She’s laughing at something Stefano says while the staff places plates in front of each person.
Then I look back at Maverick.
“Without hesitation,” I admit.
He shakes his head slightly, like he thinks I’m insane for trusting him.
Maybe I am.
But I do trust him.
Maverick leans down and presses his lips to my temple in a soft, almost reverent kiss.
My breath catches.
Around us, the room keeps moving.
Laughter.
Voices.
The scent of garlic, basil, fresh bread, and something rich simmered in tomatoes.
For one second, all I feel is his mouth against my skin.
Then he pulls back and looks down at his waiting family.
That’s when I realize the entire table’s gone still.
No one has touched their food.
No one has so much as taken a drink.
They’re all waiting for him.
Waiting for theDon.
Maverick’s hand rests lightly at the back of my chair.
His voice carries through the room.
“Eat.”
Just one word, and the whole table moves.
“Wow,” I say softly. “That’s some power you hold. How long would they have waited?”
“Until I gave my word,” Maverick says. “I hate it, but I lost that battle long ago.”
“It’s a respect thing,” the woman beside me says. “We’ve all been taught since birth to honor theDonof the family. During formal meals, that means waiting for his approval before eating.”
“Well, technically, we were taught to wait foril Donto start eating first,” another woman says from a few seats down. “But ourDonisn’t typical.”
Maverick sighs.
She smiles at him, entirely unafraid. “He would never take care of his own needs before his family’s. Not even at the dinner table. So we eventually got him to agree to a release word, for lack of a better term.”
I glance at Maverick.
