Her fingertips worked over her rosary beads as she gazed over my shoulder. I knew she was only looking out for me, but nothing would change my feelings.
“What is her last name?”
“No.” I let out a long, controlled breath. “You will not dig, Nonna. You’re invading my personal life, and that’s not okay.”
“I have the right to know.”
I tossed my napkin on the table and stood. “I love you, but I am not my uncle. You can control him, but you can’t me.”
“Elio, sit.” She calmly pointed to the chair, and I waited a beat before I lowered into it. “I lost control once before, and it brought a level of darkness to the family that still needs to be watched very carefully.”
“When?” This was the first I’d heard of this.
“It’s not important.”
“I think it is.”
“You must always think of the family first, Elio, even before your heart. Think of your parents, your cousins. As difficult as it might be, it is your responsibility. Listen, all I ask is that if you wish to marry this girl, before you ask her, simply dig a little. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s protection for the family.” I started to speak, but she stopped my words as she reached over and covered my hand with hers. “You know you mean the world to me and I’m only trying to protect you.”
I pushed away my frustration and tried to remember that Nonna had been in this life longer than any of us. She was simply making sure I did my duty to the family.
“All right. I will.”
“Good.” She smiled, and sweet Nonna was back. “Now, finish up that delicious salmon. Your men should be arriving any moment.”
Once our lunch was finished, I took her by the arm and walked her down to the driveway. I was happy she wanted to join me in my interviews. Nonna and I had always been close, and I trusted her with any decision I had to make. She had always had my back when others hadn’t. That was why our conversation bothered me. Maybe I should understand what happened to Sienna in the last ten years. Maybe there was something there that could come back and hurt the family. What kind of an example would I be as a leader if I didn’t apply the same rules to my own life?
One of the house maids approached us. She handed Nonna a cotton umbrella, providing her with some much-needed shade. I stood on a step next to the driveway and looked down at the drivers in front of us. If I was going to keep Sienna safe, she needed a driver I could trust.
One by one, I tested the skills of the drivers, and I quizzed them on the many situations that could occur. I even tested their reaction when they understood who they’d be driving. One man’s pupils dilated with interest when he saw her photo, and he was immediately eliminated.
Three hours later, I still hadn’t found anyone I would hire. I glanced over at Nonna, who was now sitting in a chair Abramo had brought for her. She shrugged as if all were hopeless in her eyes, too.
When the last man was told to go home, Nonna spoke quietly to Abramo, and he quickly disappeared.
“No man will ever be safe enough for the woman you love.” She patted my arm. “So, my gift to you is…” She paused as Abramo pulled up in her old classic Paul Brown Jaguar MK2.
“She might be old and a little dusty,” she pointed to the car, “but I can assure you those windows have been reinforced, and the doors could take a semi-automatic head-to-head. Abramo’s skills are being wasted here at the house, and I think he could be just what you’re looking for. Trustworthy, older,” she smirked, “and will take a bullet for her, as he would for any of us. There’s a reason he’s been around for as long as he has.”
I’d never thought of Abramo for Sienna. He was, after all, Nonna’s right-hand man. He certainly hadn’t been on my radar.
“What about you, Nonna?”
“You know I don’t leave the property much, and if I were to, I’m sure Sienna and I could come to some kind of arrangement.”
“I like the idea of you getting to know her better.”
“Me too.”
“To a point.” I gave her a sharp look.
“Can’t blame your Nonna for caring about her favorite grandson.”
“Well, when you put it like that.” I laughed as I glanced at my vibrating phone and agreed to take on Abramo as Sienna’s new driver.
Vinni: We need to leave.
We had dropped off the grid for three days and stayed low while Oscar assessed the situation at hand. Before I saw Sienna again, I needed to know we were wrong about the assumptions we had made. It could have been nothing, but my nephew Ugo thought he had spotted someone from our past, and after what happened with the bombing, I couldn’t risk anything else happening, especially with Sienna. Though we had come up emptyhanded, something told me the wolves weren’t far away.