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“Good morning.” Rocco walked up and looked between the three of us before he pulled some icing off of the cake with his finger, making a loud sucking noise as he cleaned it off. Delighted with my misery, he eyed me over Daniello’s shoulder. “You are pale, Taylor. Should I put you down for a nap?”
“Donato,” Daniello snapped, “if she is threatened again by this animal, I will withdraw my offer.”
Donato nodded and turned on Rocco. “This is a party, Rocco, careful of your manners. I have grown fond of Taylor Ellison.”
Rocco gave Daniello a wicked grin. “Happy to, boss. I would say this is more of a celebration, wouldn’t you, Uncle?” He turned back to Daniello and me. “I hope you brought a party dress, Taylor.”
“Do not look at her. Do not speak to her,” Daniello seethed. “She will be gone by nightfall.”
I moved from behind him and glared at them both. “I’ll be staying. Let’s break out the champagne.”
Donato laughed as Rocco stared on. “You will be gone or dead by nightfall, whore.” In a sudden move, Daniello was in front of Rocco, his hands on his throat, and then they were both on the ground. Rocco’s eyes bulged as Donato stepped over them and shrugged. “Boys will be boys.”
Rocco gasped and gripped Daniello’s hands as Donato moved toward me, oblivious to the struggle on the ground. “I meant it, Bella. I owe you. Sometimes it takes the love of a good woman to change a man. He has been gone for far too long, and you have brought him home.” Rocco twisted his body in an attempt to get away from Daniello. Donato glanced back at Daniello, who clearly had the upper hand. “He will be the greatest asset to the family. We will go far.”
I watched the men fight behind him as I spoke. “He doesn’t want this. Doesn’t that matter to you?”
Clicking his tongue, he scolded me. “Oh, Bella, did we not just agree days ago that family is everything?” He pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it at my face. “Enough, Daniello.”
Daniello looked our way and released Rocco as he gasped on the ground, his white suit soiled.
Daniello rushed toward us in a blur. “Goddamn you, Donato! Take the gun from her face.”
“Ah, so this woman really is your weakness, Amon.” Donato’s brows furrowed as he morphed into the most dangerous of men. “Watch your mouth; I will not tolerate disrespect.”
“Daniello!” A woman’s voice broke the tension as Donato sheathed his gun and his face twisted into a smile, the same warm smile I knew to be an illusion, as he greeted the woman with Daniello’s eyes who held a baby on her hip. She looked down at a recovering Rocco, who was still gasping. “Rocco, did you get burned by Daniello again?” She laughed as she looked over to her brother, whose face was deadly. “I see you are in the same mood you’ve been in for years, dear brother.”
Tula.
Her eyes found me next. “Ah, this must be the mystery American.” She moved toward me with kind eyes and extended her hand. “Tula. I’m this giant ass’s sister.”
I extended a shaky hand her way. She took it and scowled at the men around her. “Why is she upset? Who is responsible?” She shook her head and bounced the baby, who was so perfect she looked like a living doll. “Just ignore them.” Her accent was thick, but her English was perfect. She seemed to read my thoughts as well as her brother could. “I was born in Italy. And I hate to say it, but I think Italians have a better temperament than Egyptian men. I’ve lived through it to tell the story.”
Her eyes reassured me in a way her casual conversation couldn’t. I knew she was trying to tame the fire. I felt consolation in her soft eyes before she surveyed the giant icing covered masterpiece on the table. “Donato, what a beautiful cake. Thank you.”
Donato took a step toward Tula and eyed the baby on her hip. “My pleasure. Let me have her.”
He took the baby and sat with her in one of the chairs next to the table as Rocco stood and brushed his pants off before he shot a glare in my direction. Just like Laz, he was highly delusional and seemed to blame his issues on me. I was over it.
I took a step toward him. “This isn’t over.”
“Yes, it is.” He turned to Tula with a smile. “Let me get changed and I will be back for the party.” He nodded in Donato’s direction before he made his way down a path past the olive trees. Daniello watched his retreat before he turned to me. His eyes said it all. This was his life. This was his fate. This was everything he didn’t want, and it was because of our relationship he would continue to live in his personal hell. He had risked just as much as I had to be with me. We were mirrored, but he had ended my nightmare with his sacrifice. I heard the tires of several cars arriving in the distance, and minutes later, several men in white aprons began to drop off food. Daniello and I desperately scanned each other as Tula chatted with Donato.
“Where is your Capo, Tula?
“He will be along with the rest of the children shortly.”
“Ah,” Donato said. “You left him with eight children?”
“He is the one who made it this way.” Donato chuckled as if he hadn’t a single care in the world.
Daniello moved to stand next to him. “A word, Uncle.”
“After the party,” he dismissed as he continued to bounce the baby in his lap. His eyes found mine. “I am sure there is something more suitable for you to wear, Taylor.”
“Not at my daughter’s party, Donato, do you hear me?!” Tula spouted off before she turned to her brother. “Daniello, take Taylor to change,” she demanded as she nodded toward the door. The Italian began to spill between the two of them before we were a step away. It was an argument, of that I had no doubt. Tula towered over Donato as she rapidly berated him while he smiled on at the child on his lap. Something she said struck a nerve with Donato, and I could see the opposition in him begin just befor
e Daniello pulled me into the house.
