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“Then we should join the others.”
As I make to leave, she places her hand on my arm and whispers, “Wait, there’s something you should know before we go inside.”
“I’m listening.” I move away so her arm falls to her side, and she says with a hint of victory in her expression, “This visit was arranged between your grandfather and my father. An alliance of sorts, shall we say. A lowering of weapons and a ceasefire so the treaty can be drawn up.”
“What are you talking about? Just say what you’re itching to get off your chest.”
She steps closer and I can almost taste her breath as she whispers, “We are to marry to unite our families. If you refuse, it will start a bloody war because my family will view it as a great sign of disrespect. This is our engagement party, Alessandro, and by the end of it, we will be committed to merging a dynasty.”
“Like fuck it is.” I growl and she rests her hand on my arm and says with a soft sigh. “Just think about it. We would make a formidable couple. Two powerful families becoming one. I would be the wife you deserve and will bear your children. We will be good together. Just give us this chance.”
I tear my arm away and growl, “I’m not interested in starting a dynasty with you. I have told my grandfather of my wishes and he had no right to plot behind my back. You may as well step back inside the car and leave because there will be no engagement today.”
“Because of her, I suppose.”
Allegra almost spits the words out and I freeze, before saying icily, “She has a name and it’s Winter.”
“Yes, Delauren. A married woman whose husband is still alive. She is no wife for you Alessandro, but I am. If you want to play with her from time to time, I won’t like it but will accept that’s your right, but I will bear the name Mrs. Majerio, not her, so grow up and be the man your grandfather thinks you are before I change my mind.”
She takes my arm and hisses, “If I were you, I’d play along because my father is not the accepting kind.”
I feel ambushed. Just when I thought I had it all worked out, another blow is dealt that leaves me staggering to get up.
As we walk into the lion’s den, I know better than to cause a scene, Allegra’s right about that and as we head onto the terrace, I immediately search for Winter who is perched unhappily between Nonna and Beatrice and from the expression on her face, she’s burning in hell alongside me.
* * *
Typically,the only seats available are at the opposite end of the table and I reluctantly sit beside Allegra, noting the unhappiness in Winter’s eyes. Grasping the decanter of wine, I fill our glasses and raise mine to my grandfather before knocking it back like water.
The glint in his eye warns me to behave and as Allegra leans closer, the stench of her perfume makes me want to hurl.
“Alessandro, tell me about yourself.”
She purrs up at me, resting a proprietary hand on my arm, and I don’t miss the smug look she sends down the table to the only woman I want touching me.
“Business. It’s always business.”
Her false laugh grates on my nerves as she shakes her head. “I would have expected no less.”
As the food is delivered in abundance, I can tell my grandfather is pulling out the big guns and know it must be important to him to forge this alliance. Nonna throws me a warning glare every so often and as the conversation flows so does the wine.
Winter is playing her part well, but I can tell it’s putting a strain on her and right now I detest my family. As Don Giodano watches my interaction with his daughter, I try so hard to contain the situation before it spirals out of control.
The moment comes sooner than I think when Don Giodano transfers his attention to us and says loudly, “I believe you have an announcement to make, Alessandro.”
The fact his daughter’s hand is stroking my arm makes it appear we are a lot closer than we are and I don’t miss the triumph in my grandfather’s eyes as he laughs softly. “To be young and in love again, Vittorio. I remember what that was like.”
The stricken expression on Winter’s face is all I need to shake off Allegra’s unwelcome attention and say bluntly, “Yes. To answer your question, Don Giodano, I do have an announcement to make.”
The angry glare from my grandparents warns me from speaking out of turn and the way Winter is looking down into her glass tells me she fears the worst.
“I’m leaving.”
Startled eyes glance in my direction and the anger on my grandfather’s face is palpable.
He knows better than to interrupt and Don Giodano glares at him angrily. “Leaving! Where?”
His wife shares a look with Allegra, who pouts like a petulant child, and I say firmly, “My grandfather has agreed a sabbatical for three months while I put my affairs in order.”
