Page 47 of Lorenzo

Seeing my reaction, she’s quick to change her tune.

“But that was before he married you,” she rushes out. “I’m sure he’s different now.”

“I’m not so sure. You do know ours is an arranged marriage,” I begin. “Temporary. Just for a short period of time …”

Gina shrugs. “Yes. I heard something about the brothers needing your uncle’s cooperation on a business matter. But what Dante and I have is the real deal,” she says, fingers touching her belly. “When our son is born, we’ll be a real family.”

“What was your life like before your marriage? Did you go to school? Work?”

“Both,” she says. “I’d been a caricature artist since I was a child. Sold my etchings in the park initially, later online. I majored in art at UC Irvine, and I studied here at the Academy of Visual Arts.”

A genuine, satisfied smile breaks open on her face.

“But my most important contribution was designing a wall mural for the Ricci brothers’ restaurant.”

“Dante and Lorenzo have a restaurant?”

Gina nods. “Yes. Luca, their youngest brother, is part of it too. He’s in Boston but he’ll be moving back here after graduation.”

“Is the restaurant open yet?”

“No. We hoped the restaurant would open later this year. Now we’re not certain it will open at all.”

“Why?”

Gina shrugs and waves her hand. “Your usual restaurant build-out drama. Then add on a complicated pregnancy …”

I look at her with new concern. “Is there trouble with the baby?”

“We had a scare early on,” she says, unconsciously stroking her stomach. “The doctor wants me to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible until the little guy’s born. So I couldn’t continue with the restaurant without risking the pregnancy.”

She hesitates.

“And with Lorenzo now tasked with managing the casino as well as the club, no one can step up to the plate to manage the restaurant project.”

“But it’s just a temporary problem, right? When your son’s born you can continue your work…”

“Yes. But by then it would be too late,” she says. “I’d love for you to see my murals. Have plans today?”

“Today is perfect. But you’re on bed rest …”

She makes a motion with her hand. “The doctor said it’s okay to go out from time to time,” she says, turning to Ciro.

“Can you arrange for the car to take us to the restaurant this morning?”

Ciro shoots her a look. “You know that I must ask Mr. Dante, considering your condition.”

“Then ask him,” Gina says. “I want Emily to see my murals.”

She looks directly at me.

“It’s important.”

CHAPTER 20

EMILY

As soon as Ernesto swings the limousine up Tenth Avenue, a large restaurant comes into view.