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He smiled, and I knew he was impressed with my answer. “I’ll tell you on the way to Beach House. Papa has a meeting there and we should fill him in on Salvo.”
* * *
“So, you’re basically telling me to be Tieri?” I grinned at him then closed the door and followed him to the front stairs of the Beach House. “Flirt, but not enough that anyone could call you out on it.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.” He gave my butt a swat. “We have enough people on our kill list right now, and I don’t want to add another.”
“Speaking of which,” he opened the door and urged me to go in first, “doesn’t it seem strange that—” I stopped short when I came face to face with a man who looked just like Piero.
“Ah, Sienna,” Piero smiled warmly, “you’ve never actually met Vinni and Niccola’s dad before, have you? Bosco, this is Sienna.”
“No, I’ve heard of you, though.” I stepped forward to shake his hand. “To be honest, I thought you were dead,” I joked, wondering where in the world this man had been. Bosco laughed heartily along with the others. Clearly, they got that reaction a lot.
“That would be because I don’t live here full time. I only visit when duty calls. Truth be told, I stepped away years ago to follow my heart.”
“Papa lives with Amara on the other side of town,” Niccola explained as he tucked his phone away. “Our unofficial stepmother.”
I tried not to look confused. I had no idea Bosco lived with his mistress. I guessed that would explain Noemi’s bitterness whenever she talked to me about Bosco.
“Vinni,” Bosco handed him a box, “Amara made these this morning. She thought you’d like some.”
Vinni snatched it up and peeked inside. “She’s really too good for you, Papa.”
“She is, but don’t tell her that.”
Again, I tried to mask my expression. So, they were all okay with this arrangement? Honestly, I couldn’t imagine living with Noemi, but why did she live in the family home while he lived elsewhere? Or was that by choice? Maybe Nonna Greta didn’t approve. A cold chill ran up my back when I thought of that old lady. She sucked my breath away like a dementor from theHarry Potterbooks.
“Does Mama know you’re here?” Vinni asked.
“Does Mama know who is here?” Noemi walked right by me, and I felt my knees go stiff. “Oh, you’re home.” She shrugged as her eyes slid quickly past me to Bosco.
Elio reached forward and slowly pulled me close. I wasn’t sure if he was protecting me or if he was afraid I was going to attack her. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure either.
Breathe, Sienna.
“There are some things Bosco and I need to discuss.” Piero spoked kindly, but his voice lacked warmth. I wondered if Elio had told him the truth about her yet.
“And when are you leaving?” She flipped through the mail on the table.
“When I’m ready.” Bosco’s comment made my lips twitch, so I pressed them together before anyone saw it.
Noemi glanced in my direction and shot me a smile. “Sienna.” She turned her attention on me, and all I could think of was the candle in her hand and the smell of the fuel that had soaked my bedroom at the Coppola house. “I was just going to saddle up the horses. Would you like to go for a ride with me? I’d love the company.”
“No.” I shook my head, trying to remain calm when all I wanted to do was jam the letter opener on the desk through her heart. “Not today.” I needed to keep my head. After all, she was Niccola and Vinni’s mother. I just wasn’t sure how to negotiate my thoughts about what would happen once she was exposed for what she was.
“We have to prepare for the tour.” Elio came to my rescue, and although I had no idea what he was referring to by a tour, I appreciated it. I knew he had to be having the same difficulty as I was, knowing what we knew.
I glanced over at Niccola, who watched me with a strange expression. I peeled my gaze from his and turned it back on the woman who had tried to kill me. I decided two could play at this game.
“Yes, and Mama left me a ton of paperbacks she’d kept from her days in hiding. I want to comb through it all. She kept lots of journals too. I guess we had that in common, she and I.” Though her smile remained, her eyes gave her away.Yes, you two-timing psychopath, I can play games, too.
“Papa,” Elio spoke up, “we have something we need to discuss with you and the others.”
“All right, let’s get to it, then.” He led the way.
I gave Noemi a smile as we headed into the other room to share what we had planned for Salvo. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was sweating about what we wanted to talk about. She must have known I’d tell Elio. It was going to be interesting to see how all this would play out, though my heart ached for her sons.
The moment the door shut, I sagged into the chair, letting go of the breath I was holding. I had no idea any of them would be here, let alone Bosco.
