My eyes grew wide when he opened the different cartons. Amo sank down across from me and held up a bottle of wine. I nodded, stunned by his consideration. After we clinked glasses, I piled my plate with hummus and pita, cucumber and avocado maki, and olives. All safe choices for me as a vegan.
We ate a few bites in silence. “You don’t eat meat?” Amo asked, motioning at the lamb shawarma on his plate.
“How do you know?”
“You scanned everything closely and you didn’t pick a single meaty starter.”
“I’m vegan.”
He narrowed his eyes in consideration then nodded. I allowed my eyes to roam the hall, trying to imagine past events. “This is where your father ripped out a man’s tongue for insulting your mother, right?”
Amo swallowed a piece of lamb and regarded me for a while as if he was trying to consider his reply. “Yes. I should have known you’ve heard about the gruesome stories of the Famiglia. Next time I’ll pick a different place.”
“Is there going to be a next time?” I asked as I ripped a piece off the pita bread and dunked it in the hummus.
Amo leaned back in his chair, ignoring his food. The way he looked at me made me feel impossibly hot. “I want there to be many more times.”
I wanted the same thing but he was supposed to marry in three weeks, and my family would never allow me to see Amo. I couldn’t see how we could make this happen, make us happen. As if Amo could sense the direction of my thoughts, he shook his head. “Only the moment counts.”
I smiled slightly.
“Are you going to dance for me?” Amo let his eyes glide over me. “You put on your ballet clothes after all.”
“If you want me to dance, I’ll do it. Do you have a special wish?”
Amo smiled wryly. “I don’t know that much about ballet, but maybe something from the Nutcracker? That’s one of the most famous ballets, right?”
“One of many, yes,” I said. I took my phone from my purse and picked the music then turned up the volume. My belly tightened with nerves when I put down the phone and walked a few steps away from the table and chairs to have room for my dance. Dancing in front of others always gave me a great deal of anxiety but the look on Amo’s face calmed my nerves. I closed my eyes when the first familiar notes rang out. This felt like one of the most special dances in my life and I wanted to pour all my passion and feelings into it.
The moment Greta had mentioned this place’s blood-thirsty past, I’d regretted my choice of having our date here, even if our choices were very limited. Now, with Greta standing amid the decrepit hall in her light pink tutu the contrast hit me like a sledgehammer. Her beauty and kindness in a building known for its ugly brutality. She lifted her arms as if pulled by strings, her body almost adrift as it moved to the notes from her mobile. The quality wasn’t the best and the vast hall didn’t carry the music very well, but I still sat in awe and watched Greta become one with the music. She twirled and jumped, raised her leg high above her head.
I could have watched her all night. When she held out her hand to me, I got up and let her pull me away from the chair. With her hand in mine, she circled me and I turned with her, as if I was pulled by invisible strings. She smiled brightly when I followed her lead and when she leaped toward me, I caught her by the waist automatically and lifted her. She seemed to fly over my head, her legs and arms extended elegantly. And then she let out a delighted laugh, light and carefree, and peered down at me with pure joy in her eyes. Slowly I lowered her back to the ground in front of me. She held my gaze and every creak of the old building, the distant sound of engines and sirens, everything faded to the background. “I’m going to kiss you.” I cupped her face, and kissed her. I snaked one arm around her waist and pulled her against me, needing her closer. Every time I met her, the pull got stronger. I’d never understood why people were willing to risk everything for someone who wasn’t close family, someone they barely knew but I finally began to understand.
Fabiano had been surprised when I’d asked him to take me to dinner with him but then he’d actually seemed relieved. Nevio had been furious at first but then an excited gleam had entered his eyes and I’d known he’d use his night off to do what he always did at night. Maybe I should have stayed with him to prevent the worst, but today I was being irrevocably selfish.
“You are tense,” I told Fabiano when we arrived in front of the townhouse where the Vitiellos lived.
Fabiano gave me a tight smile.
“Nothing for you to worry about. You are perfectly safe.”
“I know.”
He nodded once then we got out and walked up the stairs to the front door. Fabiano looked up to a camera above our heads and his expression was even tenser than before. I wondered why he’d agreed to have dinner with the Vitiellos if this bothered him so much.
I didn’t get the chance to ask him because the door swung open and Aria Vitiello stood before us with a bright smile. “Fabiano, Greta, welcome.”
I gave her a tiny smile. Behind her Luca Vitiello came into view. His expression was hostile when it settled on Fabiano and only slightly softened when he gazed down on me.
I swallowed but my anxiety turned to a nervous flutter in my belly when I stepped into the entrance hall where Amo was waiting beside his sister Marcella and his younger brother Valerio, who shared his mother’s blond hair and reminded me remarkably of Fabiano. Even if I hadn’t known Fabiano and Aria were siblings, I would have suspected it by their similar appearances.
I hovered a few steps from them, making sure I smiled at them all, and didn’t only stare at Amo. My body longed to be closer to him but I held back. Valerio gave me a brief grin. He was already much taller than me though he was three years younger than me. Marcella gave me a restrained smile. My gaze caught on the diamond ear clip that hid her missing earlobe. I usually wasn’t interested in gossip but the story of her kidnapping and her marriage to a biker had stirred up waves high enough to crash even through my bubble of obliviousness.
Amo’s eyes caught mine as we headed into the dining room, and my belly did another flip. I wanted to be alone with him.
I dragged my eyes away before someone noticed. Fabiano was busy glaring at Luca, and Aria was busy looking concerned so we were safe for now but I didn’t want to be too daring.
Soon the cook came in with trays loaded with food. Lamb. Roasted potatoes with pancetta. Creamy spinach with parmesan.