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“Come inside with me,” was all she offered as her cane clicked on the flagstones that led to the front door.Oh, sure, now that stupid cane makes a noise.I swore she had tennis balls to mute that click when she wanted to sneak up on people in the house.
The church was quiet, and thousands of tiny candles flickered in the draft we created. The minister was sitting in the front pew reading his Bible. He smiled and stood as he spotted us.
“Welcome.” He waited for us to get closer. “You must be Alessia Coppola.”
“My name is Sienna,” I corrected, and Nonna clucked her tongue. The minister looked between us then smiled like it didn’t matter what my name was.
“Sorry I’m late.” I whirled around to find Salvo rushing up the aisle.
What the hell was happening?
“It’s all right, Salvo.” Nonna pushed him next to me. “It’s not like we can start without you.”
“Hi.” He smiled down at me, and my fight kicked in.
“I’m not sure what you all think is going to happen here, but you can think again.”
“Sienna,” Nonna used my proper name, “just listen. We are running out of time, and this ceremony needs to happen now.”
When it was over and the papers had been signed, the Minister and Salvo stood to one side and discussed the architecture of the building. Nonna Rosa and I sat quietly facing the cross that loomed over us. Churches were never a place I would go to find comfort, which was something I should work on because they were so beautiful and peaceful even when you were sitting next to such an evil human. I wondered if she could feel the angels above judging her for her sins. I bet they were judging me. I guessed being good was a subjective observation. Were you good for helping an old lady across the road? Yes. But were you also good for drowning a conniving little bitch in a hot tub while you sipped Prosecco? Also, yes. It was really all relative.
I smirked, thinking if only the priest could read my thoughts.
I took a deep breath and stared down at the hideous ring that cloaked my finger and figured it was time to make my next move.
“I know,” I whispered, letting the words dangle in the air.
“Know what?” Nona Rosa sounded annoyed I’d broken the silence.
“I know that you’re Mikey.”
Her cane fell from her hand and clattered to the floor as her cold, gray eyes latched on to mine. Slowly, she swooped it up, stood, and as she moved down the aisle, I distinctly heard her say into her phone, “She knows.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I sipped my drink and looked around at the overly romantic atmosphere of the restaurant. It was like love threw up in there, and I wanted to leave. Red flowers hung everywhere, a violinist played love songs in the corner, and couples held hands and laughed to show how happy they were.
“I thought it was time we had a talk.” Oscar, who had dressed extra snappy for the evening, topped up my glass and flashed me a smile. “You and I have quite the history, don’t we?”
“I suppose.”
“I know things haven’t always been easy, but then when is life easy?”
“Life is a sick game of how many times we can disappoint each other,” I muttered, not interested in his topic of conversation. “Have you heard anything from Sienna today?”
“What? No.”
“I bet Elio knows exactly what’s going on, but not me, her mother, the woman who gave up everything to give her life and—”
“Elenora.” He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He hardly ever called me by my name, so I looked back over at him. “Please, I’m trying to tell you something.”
“Well, out with it, then.”Seriously, cat got your tongue?When he stuttered as he tried to remember where he was in his head, I reached for his phone on the table and sent a quick text off to Ugo. I demanded an update. I demanded to know everything first, but no, that wasn’t going to happen, was it?
“I’m trying to tell you that there’s a reason I never left your side.” He paused when the phone alerted me there was a text message.
Ugo: Trying to get through to Elio. I’ll call when I’m finished.
I slammed the phone down and cursed.
“Second to the Capris again!” I shouted, so beyond finished with being ignored and not respected by own people.
