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His mother sits across from us and watches our exchange with a big smile but doesn’t comment on our obvious spark. Instead, she brings us back down to earth with her seriousness. “I’m sure my son has told you that I was very close to your mother, Liliana DeLuca. She was like a little sister to me. She was your age when she met the love of her life, your father, Frankie Romano. They met when she was singing for me at my twentieth birthday party here in this very house. They fell in love almost instantly. A fairytale story, really. He made her the happiest I’d ever seen her and that happiness never faded. They married right away, the fastest engagement I'd ever seen, and soon after she had your brother, Luca.” This entire time I’ve been holding myself back from interrupting her, especially when she says my mother was a singer! But when she says I had a brother I can’t stop the words.
“I… I have a brother? Please,pleasetell me he’s alive.” Despite promising myself I wouldn’t cry anymore, I feel the tears flowing freely and try as I might, I can’t help the hope that blooms in my heart. A brother! I could have a brother out there somewhere and I have to find him.
"We don't know where Luca is," a deep, gravelly voice says from the doorway behind us.
Gavriel stands, taking me with him, and leads us toward the man who could only be his father. He's an older carbon copy of Gavriel and Marco. He has the same black hair but peppered with sliver throughout. He’s tall and broad-shouldered like his sons, wearing a three-piece suit. Tan skin with lines between his brows, as if he’s normally glowering, and though his black eyes shine with kindness, I can easily see the Mafia Boss within him. Like his wife, he radiates dominance, only his feels more predatory and barely contained. It has the hair on the back of my neck standing.
I can see where Gavriel gets his deadliness from.
"Father, this is—"
“Anastasia Romano.” Mr. Renzetti interrupts, looking me straight in the eyes with his cold gaze. It makes me want to look away, but I've never been one to back down from a challenge. I stare at him while my fingers twitch for my blade.
I can see the kindness but damn! His vibes feel like controlled danger.
Suddenly he smiles and relaxes his stance. “I can see Frankie’s lethal fire in her eyes, but she’s the perfect copy of Lily."
I relax and smile at him, now that I know he's not looking for a lie in my eyes.
He opens his arms, inviting me in for a hug, and steps forward. "My God, I thought—I thought you died.” He's stoic, but his voice breaks as he wraps his arms around me. He, just as his wife, feels like home. Like the father I never had. He pats my back and kisses the top of my head as we hug. I hear Martina quietly crying and laughing at the same time. This is a joyous moment. One I’ll never forget and hope to share with my brother one day.
“Are you hungry,figlia?”Ziaasks. “I cooked Alfredo earlier. I can warm you a plate or maybe some homemade bread?” She sounds like a doting mother trying to fatten me up. I love her already. I believe any Italian mother’s answer to most any situation is good food, but right now I desperately want to learn more.
Especially about my brother.
“Yes, I'd love some, but,Zia, I've spent my life without answers. Can you tell me more about my family first?” I don’t mean to sound pushy but being so close to answers, I can’t think of anything else.
“How about we tell you more while Martina warms up some food for you and we’ll have some wine as well, hmm?” Mr. Renzetti suggests. He puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me out the door but stops and says to Marco, “Figlio, take your girl up to a spare bedroom so she can rest peacefully. Make sure she has everything she needs. Once she's comfortable, come back down.”
Marco blushes but says, “Yes, Pop.” I see Carla is awake but fighting the effects of whatever was slipped in her drink. I look at her to make sure she’s okay and she gives me a wink and a nod. She’s had a crush on Marco since he came to the bar the night I sang to the Renzettis. I smile at her and blow a kiss.
On the walk to the kitchen I slip my hand into Gavriel’s and give it a squeeze, letting him know I haven’t forgotten him. He’s been my silent rock this whole time. Rubbing soothing circles on my knee and back while I learned about my family.
Once we’re in the kitchen I sit at the island with Gavi while his father opens a bottle of wine and his mother pulls plates out from the cabinet.
“Mr. Renzetti—” I start, but he stops me.
“No,ragazza. When you first learned to speak you called meZio. You can call me that or Andino, yes?”
Smiling, I say, “Zio, do you know what happened to my brother? Was he taken by the state as well? Maybe he’s out there somewhere.” He’s got to be somewhere, possibly looking for answers like me. Does he remember me? Maybe he’s looking for me! My mind is spinning with possibilities. To think that this entire time I had a brother out there and a family here who loved us but thought we were dead.
He hands me the long-stemmed wine glass and says, “A few hours ago I believed you had died, yet here you sit. You and your brother are only seven years apart, so I imagine he remembers more than you. I will personally start looking for him. It's possible, if he became a ward of the state, that he'd come back once he aged out of the system. Don't worry,principessa, your presence has given me hope. I'll begin the search tomorrow."
Gavriel appears to be deep in thought but then asks, "Didn't Liliana have a sister? Maybe we could find her and let her know Sia is alive and well."
Andino's stern voice makes me jump a bit. “No. We will not tell anyone who she is. I will personally look for Luca, but this information does not leave this room. We must make sure she and Luca have no enemies before going public. Is that understood?” His voice has gone cold and it sends a shiver through me.
Gavriel stiffens next to me and when I look at him, I see that his eyes have gone cold. The deadly look is frightening, but his words, damn, his words are a promise from the killer himself.
“I will not allow anything to happen to Sia. I'll kill anyone who dares try.” Looking at me, he says, “I promise.”
I swallow hard with a nod but ask, “Why would I have enemies? Were my parents like you all?” He finches a bit like he thought I was clueless to his family’s lifestyle.
“I know you all are, uh,cosa nostra. I got curious when people were posting things about me singing for thefamiglia.”
Looking almost unsure, Gavriel asks, “And that didn’t frighten you off?” He really thought I’d think badly of him? He doesn’t realize that it’s the opposite for me. How could I think wrongly of the only man I've crossed paths with who not only treats me with respect but cares enough to care?
No matter what life he lives or what choices he makes on the daily, I’ll willingly stand with him.
