Gotcha, Daddy.
He envelops me in his arms, but it’s brief with a clap on the shoulder and that’s it.
Frederico walks up, almost shoving my father out of the way to get to me. He bends down to kiss my cheeks, and I return the gesture.
“Ciao, bellissima. How are you? It’s been forever since I’ve heard from you.”
He sounds different than usual—his tone the tiniest bit harsher—and I wonder if something happened? I’ve been gone for a while now.
I nod. “Yeah, I know. My phone got lost during the attack at the bar, and I realized I barely have any numbers memorized.”
I don’t tell him that I have a new phone, or that I never even had the desire to call anyone other than Ally and Luna.
He leans in and lowers his voice. “How have you been? Are you all right?”
His gaze goes over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing.
Is Matteo still behind me? I didn’t notice him moving anywhere else.
I’m not surprised Matteo’s getting some nasty looks, everyone’s probably irritated with him for keeping me away from the family. They don’t know about the whole situation with Nikolai or that the engagement to Ally is a total sham. My family will flip a lid when they find out. Although it might not be half as bad as if they heard about my cousin being involved with someone from the Russian Mafia. If that came to light, heads would be rolling for sure.
Frederico touches my arm, and I start. He frowns at me.
I laugh it off, because what else am I going to do or say? Please don’t touch me since the only man who’s allowed to touch me is the guy who’s engaged to my best friend and cousin, and who’s kind of been keeping me hostage until she’s back, even if he actually never did anything to keep me from leaving? Oh, and I’ve also had incredible sex with him and can’t get enough?
Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well.
So I laugh some more and shake my head like I’m just being silly. “Of course, sorry. I was just lost in thought. But I’m okay, promise.”
“Are you sure? You aren’t hurt or anything, right?”
I shake my head some more. “No, he’s been very good to me.”
Frederico stares at me, his eyes turning into tiny slits.
I clear my throat. “You know, after the shooting and all . . . with my injury.”
His jaw muscles flex before a tight smile takes over his face, without ever reaching his eyes.
“Gemma.” Matteo’s voice brings my attention to the table, where he’s waiting for me. “Come sit.”
He stands behind a chair, his fingers biting into the high back of it as he waits for me to take a seat.
I look around, momentarily confused by the fact that my family occupies the booth, and that there isn’t another chair around. Matteo continues to stand behind my chair, the one that’s situated right at the head of the table, with everyone staring at me. It’s almost like I’m their queen and they should bow down to me.
A surge of something strong flows through my body at that image, something electric, the feeling unfamiliar yet comforting. It has me straightening my spine and lifting my chin a little higher.
The feeling mostly dissipates the instant my father opens his mouth, but the smallest particle remains, allowing me to meet my father’s gaze head-on.
“Well, Gemma, Emilio and I have a surprise for you. We’ve been keeping it a secret because we were hoping to do it with the entire family gathered around us, but we couldn’t have predicted the circumstances, and Emilio is needed back in Italy to handle an emergency situation over there.”
The two of them lock eyes and grin, while I’m trying my best to keep the contents of my stomach inside my body.
Frederico shifts in his chair too, his eyebrows in a deep furrow. He doesn’t know what’s going on either?
That can’t be a good sign.
“But when Emilio is back in two weeks, you’re going to marry him. And afterward, he’ll take you back to Italy with him. The whole family will be so proud.” My dad rubs his hands together like this is the best news, or at the very least, like this is the best contract he’s ever signed, which might as well be true.