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“I assumed so. Does that mean you’re on board too?”
My father drank his wine and watched the two of us, being an observer of the conversation rather than a participant. He’d already said everything he needed to say, and now my mom was the last one to accept the circumstances.
“I trust your father’s instincts,” she said. “If he accepts him, then I can accept him too.”
The moment was so bittersweet I wasn’t sure if I could handle it. It took so much work to get to this moment, and it finally happened. I only wish Bones were there to see it. “Thank you…it means a lot to me.”
“But it’ll take a long time for us to trust him,” Mom said. “He’s welcome in our home and at the winery, and we’ll do our best to be kind and respectful. But prejudices like ours don’t just disappear. It takes a very long time for serious change to happen.”
“That’s fine,” I said quickly. “That’s more than enough. Take your time. Get to know him. Take five years if you need it. I know it’ll happen eventually, that you’ll love him like a son someday. You’ll love him the way you love Sapphire.”
“We spoke to your uncle about it,” my father said. “He’ll behave himself…as best he can.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. “I know that must have been hard for him.”
“The Barsettis are very stubborn and unforgiving,” my father said. “But we also love fiercely. We love you more than words can say…and we’re willing to do anything to make you happy.” He grabbed his wine again and took another drink, his eyes on me. “I just hope you understand the gravity of the situation, the enormous sacrifice we’ve made for you.”
“I do…” Tears almost built up in my eyes, but I made sure they stayed back. “What made you change your mind?” I thought my father would be even more stubborn once Bones was on his mission. I assumed it would make him angry, and he would only hate Bones even more.
My father stared at me for a long time, his gaze more intense than any words he could say. “Seeing how heartbroken you are when he’s gone. If he didn’t come back, I know how devastated you would be. If you love this man that much, I’m not going to keep him from you. Your mother doesn’t want to either.”
The air filled my lungs, full of relief and gratitude. My parents may not like the man I’d chosen, but they respected the love I had for him. They loved me enough that they wanted me to be happy, even if my partner was their last choice. “Thank you…for being so understanding. I know this has been hard for you, for all of us. But I promise you that you won’t regret it.”
“I hope not, sweetheart,” Mom said. “He’s been helpful around the winery, put up with your father and uncle, and apologized to me for what his father did. And he’s been honest since the beginning.”
“Which I respect,” my father added. “I respect a man who doesn’t lie, even when the truth makes him despicable. He’s never pretended to be something that he’s not. Because of that reason, I’m willing to give him a chance. He and I aren’t that different, unfortunately.”
“I know you’ll love him…in time,” I said.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t tell him what your mother and I have agreed on,” Father said. “I’d like to talk to him first.”
It wouldn’t be hard for me to keep that bottled inside since I couldn’t talk to him anyway. “Okay. I hope that conversation ends with a handshake.” Carmen was the only member of my family who had offered him the courtesy. Everyone else treated him like a criminal the day he set foot in our lives. I knew a handshake from my father would mean a lot to Bones after all the sacrifices he made.
My father didn’t give any indication that it would. “We’ll see.”
Ten
Bones
It was a clean shot.
The bullet pierced the skull and exploded out the other end. The target was dead before he hit the ground. The hit took place in his hotel room, where he was waiting for his escort to show up. With a wife and two kids waiting at home, I thought killing him at this specific time would lessen the blow to his wife.
He was a pig. Now she could take his money and move on.
I finished the job and headed to my hotel. My flight didn’t leave for six hours, and I hadn’t slept since I’d arrived. I’d been too busy staking out the place and finding the perfect position to place the rifle. I also had to meet our guy here to collect the guns and ammunition I needed for the hit.
I was constantly on the go.
