It's my turn to blush.
She chuckles, "Knew it!" Then she pauses and peers into my face, "Were you with a Sovrano?"
I hesitate.
"Well?" She tilts her head, "So, you were with a Sovrano?"
"Not quite." I brush past her and into the back of the shop. I toss my bag onto the table pushed up against the window, then head over to the small kitchen alcove. I top up the espresso maker and set it on the stove.
"Now you have me really curious." Elsa comes up to stand next to me. "Is everything okay, Theresa?"
"I am fine," I turn to face her, "everything is fine."
"I called your family and they told me that you have moved in with the Sovranos."
"Not with the Sovranos; withaSovrano."
Her gaze widens. "So, you are living with one of the mob?"
"You know my family is connected to the Sovranos, right? My father is their gardener, and my mother used to clean their home, before my brother was born."
She nods.
"So, when I needed the money to buy this place, Xander loaned it to me."
"Hmm," she taps her toe on the ground. "You were in love with Xander, so I’m not surprised that you accepted the loan from him. But Xander was one of the Sovranos, so technically, that made his money mob money."
"He made the money from selling his paintings, so technically, it's not mob money, but yeah, I know what you mean. It wasn't a big deal for me, to be honest. I figured I’d end up married to him eventually, and anyway, theCosa Nostrais part of life here."
"R-i-g-h-t," she purses her lips.
"You cool with that? It's not something I thought to mention earlier. But it isn't exactly something I could bring up in everyday conversation."
"I am new to Sicily, so yeah, theCosa Nostrais more of a concept for me. It's just, you know... Common sense dictates that one should steer clear of any mob involvement, that's all."
"So, you are okay with it?"
"I need this job, I enjoy working with you, so yeah, I am fine. Besides, you are the only friend I have in Palermo, so you ain't getting rid of me that easily," she grins.
"Oh, thank god," I throw my arms around her and hug her, "I really value our friendship too."
She pats my shoulder.
I pull back, "I know you're not all that enamored with the Sovranos, but I did go to the same school as them, and I've known them all my life. They are very much like family to me."
"And now you’ve hooked up with one of them." She lowers her arms to her sides.
"I haven’t." I step back. "I am simply staying under the same roof as Axel, until the uh, danger passes."
"Danger?" She pales. "Are you in danger? Is that why you’re hurt?" She gestures to the bandage at my temple.
Shit, I’d forgotten about that.
The espresso pot begins to boil and I raise it off the stove and pour out the fragrant brew into two cups.
"Here," I hand one to her, then grab a biscotti from the jar and walk over to take my seat behind the table. Elsa drops down into the seat in front of me.
"So," she takes a sip of espresso from her cup, "how did you get hurt?"