“Do I smell meat?” Savio asked, sauntering in, followed by Remo and Adamo, all of them wearing shirts for once.
I grinned. Soon Fabiano and Leona joined us as well, bringing wine. I hugged Leona tightly. “How’s your mother doing?”
“Better. She’ll be released from the hospital in two days. She never knows when to stop,” Leona said with a small sigh. She would have wanted to celebrate with her mother for once but after an almost fatal overdose, she was stuck in hospital once again.
I caught Fabiano exchanging an exasperated look with Remo, which Leona caught as I led them toward the table. “He doesn’t understand why I still try to help my mother, but he helps her for me anyway.”
I touched her arm. “Because he wants to see you happy.”
We all settled around the table, and as expected the lamb was the highlight for the men. I enjoyed watching everyone more than the actual food. It was just beautiful having my new family at one table, celebrating together, and I couldn’t help but wonder if next year at this time, I’d have a little baby to take care of as well.
After dinner, I led everyone into the living area of Nino’s and my wing, then settled at the piano. “Why don’t you stand around the piano?”
They all did, confused why I’d brought them here.
“I composed music pieces for each of you. They aren’t perfect yet, and they might develop over time, but I think they’re not bad considering the limited time I had,” I said quickly.
Nino squeezed my shoulder. “Your music is always marvelous.”
“This is for you, Remo.” I started playing the tumultuous melody, focusing solely on the keys and my fingers, not daring to look up for anyone’s reaction. When I finally risked a peek, Remo’s arms were crossed and with an unreadable expression he leaned against the piano.
I swallowed. “This is for you, Savio.”
It was an easy-going melody, playful, only occasionally underplayed by darker tones. Savio nodded his approval when the last note rang out. “I sound fun and sexy. You nailed it, Kiara.”
Adamo rolled his eyes.
“Now you Adamo.” This one had been the hardest. Recently Adamo had been quiet and thoughtful, but I didn’t want his melody to be haunting, so I chose to base it on the feelings he evoked in others. It was a smooth melody, one that made you want to relax in front of a fire with a glass of wine.
“It’s so cool that you can create something like that,” Adamo said.
I felt my cheeks heat and shrugged then cleared my throat before I looked at Fabiano and Leona. “For the two of you I created one melody.”
Surprise crossed their faces.
“You created something for us as well?” Leona asked.
“You belong to this family,” I said, then played the last melody.
Leona bit her lip when I was done, came over and hugged me tightly.
Savio pointed at Nino. “What about Nino? Doesn’t he get a song?”
“He’s had his song for a while now.”
“Why don’t you play it?” Fabiano asked.
I gave Nino a questioning look. Not saying a word, he came over to me and I made room for him on the bench so he could sit down. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us as we began playing, our fingers working together without ever getting in each other’s way, our thighs touching. Nino’s warmth and his mere presence gave me new confidence playing this personal song. Nothing mattered in that moment but the two of us.
The last note rang out and our eyes met. I smiled, wondering how this melody would sound if I added a third string to it, one for our future child.
When I finally turned to the rest of our family and caught a dark gleam in Remo’s eyes, a hint of worry flickered in my belly. I gave him a smile, which caused him to give me his own twisted version in return.
CHAPTER 11
NINO
We were sitting on the sofas, having pizza for dinner, when I noticed the way Adamo began to fidget. His expression made me assume he’d say something to set Remo off again. For the last few weeks since Christmas my older brother had been surprisingly restrained, maybe as a favor to Kiara, but it was bound to end. He was bottling up whatever was bothering him, probably Serafina.
Adamo finally sat up and stared at Remo. “Why won’t you tell me where our mother is kept?”
Kiara stiffened beside me, her hand with the pizza piece hovering in front of her parted lips. She, like the rest of us turned to Remo.
His expression was worrying, his mouth twisting cruelly, his eyes flashing with the unbridled rage that had consumed him almost daily in the past.
Savio jabbed his elbow into Adamo’s side. “Shut up.”
“No,” Adamo said. “I want to know.”
“It doesn’t matter where she is. She might as well be in hell for all it concerns us,” Remo gritted out.