“Buonasera, Signora, I hope you enjoy your stay,” he says to her. I’m glad for his kindness.
Our house staff always act like they don’t know what’s going on, but I know they do.
“Thank you so much, and Buonasera,” she replies. He nods his head.
“Everyone else is here. They arrived early.” It’s a warning to keep my head above water.
They want to see her. Emelia. They’re curious and probably wanted to be there to watch us enter the dining room. Tonight is definitely going to be interesting.
“Grazie, Mario.”
He walks on ahead, and we follow. He continues on without us when we get inside, and I make my way to the dining room with Emelia on my arm.
It will be dinner first, then mingling. I hear talking in the dining room. It ceases in a hush, however, the instant we reach the door and everyone notices us.
Emelia tightens her grip on my hand. They’re all looking at her and not even doing anything to look less obvious.
Pa is at the head of the table. There are two empty seats next to him for us. On his other side are my three brothers, sitting in order of rank. That’s the first time that has happened, so Tristan is right next to Pa, and Andreas sits between him and Dominic. Everyone else can sit in whether manner they choose.
“Good evening, everyone. I hope we aren’t late,” I say.
“Never,” Pa answers, tipping his head at me. He looks to my hand holding Emelia’s. A deeper curiosity fills his gaze. When he stands, everyone looks at him. “I wish to extend a welcome to my son, the new boss of this family, and his fiancée, Emelia Balesteri.”
I didn’t expect him to do that. Doing so, however, has set the tone for everyone else’s behavior tonight.
“Thank you, Father,” I say.
“Thank you,” Emelia croaks, her voice coming out in a hush.
“Come and sit,” Pa invites.
We do. All eyes follow me.
I pull out the chair for her to sit and lower myself next to Pa. I set the tone too when I set my hand on the table, beckoning her to take it so everyone can see.
She looks at me but takes my hand, and when Pa looks at me with newfound admiration, I feel better.
I feel better about tonight, but there’s still more at work I need to worry about.
Like what will happen next.
Chapter Twenty-One
Emelia
I’ve never been so nervous in my life.
At the same time, I’ve never felt so strong. The minute Massimo reached for my hand, there was a shift in the atmosphere. The tension almost evaporated, although the curiosity was still there.
I watched as his father gave him the family ring. He looked different to me. He was in charge before and had this power. But as he put on the ring, he looked more like a leader.
I still can’t get over how much he looks like his father, and his brothers all look like him too. They have the same tall, dark, and handsome features and eyes that are so striking you want to stare. Andreas shows the only difference. His eyes are bright blue, not stormy like the other three brothers’. Almost like God decided to change things up, or just make him different. He’s the eldest. I’m amazed he isn’t boss. My family isn’t traditional, and it would be different for me because I’m a woman. However, in most Italian families, I know the oldest son is who takes the lead. I guess it must be different here. It’s definitely not something I’ll question. Andreas looks more ruthless than Massimo.
We ate a wonderful meal I was actually able to enjoy, and I got stuck talking with a few of the wives, who wanted to introduce themselves to me. They took me away from the men and gathered in the sitting room to talk. They’re talking now about vacations. I can’t join in because right now, this is a vacation for me. They’ve been nice, although I can imagine it must have been difficult. They know who I am.
They know who I am, yet they’ve tried to make me feel welcome. Again, it makes me question who the monsters are.
When Aurora, the youngest wife, starts talking about babies, the others start fussing over her. I don’t know what the heck I’m supposed to say, so I keep quiet.