Page 44 of Protecting Olivia

Essa’s brow lifted, and she studied me. “You call me Ma. And family is never an imposition, ragazza dolce. Come, let’s go check on the kitchen. Bella has been in there too long by herself. You never know what that girl will do.”

I was stuck in place, as panic washed over me. This fear was worse than knowing someone was trying to kill me. Leo’s mom had demanded I go with her, alone. There was no invitation in her tone, she was not asking me to follow her. She was telling me I was to follow her. I had never done this before. The whole meet the parents thing. Leo loved his mom. What if she hated me and I screwed this all up?

“You’ll be fine. She’s going to love you,” Leo whispered into my hair.

Essa was standing across the room waiting for me to follow her. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Time to pull up my big girl panties and meet the family.

I woodenly followed Essa into the kitchen. A slender girl with long wavy dark hair was bent over a cutting board chopping more garlic.

“No more garlic, Figlia. You’ll give everyone the sweats,” Essa told the girl.

I was going to have to pick up a handy-dandy English to Italian pocket dictionary. I knew more French than Italian. So far, I was able to keep up with Essa. She called the girl, figlia – daughter. This had to be Arabella.

“Ma, it needs more.” Arabella stopped chopping to look at her mom and noticed me. “Who’s this?” she asked.

“Your brother’s wife,” Essa answered.

I nearly choked on my tongue.

Wife!

“Mrs. Gillonardo, we’re not married,” I sputtered. What on earth gave her the idea we were married?

“Ma, you call me, Ma, like all of my other children,” Essa corrected. “Something you need to understand, I did not raise my boy to be a boyfriend. I raised him to be a husband. Do you understand?”

“No,” I admitted.

I had no idea what Essa was talking about, and frankly, she was freaking me out.

“I mean, my son has never brought a woman to meet me. And certainly would never think to sit a woman at my table that he didn’t indeed to keep. He is a husband. I have been waiting for you, Figlia. Waiting for my son to bring me his wife. You are one more piece that will complete this family. Gillonardo men, they are strong and stubborn, and you will have to learn to stand up to him and when to concede. My boys are their father’s sons; when they find the woman who was made for them, they will never let that woman go.”

“I don’t know if I’m that to him,” I admitted. All of what Essa said? I wanted that. I wanted to be the woman that was made for Leo. “He only met me a few days ago. I think he brought me here because he missed you.”

“Do you love my son?”

Holy shit. I was having the “Do you love my son” talk with Leo’s mom ten minutes after meeting her.

“Yes,” I whispered. Realization dawned that I wasn’t falling in love with him. I was in love with him, and the thought of not being with him would leave a gaping hole in my soul that would never go away.

“Good. I married my Marco two weeks after we met. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. I tried to fight and play hard to get. But it was no use. When a Gillonardo man wants something he…”

I cut her off and finished her sentence. “Has one speed. Full steam ahead.” I repeated what Leo had told me.

“Ah, yes, you already know.” Essa laughed. “Good, I see my boy has prepared you. Welcome to the family, my darling girl. I am pleased my son has chosen well. Though, Gillonardo men, they have impeccable taste in women. There was never doubt you wouldn’t be perfect.”

I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say to her. Everything was happening so fast. I still had my doubts as to what was going on between me and Leo. The fairy tale that Essa spoke of sounded like wishful thinking of a mom that loved her son and wanted him to be happy.

I noticed that Arabella was no longer looking at me but over my shoulder. I turned my head to see what had caught her attention and three men stood behind me. They could’ve been triplets. All three were tall, but Leo was an inch at most taller than the other two. They all had the same olive skin and dark hair with matching green eyes. But it was Leo I couldn’t take my eyes off of. I wasn’t sure if he was mad at me, or his mom, or both of us. I didn’t know how much of the conversation he had heard, but by the look on his face, it had been a lot.

Well damn. Now, what did I do?

“Now that Ma has scared you shitless, do I need to take you in the other room for a minute before you run? Or would you like to meet my brothers?” Leo asked.

“I’m not going to run,” I assured him.

“Good. So, you’re still ready?” he asked.