“Amusing.” I dripped with sarcasm.
“I thought so,” Sienna shot back as she stood, replacing the book on the shelf. “Yes. I was offered that job. Georgio wanted me to do it, and honestly, I was flattered and wanted to savor the feeling for a while. I’m not saying I will do it.” She turned to look at me as she lifted her chin and straightened her spine. “But I’m not saying I won’t. Bottom line is, Elio, it’s my decision.”
“The hell it is. You’re going to be my wife. You’re mine, and I will not share your body with anyone.”
“Again,” she sighed, like I wasn’t getting it, “not your decision to make, but I will certainly take into account your feelings on the topic.”Excuse me…“Now, if you boys don’t mind, I have to be somewhere.”
She walked past me and out the door. Niccola spread out on the couch with a deep, noisy intake of breath.
“Did she just walk away from me?” My mouth hung open while Niccola chuckled.
“She might be my most favorite person yet.” He pulled out his phone, no doubt to fill in his little brother.
I spun on my heel and headed for the house. I really needed to work out some anger.
A few hours in the ring, and I was still pent-up, but when Nonna called, I left, knowing we had a lunch date. Plus, I still had to hold some interviews.
I glanced at my watch as I climbed the stone stairs to the house and saw I was ten minutes late.
“I’m sorry, Nonna.” I raced out onto the terrace and kissed her cheeks. “Time seems to be slipping away on me a lot lately.”
“You sound like me.” She smiled as I helped her back down into her chair. “No need for apologies. I just appreciate you taking time for me.”
“Always.” I leaned back as a plate of food was placed in front of me. I lowered my head and said a quick prayer with her, which I didn’t often do myself anymore. The Lord and I had different ideas about forgiveness, but I did try to be respectful for those around me who did rely on him.
Just as I took a bite of the creamy salmon, I noticed Nonna was working over her rosary beads at an extra-fast pace. “Something on your mind?”
“Yes, actually.” She took a moment to wet her mouth with lemon water. I glanced at Abramo, herconsigliere. He’d been in our family for as far back as I could remember. I wondered if he would give me any indication of what was going on. Of course, he didn’t. He just held my gaze as he stood there in his classic gray suit with its gleaming crown lapel pin. The pin that was a symbol of working for the elders. “The pretty young lady you had over here the other day.”
“Sienna.”
“Yes, that was her name. How did you two meet?”
“She is from Sicily. We met years ago, but when we moved, we lost touch and—”
“Now she’s here.” She finished my sentence.
“Nonna, you’ve never been one to dance around a topic. If you have something you wish to say, I’m listening.”
“Forgive me, but you must understand my questioning. A stunning new female has caught your eye, and you bring her here. In all these years, you’ve never brought a woman here. I must say, I’m curious.”
I gently set my knife and fork down and tried to see it from her point of view.
“This is true, I haven’t, but she’s different.”
“How?”
I thought for a moment before I answered her. “We have a very deep history, Nonna. She isn’t after our money or our land. I know she’s with me for me.”
Nonna dabbed at the corners of her mouth then tossed her napkin next to her half-eaten plate.
“So, you know everything about this girl?”
“Yes.” I studied her face and wished she’d relax. Sienna was the last person to be a threat to our world. “I love her,” I stated so that she knew where I stood on the topic.
Her face dropped, but she quickly recovered. “I see.”
“I know she isn’t the woman you wanted me to be with, but I don’t have any love for Anna. We are too different, and I’m not going to be pushed into an arranged marriage. I’m sorry. I know that was how it was for you, and I only hope that you, at some point, loved Papa. But, Nonna, I love Sienna, and I will marry her.”