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Construction was supposed to be our trade, but it was all a sham. Did we even build anything? The closer I dug into the projects that were coming across my desk, the more I wondered if our business was just a front. We were losing sight of everything—our company, our family, and most of all, our pride. We’d given so much to the Morellis over the years, and all they did was take.
My dad looked as though he’d aged fifteen years in less than six months. Living in constant fear of retribution had taken its toll on my mother. Even I was starting to lose my patience with it all. We were too involved, too deep into the Morelli way of life.
“You need me, Daddy. Let me help you until we can figure a way out of this mess.”
He knew what I meant without saying it aloud. I silenced him when he attempted to argue.
“I don’t want to fight about it. Not tonight. Let’s enjoy ourselves and pretend like we’re normal. We will work through this together.”
“You’re right, sweetie.” My dad rose to his feet, leaving the empty glass on the table. “How about a dance?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the dance floor and smiled. Save for a few people, the space was mostly empty.
I patted my mom on the back. “Dance with Dad. He’s looking for a partner.”
My mom finished off another glass of champagne and smiled up at my father. “We haven’t danced in ages. I was telling Gianna about the time we stole the wine bottle and went to Penn’s Landing. Do you remember?”
Dad laughed and held out his hand to my mom. “How could I forget? That was the night I fell in love with you.” He smiled. “Bianca, come with me. We can steal a bottle of wine from the bar.”
I’d forgotten how cute my parents could be together. It made me happy but also sad on the inside. I was afraid I would grow apart from Angelo the way my parents had over the years. His business and influence from the Mafia was the reason for my mother’s constant unrest.
“How about we do it as a family?” Mom tapped her fingers on my shoulder. “Join us, Gianna.”
Angelo’s brothers were no longer at our table. It was just my parents and I. “Okay.”
As promised, my dad swiped a bottle of wine from the bar and led us to the dance floor. We took turns drinking from the bottle. My dad spun my mother and me in circles. It was almost perfect, save for the fact we had the Morellis watching us from a distance. They were always observing every move we made.
“Can I cut in?” Angelo asked my dad after the sixth song. He held out his hand to me. “May I?”
“You may.” I smiled and slid my hands up his chest, hooking my arms around his neck.
Angelo’s hands found my waist, his fingers digging into my hips. He whipped me around the floor as if we did this all the time. His movements were fluid, effortless, and I let him guide me. I rested my head on his chest, drifting off to the sound of his heart and the gentle hum of the music.
I felt his warmth, his love. I felt everything he had to offer. It was moments like those when I reminded myself why I fell for my blue-eyed boy. He was my white knight and the man of my dreams, even if he came in a different package.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered against the shell of my ear. “By far the most beautiful woman in this room.”
I glanced up at him, watched him give me a rare smile, and tightened my grip on him. “You don’t look so bad yourself. Did you take care of business?”
He nodded.
“Are you mine for the rest of the night?”
He nodded again, steering us back to where my parents were dancing.
“I need a smoke,” my mother said to my father.
“Those things will kill you, my dear.”
She ignored his comment, and then she tugged on my arm. “Gianna, come outside with us. It’s beautiful out on the balcony. You will love it.”
I wasn’t a fan of smoking or the smell of it. But she was so persistent. I looked at Angelo, and he shrugged. I had him for the rest of the night.
The three of us followed my mother outside. She was so bubbly and full of life tonight. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen her so happy.
She ran her long fingers down my father’s arm with a smile. “Dance with me under the moon, Lorenzo.”
“I think you’ve had too much champagne,” he said to her. “But I’ll be happy to oblige.”
