"She did? I mean, he did? I mean—" I shake my head. "When did all of this happen?"
"During the last few weeks, when she was in the hospital. Somehow, I get the impression they knew each other from before."
"I knew it!" I bite the inside of my cheek. "I thought there was something between them, but I couldn’t be sure."
"Anyway, that’s in the past. This is Massimo’s bid to move forward. With this arranged marriage, he also ensures peace between the two clans."
"Hmm..." I glance toward him, then back at the girl. "Why do I get the feeling this union is going to be anything but simple?"
Footsteps sound behind us.
Then a familiar voice sings out. "Hellooo, I’m not late for the engagement, I hope?"
I turn to find Olivia standing at the entrance to the conservatory. She’s wearing a scarlet red dress that’s cut low enough to reveal the tops of her breasts. The skirt has a slit up one side, all the way to the top of her thigh. She has one stocking clad leg thrust out through the gap. Her hair is dyed in streaks of purple, and flows around her shoulders. And on her face, she sports a scar that runs from the middle of her cheek to her temple. The scar doesn’t deter from her beauty. If anything, it enhances it by lending her a mysterious, yet tragic look. It adds to her overall allure, bringing a mystique to her persona that hadn’t been there before.
A murmur runs through theCamorrapart of the gathering.
She smirks at them. "Not happy to see me,famiglia?" She pushes away from the door, takes a step forward, then promptly stumbles.