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We left to let the girls have their moment alone and headed to the living room to wait for them.
“If nothing else, your mother needed that.” My father glanced down the hallway at the DeSimones.
“Mariano is acting strange with her, but I’m not sure why.”
“I don’t trust his motives, Elio. Be sure to keep an eye on Sienna.”
“Trust me, Papa, it’s taking all my will not to hurt him. Who does he think he is, touching what’s mine?” I was nearly vibrating with the need to fix the situation.
“I wouldn’t mind taking a swing or two myself,” my father’s voice rasped.
Sienna stepped into the hallway and looked down the hallway toward Mariano then down to where my father and I stood.
She took a deep breath and brushed her hands down the sexy skirt that accentuated her toned legs. She seemed to hesitate then made the decision to come toward us, and as she did, Mariano came racing down the hallway. It was clear he had been into the bourbon, as his voice was loud and over the top.
“There you are!” He leaned down grabbed her face roughly and kissed her cheek twice. He made sure he made a show that she washisto kiss.
“Take a breath, son,” my father warned as my grip on the wine glass came dangerously close to snapping off the stem. “Whatever is going on here will soon show itself, and we will deal with it accordingly.”
“I don’t know how much more I can take.”
“Mama!” Mariano waved his mother to follow us as he led the way outside. “It’s time to feast.”
“Hello, Sienna,” Bria greeted her. “Let’s find out what’s on the menu tonight.”
“I already saw, and it will be amazing.” Sienna made sure Donte heard her compliment.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Bria rolled her eyes toward the kitchen.
My mother opened the back door, and we all headed out to the garden where paper lanterns hung in the trees, their light casting shadows across the beautiful table every time the wind blew the branches.
The rustic wooden table was set to perfection. Long gray napkins folded in half draped over each place setting, and cream dinner plates rested on top. Next to each plate were individual loaves of bread with rosemary twigs on top wrapped in twine. Fresh greenery from our fields was displayed in glass jars with a gorgeous sunflower wedged in each to give the table a pop of color.
“Wow,bello,” Sienna breathed with a sigh as she came out and admired the work that had been done. “Have you ever seen anything so pretty?”
“Yes.” Bria shrugged, and I shot my father a death-look. He rolled his eyes, just as irritated as I was with them all.
Mariano was already seated next to Anna with his napkin on his lap, so I reached forward and pulled out Sienna’s chair.
“Thank you.” She eased into the seat.
I took the seat across from her so I could read her body language. I planned on digging a bit tonight.
Niccola glared at Donatello when he approached from behind us. Thecaposoften joined us for dinner when they could.
“What?” Donatello looked at me, wondering what was wrong.
“The next time,” Niccola pointed his fork at him, “you ask to borrow my car for a date, don’t.”
“It wasn’t for a date.” He brushed him off.
Niccola looked like he might be sick. “Care to explain why your undies were wedged between my back seats?”
My mama snorted and tried to recover quickly. These two were always at each other for something, and then add in Vinni, and the entertainment grew. We were one big family, and we loved each other, but we also gave each other a hard time whenever possible.
“Are you sure they aren’t yours?”
Niccola shot me a look before addressing him. “We all know you are the only one who wears the tight ones that go up on the sides like a woman’s.”
