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My eyes widened with shock. I had never heard Nonna speak like that.
Angelo’s response was to bow his head. “Her skin is my skin,” he said simply.
Nonna rose to her feet. “Anyway, I have some chamomile tea waiting for me, so I better get to it.” She went over to my father. Her hand reached out and touched his face.
I had never seen her act so loving in public before.
My father still held the gun, limply, all the fight gone out of him.
“Once you stop being angry, you will realize that this arrangement is a dream come true. I couldn’t have hoped for a better future for this family or Sienna.” Then she turned around and exited the room.
Angelo spoke. “I am deeply sorry you had to find out about me and Sienna this way. If I could turn back the clock that is the only thing I would change. I would come into your study and tell you everything and make my intentions clear. I promise to cherish her to the best of my ability and to remain loyal to you to the day I die.”
My father fell back heavily into his seat. Suddenly, he looked old, frail and alone. “I’m tired. Go now, both of you, but come for dinner later and we’ll talk some more.”
I felt almost sorry for him as I ran to my father’s side and knelt next to him. “Papa?”
He looked at me and seemed to search my eyes.
“I love him with all my heart, papa.”
He nodded slowly. “Yes, yes, I can see that.”
“I love you, Papa.”
“Hmmm … yes. Go now.”
I placed a light kiss on his cheek. His skin felt a little cold and I felt a sight frisson of alarm. “Are you okay, Papa?”
“Yes, I’m just a little tired.” He smiled. “Looks like I was wrong, little one.”
“It’s the price of being human,” I consoled.
“Quite.” He paused. The words seemed to get stuck in his throat, but he got them out, “I’m sorry.”
I threw my arms around him in a big bear hug. “Oh, Papa. You never need to say sorry to me ever. I owe everything to you. I know you were just trying to do the best you could for me. It’s just that I found a better solution for me.”
“Yes, it looks like you did. Run along now.”
I rushed to Angelo, took his hand and we went out of the study. “Wait here for me,” I said to him at the foot of the stairs and I ran up the stairs to my mother’s room. I knocked once and she called enter.
When I went in, she was lying on her daybed and doing something on her iPad. “Hello dear,” she greeted with a big smile. It was astounding how completely my father kept her away from any kind of unpleasantness … his way of showing his love.
I knelt beside her. “Mama, papa needs you.”
She frowned. “Why? What has happened?”
“Don’t worry. Nothing bad has happened, but papa just needs you. He’s in his study.”
She scrambled off the daybed and hurried downstairs with me. She gave Angelo a distracted smile and hurried towards my father’s study.
I turned to look up at Angelo.
He winked at me. “I told you we shouldn’t run.”
“Don’t you even dare gloat,” I said. “We could have ended up dead. If Nonna hadn’t stepped in who knew how things would have gone?”
“I had a plan, Sienna. A solid plan that included bringing together our two families. I already called my brother and started discussing it. If your grandmother hadn’t walked in I would have revealed exactly what I had in mind to your father. As it happens I will do so at a more appropriate time.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Yeah, that reminds me. I have a bone to pick with you. When were you planning to tell me you were a Messana?”
“I told you I was from a mafia family.”
I made a scoffing sound. “Was from a Mafia family? There are hundreds of tiny Mafia families. It’s a far cry from being the youngest son of the head of Messana house, isn’t it?”
He grinned. “I didn’t want you to love me for my money.”
“Wow,” I said, pretending to be sarcastic, even as scorching joy rushed into my chest. “You’re even more insane than I am.”
“I have become a bit insane ever since you dove into the pool to catch my attention.”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Excuse me? I didn’t dive into the pool to catch your attention. I fell in. Accidentally.”
He bowed his head mockingly. “I believe you.”
“You really know how to sweep a girl right off her feet, don’t you?”
“Not any girl. Just you.”
“So ... what now?” I asked.
“Now, I have to return home and make my peace with my family. Then I will come for you.” He stared into my eyes.
