She lifts the tea to her lips. “Oh no. I plan on moving to Greece. Rhea has a private island, and that is where I want to spend my final years. Warm weather, beautiful scenery—and there's steady employment of young men.” Well, she knows how to live and how to die. I can’t complain. “I hear you have a gentleman caller?”
“‘Gentleman Caller?’ You’re not that old.” I take a sip of the tea. It’s nice and cuts through the hangover haze.
I haven’t talked to Grae since our big fight. He sent me a text this morning, thanking me for the chance to see the puppies and that he hopes we can talk soon. “He's only a temporary distraction.” I try to keep my voice even and devoid of emotion.
“Temporary? why?” She raises her eyebrow.
“Too many to list.”
“I’m old but not that old. I’ve got time to listen to your excuses.” Her glare reminds me of the power she still wields. The stern expression is like a billboard saying, “I’m not giving up, so it’s easier on both of us if you just tell me the truth.”
“My life is… chaotic and dangerous. He’s already been hurt by it.” He pushed me away twelve years ago to save me from a monster. And then he got caught in the Deviant's war against the Four Families—a civilian casualty in my battle. How can I prevent it from happening again?
She leans back in her chair and assesses me through squinted eyes. “Fear masked by noble intentions.” She places her teacup back on the table and starts drumming her nails. Each second is slow torture. “A few months ago, I asked you to deliver letters to my grandchildren. I’m well aware you completed that task. But have you ever read the one I sent to you?”
My eyes dart between the family pictures around the house. Meeting Nonna’s gaze feels impossible. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I try to avoid things that will hurt me,” I huff.
“And that’s why you are making this a fling instead of something serious.” Her lips purse. “You’ve been shot, stabbed and almost died. You’re doing a terrible job avoiding things which hurt you.”
Yep, I don't like this conversation.
“I’m not in the Four Families.” My shoulders straighten pressing hard against the back of the chair. “I shouldn’t be receiving letters from you. I have my own family.”
“You read what I wrote to my grandchildren, and you still think I wouldn’t include you?” She reaches for a short bread cookie and takes a bite, crumbs launching across the table, but she doesn’t care at all.
“I was hired by you.” The words burn in my throat. “This is a business relationship for me. To think otherwise is unprofessional.” And a false sense of hope and security which I couldn’t afford, no matter how I wanted it. But Nonna just scoffs.
“You are as much a part of this family as Jenny, Katya, Lance and Lukas. More so in some cases. You could have done your job and left, but this family is like barnacles. Once they get a hold of you, they’ll never let go.”
I blink, unsure of how to respond or feel about all of this. The bubble in my throat continues to grow, and my silence says all I can’t.
“If you don’t want to be family, I understand.” The old woman pats me on the hand. “But even then, you are a soldier for this family. And a soldier is only as strong as her conviction for what she’s fighting for. And when you fight with us, you fight for love.”
I raise my teacup and peer over it at her. I need to change this conversation. I can’t take this sentimental attention from Nonna. “Are you sure you aren’t trying to advocate for your grandson’s future?” Donny is the only one who hasn’t romantically interacted with his soulmate yet. And I plan on keeping it that way.
Nonna smiles, reading through me. “You shouldn’t keep happiness away from yourself to protect your heart or someone else's."
“I’m not trying to be a heartless bitch.” There are at least two reasons for every one of my actions, she should know that by now. Unless… “Do you even really know who he’s been matched with?”
“I know her legal name,” Nonna says. I take out my phone, tap and scroll a few times and slide it over to her.
She glances down at the screen, then squints and brings it to her face. She makes the sign of the cross and hands the phone back to me. “Oh, he’s not ready.”
“I know! And she’s not ready for him.” Nonna is silent for a moment, then taps the table.
“Still, don’t let this be the reason you run away from love.”
But I’ve spent my entire adult life running, how do I suddenly stop?
CHAPTER 32
Alana
Day 10
