"Holding her captive, coercing her to marry you, leaving her no choice but to say yes—"
"She wanted to get married to me," I insist.
"Ha," she snorts, "and you know that, how?"
"I know," I set my jaw.
"You mean," she plants her hand on her hips, "all of you think you are god’s gift to women. You think just because you are mafioso and carry guns, your dick is the answer to everything."
"Nonna," I gape, "what are you talking about?"
Michael glances between us. He looks like he’s about to intervene, then seems to change his mind. I glare at him. Traitor. He’s the one who kidnapped Karma and started this entire sequence of events rolling, and now he has the nerve to sit there and watch this shitstorm unfold?
"Porca puttana!You are being unreasonable, Nonna," I complain.
"You dare accuse me of being unreasonable when you’re the one acting like a...acoglione?" She jabs her forefinger in my chest.
"Ow," I scowl, "that hurt."
"Good, it should." She glares at me, "You broke that poor girl’s heart, no doubt, by giving her this cock-and-bull story about getting the marriage annulled, I assume."
"I—uh, haven’t mentioned any such thing to her yet."
"Good," she sniffs, "then you can go back and apologize to her."
"No," I set my jaw.
"Christiano Roberto Dominico Sovrano," Nonna pulls herself up to her full height, "are you going tell your wife that you are sorry and make-up with her, or not?"
"Not," I fold my arms across my chest, "I am sorry, Nonna, but on this, I am not changing my mind."
She glowers at me, then all of the color seems to leach from her face. She puts her hand to her forehead and groans, "I… I don’t think I am feeling very well."
"Nonna!" I exclaim as I step toward her.
"Don’t you touch me," she scowls, “not until you have put right the mess you have created."
She turns to Michael and holds out her hand. "Mica," she trembles, "please, help me to a seat; I think my poor heart is just about going to give out after all the stress that thisstronzohas put me through."
"Nonna," I protest, "why is it that Mica is always in your good graces, and I have to work doubly hard to get a single word of praise from you?"
"Because he’s smart; he knew, when he found Karma, that he couldn’t let her get away. Unlike you…" She sways again, and this time, Michael crosses over to her and wraps his arm about her shoulder. "You," she raises her nose in the air, "are clearly, completely, utterly even more stupido than I thought."
"Me? I’m stupid?" I scowl as Michael guides her to an armchair.
Karma walks to the water cooler in the corner and fetches her a glass of water.
"Thank you, dear," Nonna murmurs. "At least, I can count on the two of you to keep your head in these situations."
Karma and Michael exchange looks over her head.
"You take it easy, Nonna," Michael pats her shoulder.
"I will, once I know that Xander is going to be okay," Nonna says in a tired voice. Is she actually feeling unwell, or is the old bat acting up? My Nonna is not only smart, but she is also a consummate actress. She’s been known to go to any length to get her way. But she can’t be playacting now, can she? She really does look completely worn-out and about to faint.
On cue, Theresa begins to weep again, "How can he look so much like my Xan. He is Xander, isn’t he?" She wails. "Please, please, tell me it is Xander and that he is going to be okay?"
"Can someone tell the girl to shut up?" Nonna glances at Karma, "Please?"