorry."’
My eyes snapped up to his. Was I dreaming or did Jace Romano just apologize to me?
Someone pinch me.
"Did you just-?"
"Don’t make a big deal of it." He cut me off quickly and looked away as I smiled.
Pulling his face closer to mine, I planted a kiss on his lips, one that he deepened.
Jace had a heart after all and he had begun to warm up to me. This was a win.
~~~
It was a breath of fresh air, watching Enzo and his father leave. After the fiasco from the previous day, it was no surprise why they had to go.
Jace stepped out early that morning. I had slept in his bed after a very interesting night. I could feel him let off all that pent up anger on me and it was bittersweet. Bitter because I was slightly sore from all the action and sweet because he gave me multiple orgasms as usual. I would miss that. But for now, I was going to enjoy the moment, pretending to be in love with him so he would not suspect a thing.
I was standing in front of the mirror, once again admiring the necklace he got me, when a knock on my room’s door invaded my thoughts.
I walked to the door and opened it only to be faced with a frowning Donna Carmela. I flinched.
"Donna?" I said in surprise. She had never come to my room before.
"Why are you sleeping in separate rooms with your husband?"
This sounded like an interrogation.
"He asked me to move."
"And you agreed?"
I hesitated for a bit. "Well, yes, you know how Jace can be. He never-"
She didn’t let me finish. "When a don starts keeping his wife away, it is for a reason. Don’t let this stop you from achieving what we want."
I nodded. "Yes ma’am."
She nodded and walked away in the direction of his office. I wondered what she wanted to do there but of course I wouldn’t dare ask.
~~~
I had some cake orders to send out and once again my brother came around to help me with the deliveries.
He was parked in front of the entrance when I got out of the house and I was helping him put the cake boxes in the backseat, making sure that they would not fall apart, when Jace drove towards us.
"Uh oh," I muttered under my breath.
Jace got out of the car and handed the keys to one of the guards so he could park it in the garage.
"Hi," I said, forcing a smile.
"Hey," he came to me and placed a kiss on my temple as my brother watched with an obvious frown on his face.
"Roberto," Jace said.
"Don Romano." Roberto answered.
I had to cut in because the awkward silence was beginning to make me nervous.
"He’s here to pick up deliveries." I said quickly.
"I see that. Did you save any cake for me?"
"Um,"
I did not expect that from him. But I nodded anyways. I had some leftovers I could give to him.
"Great. See you in side." He said, pecking my temple again before he walked away.
"You two seem pretty cozy." Roberto remarked.
I shrugged. "Well, he’s my husband."
"Yeah for now," he mumbled back.
I looked over my shoulder as Jace disappeared inside.
For now...