“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t like how cryptic she’s being.” He turned to look over at Francesco. “I don’t like secrets. They are kept from people for a reason.”
“You kept secrets from me.” I hadn’t meant to lash out, and I saw the hurt on his face.
“And look where it got me.” He kissed my hand then tucked it around his arm as we walked back into the house.
Later that evening, after Elio slipped out, I found myself hanging around the kitchen with Donte, who was busy cleaning up from dinner.
“What do you do when you’re finished?” I asked as I dried the remaining mixing bowl.
“I normally take a walk, or maybe drive into the city to visit friends. As long as the kitchen is clean, and the meals are prepped for the next day, I’m allowed to leave. However,” he removed his chef’s jacket, “there’s always someone on standby if someone is hungry.”
“What are your plans for tonight?”
“A walk.”
“May I join you?”
“Sure,” he smiled, “as long as you clear it with the Don first.” I looked him, confused. “You should ask the boss’s father for permission.”
I nodded and made quick work to find Piero, who thought it was a lovely idea to go for a walk. I grabbed a light sweater, and we headed out.
“When did you start working for the Capris?” I asked and admired the glow of the sunset over the rolling hills in front of us as we strolled along in relaxed conversation.
“I’ve known them since I was ten but never officially worked for them until I was seventeen.”
“Wow that’s pretty impressive.”
“Mafia, remember? When you work for the family, you are treated like family. My father worked for the Don’s brother, Bosco, when he was thirty.” He paused to make sure I was following, and I nodded for him to go on. “But it was actually Mrs. Andrea who hired my father. She happened to be here on vacation and found him cooking at a small restaurant. She made him an offer, and not long after, we went from a small little place in a poor neighborhood to a three-bedroom villa on the Capri property. Do you know what it’s like to see your parents worry?” His face suddenly dropped, and he closed his eyes for a moment, clearly knowing a little of my story. “I’m sorry, Sienna, poor choice of an example.”
“Don’t be.” I shrugged. “It was hard for me, but that wouldn’t mean that it wasn’t hard for you too, just a different kind of hard.” I chuckled. “Sounds very poetic, doesn’t it?”
He laughed with me and let it go. Again, it was something else we connected on.
“Let me ask you this.” I let my curiosity about what it was like living in a mafia house get the best of me. “Were you ever scared? I mean, they are mafia.”
“I think I would have been, if I had known better.” He nodded as he spoke as though he agreed with his wording. “I was too young to know much, anyway. Plus, Mrs. Noemi loves kids, so the odd time when I was around, she was really nice. Mr. Vinni and Mr. Niccola were hilarious. They were always pranking their father and getting into mischief wherever they went. As I got older, and I realized what kind of world I was surrounded by, well, let’s just say I understood it by then.” He lifted a finger. “But it was all because I listened to my papa as he groomed me to not only be the best chef I could be, but how to keep safe in this life. Head down, be polite no matter who you’re speaking to. But most of all, he taught me to be loyal.”
“Sounds like your papa is a wise man.” He smiled at me, and we went back to admiring the evening.
“You’re a good person, Sienna. You really fit in well here.”
“That’s nice of you to say.” I twisted my lips as an emotional wave washed over me. I longed to feel I belonged.
“Can I ask you something?” His eyes held mine as I nodded. “You knew the boss when he was younger, right?”
“Yes.”
“What was he like then?”
I leaned back and looked at the sky as the box that held all my memories deep inside cracked open just a little. A picture book of memories started to flash in front of me, begging for a chance to reveal themselves. I knew they so desperately deserved to be viewed, but when I went to speak of them, I hesitated. I knew I needed to tread very carefully with what I shared with anyone going forward. I knew things about Elio that no one in the world did.
“He was very kind.” I smiled as my body grew warm. “One of the kindest people I ever knew.”
“I wish I’d known him better then.”
“Yeah, you would have liked him. Did they visit very often before Elio’s family moved here?”