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She sets her jaw, then shakes her head.
I glare at her, and she pales.
I jerk my chin. She glances away. Oh, you’re going to pay for your impudence, Flower, and you know it.
She turns to glance out of the window as the pilot announces that we are preparing to land.
13
Christian
Forty-five minutes later, we are in the living room of the main chalet in the complex of chalets that we own along with a lodge nearby.
We Sovranos don’t do anything in half-measures and this place is a testament to that. A Christmas tree tall enough to almost hit the roof occupies one corner of the room. It’s already decorated and the lights twinkle from its branches. Cassandra walks around the room, topping off our Prosecco glasses. As she passes Adrian, they exchange a look that seems to raise the temperature of the room. Clearly, he was mistaken when he said he doesn’t stand a chance with her.
The hair on the back of my neck prickles. I turn my head, and my gaze once more clashes with Flower’s golden one. She refuses to look away, and I raise my glass in her direction before taking a sip. I lick my lips, and her gaze drops to my mouth. Her chest rises and falls. Even across the distance, I sense the heat that flushes her cheeks and see her nipples outlined against the sweater dress that she’s wearing.
Then Michael clinks his knife against his glass. I hold her gaze for a second longer before I turn in his direction.
"Welcome to our first Sovrano Christmas getaway. It’s the first time we have all come together for a vacation in…" his forehead crinkles, "well, the first time ever, really." He raises a shoulder. "I have to admit that when Nonna first came up with this idea, I had my reservations." He smirks. "Then my wife seconded the decision, and I knew better than to argue."
A ripple of laughter runs around the gathered crowd.
Michael glances at Karma, and his entire face lights up. "I’d like to propose a toast to my beautiful new bride and to new beginnings."
The rest of us raise our glasses.
Karma places Andy on the floor. The cat saunters over to the cat tree in the corner of the room as Karma walks over to Michael. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her into his side before taking a sip from his glass. "If Xander were here, he’d, no doubt, have something extremely nerdy and witty to say about the proceedings." He chuckles. "I remember the first time I offered him a glass of prosecco; he downed it in one go, then asked me why the apple juice tasted so strange."
I try to smile, but somehow, my facial muscles seem to be frozen. How easy it is for the rest of them to recollect memories of my twin. How difficult it is for me to even think about him. To acknowledge that he’ll no longer be able to experience what life has to offer.
Michael chuckles. "I miss you, brother," he murmurs in a low voice, "but wherever you are, I’m sure you are watching us right now and asking why the hell we haven’t started the festivities yet. I—"
"You have no idea what you’re talking about," I snap. "You think you can raise a toast to Xander then go on with your lives? That you can talk to him as if he is really here and that will make it all right? It’s your fault, and yours—" I turn on Luca, "that Xander is not here, and nothing you say or do will ever change that."
"Now that’s not fair," Massimo rumbles. "We’ve been over this. I thought you understood that what happened was no one’s fault except our father’s, and he’s been dealt with for it."
"And if you had spoken out against him," I turn on Nonna, "if you had stopped him when he decided to physically and emotionally abuse us, the day would not have come when he’d take the life of his own son. I hope you regret your actions, for you have as much a part to play in Xander’s death as our father."
"Don’t talk to Nonna like that." Seb steps toward me, but Nonna raises a hand.
"No, let him speak. This is why we’re together—so these unspoken sentiments can finally be aired."
Nonna holds my gaze. "I will always regret not being strong enough to have taken action against my son. And you are right; I am as much to blame for what happened to Xander as your father." She swallows. "It’s why I will not repeat the same mistake again."
I frown. "What are you talking about?"
Nonna glances at Aurora, then back at me. "Aurora will be staying in the same chalet as me."
"Not happening. I already told you, Nonna, she got the one night that we spent apart, but that stops now. She’s my fiancée—"
"I still don’t see a ring."
I slide my hand inside my pocket and pull out a small velvet box.
Cassandra gasps; Karma draws in a breath. But Aurora? She stays silent; not a flicker of an expression crosses her face. I prowl toward her, and she doesn’t move. Doesn’t take a step back when I pause in front of her. I remove the ring from the box, slide the box back in my pocket, then hold out my left palm.
I hold her gaze as she swallows. The moment stretches a beat, then another. Finally, she places her left hand in mine. I slide the ring onto her finger, and applause sounds from the watching family members. She begins to pull her hand back, but I wrap my fingers around her wrist. I tug, and she stumbles toward me. I hold my arm about her waist and bring her flush against me.
