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Michael blows out a breath, "Are you sure about this?"
"Are you questioning me, Michael?" she asks in a deceptively soft tone that mirrors the one Michael often uses to get his way.
Michael stiffens, then a reluctant chuckle rumbles up his chest. "You are one hell of a woman, Nonna." He reaches around me to take her hand, "If it will make you happy..."
"It will." The older woman nods her head as a smile forms on her face. "Now that you are married," she glances between us, "it's time for me to focus on getting the rest of your brothers hitched, too."
Michael groans, "I’m glad I am no longer in the line of fire."
"You were smart enough to snap up your soulmate when you met her. Now, I need to make sure your brothers follow your lead. Also," that same wicked gleam reappears in her eyes, "I’m hoping that spending a few days in each other's company will help us strengthen our familial ties... If we don’t kill each other first, that is."
I chuckle, Michael laughs, and Nonna's face lights up with a proper smile. "Now, where's my drink?"
As if summoned, Cassandra walks toward us with a tray of prosecco flutes. I take a glass and hand it to Nonna. She accepts it, sniffs it, then raises her eyebrows at me. "Is this—?"
I nod, "It’s your favorite."
I take a glass for myself, then smile my thanks at Cassandra. She turns, then stops when Adrian walks onto the terrace. She seems to steel herself, then walks past him. He turns and his gaze tracks her until she disappears from sight. He turns, catches me staring and a small smile tugs at his lips. He walks over to the bar just as Luca steps onto the terrace. He glances around and his gaze collides with Michael’s. The tension in the air ratchets up. I glance over my shoulder to find Michael scowling.
"Be nice, Don," I murmur.
He blows out a breath. "It’s going to take some getting used to, but family is family after all, eh?" He walks past me and meets Luca half-way on the terrace. The two men murmur in low voices, then Michael jerks his chin. "Get us some Macallan," he calls out to Massimo, who’s behind the bar. Massimo raises his thumb in a 'will do' gesture, then goes back to pouring.
"Good to see Michael making an effort," I remark.
Nonna turns to me, "You’re good for him."
"Oh?" I meet her gaze, "Are you being sarcastic?"
"Do I look like I am being sarcastic?" She tilts her head. Her faded blue eyes twinkle, and again, I see so much of Michael in her that I can’t stop the smile that curves my lips.
"No," I chuckle, "that sounds like a real compliment."
"It is." Nonna raises her glass, and so do I. We clink, and I take a sip. Notes of cherry and vanilla pop on my palate as the crisp taste of the Prosecco slides down my throat.
"Mmm," I lick my lips, "that’s so good."
"My husband used to get me a bottle for every celebration." She stares at her flute with a soft look in her eyes. "Roberto was a typical Mafioso, as macho as they come, but he always remembered what I liked."
"He loved you?"
"He did," she raises her glass to her lips, "in his own way." She glances past me and frowns. "Who is that with Christian?"
I turn to find Christian walking into the family gathering, Aurora’s arm tucked into his, his hand on hers. Either in a soothing gesture...or in one meant to control her, maybe?
He pauses a little way inside of the entrance. When Cassandra walks over with a full tray of Prosecco, he picks up a flute and hands it to Aurora, who accepts it. She's also wearing a beautiful silk dress that clings to her curves and flows to below her knees. On her feet are six-inch heels which are very different from the sensible wedges I normally see her in. She seems...different... Like a mafioso's woman. She glances at me, then away.
Huh? What’s happening here?
Aurora downs the prosecco in one go. She places the glass back on Cassandra's tray, reaches for another, but Christian wraps his fingers around her wrist and stops her. He leans in, whispers something in her ear as Cassandra walks away.
Aurora shoots him a glance full of hatred; Christian chuckles.
What the hell? What's happening between these two?
Christian straightens, then he turns and walks toward us.
"Christian Roberto Domenico Sovrano," Nonna narrows her gaze on him, "just the person I am looking for."
