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‘So we finally get to meet you,’ said Vincenzo Ricci. ‘I can see why he’s kept you hidden away.’
Was his fatherflirting?
‘Sicilian?’ Vincenzo checked with Alicia as their cocktails arrived, his head to one side.
‘Yes,’ she said.
‘Dante said you met in Milan?’
‘Yes,’ Alicia agreed. ‘I’ve been there for almost ten years now.’
‘I’m trying to lure her back,’ Dante said, clearly reminding her that this wasn’t a real getting-to-know-you session.
‘Yes, I’m more here than there these days.’ She turned and smiled at him fondly, but he was already pushing his chair back.
‘Excuse me a moment.’
She gripped his arm in a silent plea for him not to leave her with his family, but Dante ignored her and was gone.
Alicia took a breath and remembered to smile. Matteo was on his phone, to his father’s clear annoyance, and Rosa sat looking beautiful, but very vacant.
Giustina was just staring at her, the new arrival, and Alicia dared not glance in the direction of his father.
She picked up the menu and pretended to read through it. She was still doing it when Dante returned. ‘I think something plain,’ she said, closing it. ‘Justspaghetti al sugofor me,’ she said.
The waiter came to give his recommendations and Giustina moved to wave him away, but Dante put a hand up. ‘I want to hear.’
He nodded at the mention of swordfish, and Alicia perked up when the man recited a couple of vegetarian options.
‘Oh...’ She turned when the waiter mentioned that thepasta con ricotta e pistacchiwas famous here, and it would seem that she didn’t want thesugoafter all, but the ricotta and pistachio pasta.
‘That sounds nice,’ she said, as if she’d been swayed. ‘I think I will try that.’
And for the first time when she was out Alicia also ordered a starter because it was bliss to have the food described to her.
She had no idea it was on instruction from the man who sat beside her.
It was all very civil on the surface.
Dante asked if they were comfortable at the hotel.
‘It’s excellent,’ Vincenzo said. ‘You were right about this location...’
‘It’s not too late to get on board,’ Giustina said. ‘You said yourself that your residence would be an ideal location.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Dante said.
‘You’re not getting attached to it, are you?’ Vincenzo asked. ‘Emotional investments are not wise ones.’
‘Yes, you’ve told me many times.’
‘Matteo,’ Giustina said, and actually took the phone from his hand. ‘We’re talking about family business—pay attention.’
‘Actually, we’re not,’ Dante corrected. ‘We’re talking aboutmybusiness.’
‘Dante’s right,’ Vincenzo said. ‘Let’s enjoy the night, and the beautiful company.’ He raised a glass to Alicia.
Thankfully the starters were delivered then, and Alicia honestly didn’t know if his father and his wife had heard the warning shots Dante had fired. They were eating, conversing, seemingly oblivious to the current beneath them.
