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None of them had any illusions about what he was.
None except Sofia, Cesare’s wife and their mother. It was for her that Rafe, Dante, Falco and Nick, Anna and Isabella maintained an illusion of peace with their father.
So when he commandeered the microphone, the Orsini offspring frowned at each other.
The brothers and brothers-in-law instinctively offered their wives protection from whatever their father might say.
Rafe put his arm around Chiara; Dante did the same with Gaby. Falco took a stance behind Elle and wrapped his arms around her waist. Nick reached for Alessia’s hand. Anna settled in the curve of Draco’s arm, Isabella in the curve of Rio’s.
The Orsini grandchildren—there were six of them by now—had long ago been put down for naps by their nannies.
Silence descended over the conservatory.
“This,” Cesare said into the mike, “is a very happy day.” He smiled and raised his champagne flute to Isabella and Rio. “Isabella, my daughter, your mama and I wish you and your new husband joy.”
Isabella nodded. “Thank you,” she said stiffly.
Cesare grinned slyly. “Can you imagine what might have happened if I had not told you that accepting a job as a landscaper was not the right thing for you to do, hmm?”
Isabella stared at her father. “What?”
“Ah, i miei amati figli, my beloved sons and daughters, you have no idea how much you mean to me.”
“He’s right,” Falco said, sotto voce, “we sure as hell don’t.”
“Shh,” Elle said softly, but she turned her face up to his and smiled.
“And you have no idea how much I respect you,” Cesare said. His voice wobbled and he cleared his throat. “None of you chose to follow in my footsteps, for which I am very, very grateful.”
A murmur swept through the room.
“When I was a young man, I dreamed of having children who would make your mama and me proud. And you have done exactly that. We are proud of you all.”
The murmur grew in intensity. Cesare cleared his throat again.
“You have chosen your professions and your mates wisely.
You are happy, and that is what we wanted most in this sometimes ugly world.” He turned to his wife and held out his hand. Sofia took it and stood beside him. He bent his head, whispered to her, and she smiled. “Your mama has something she wishes to say.”
Cesare took her hand and lifted it to his lips, which sent another murmur through the room. Sofia looked at her children and their spouses. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. She looked, Isabella would say later, like a bride herself.
“Your papa has told you how much we love you,” Sofia said softly. “How much we respect you for your choices.” She paused and looked up at her husband. “My wish for you all is that you will love each other as much as your father and I.”
This time, the murmur that went through the room was filled with amazement. Quiet, docile Mama, professing love for her crime boss husband?
Sofia put her hand on Cesare’s arm.
“I know it is difficult for you to understand. I know what your father is, what he has had to become. I know it in ways you cannot possibly comprehend and while I deplore the life he had to choose, I love him with all my heart.” She looked at each of her sons and daughters in turn. “And because we love each other, we hoped that you would all find love, too.” She paused. “But we began to worry—I—began to worry that you would not.”
Isabella stepped forward. “What are you talking about, Mama?”
“Cesare,” Sofia said, “you tell them, si?”
Cesare Orsini put his arm around his wife’s waist.
“Your mama was concerned. Our sons, she said, were too content with bachelorhood. Our daughters were even worse. One was sometimes arrogant and opinionated.”
Anna blushed. They couldn’t possibly mean her.
“The other was filled with quiet strength and courage, but unable to see her true self.”
Now, it was Isabella who blushed. Her new husband smiled and drew her to him.
“So,” Cesare said, “we looked around. We saw things. Heard things. We put our heads together. What kinds of situations would catch the interest of our sons? Our daughters? And then, we sent you on errands we hoped might change your lives.”
The Orsinis looked at each other. No. It was too much to absorb. Their parents, their quiet mother and tough father, playing cupid?
“Could it be true?” Isabella whispered to Rio.
Rio gathered his wife into his arms.
“I found you, didn’t I, bella mia? So, I would say, yes, when it comes to love, anything can be true.”
“Le nostre benedizioni su di voi e ai vostri figli,” Cesare said. “Our blessings on you and your children. And now, per favore, your mama and I would like to share the dance floor with you before this beautiful day ends.”
The band began to play. The tune was soft and haunting.
Rio led his wife onto the dance floor. Draco did the same with Anna. Rafe, Dante, Falco and Nick followed with their wives until the entire Orsini clan, Cesare and Sofia included, was waltzing to the beautiful music.
It was Anna who caught on first.
“Ohmygod,” she said to Draco, “it’s the theme from The Godfather!”
Everyone heard her. They all began to laugh.
“Now,” Isabella whispered to her bridegroom, and Rio grinned, swept his wife into his arms and carried her off into the night while his new family cheered.
