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“No problem, no problem at all,” Pierre says, glaring at his employee. “Of course, Mrs. Capo, you are more than welcome to try everything!”
I sample each food item in turn, from the antipasti to the primi, excellent cuts of steak, all the way through the menu until we get to theformaggi e frutta, a dessert platter of imported cheeses.
“It’s perfect,” I tell Pierre. “We’re having a party of nine for dinner before tonight’s main event, so let’s ensure we have enough tableware as well. We had a bit of a shortage last time, and I want to make sure Mr. Capo’s satisfied.”
Pierre’s associate mutters under his breath and I catch him rolling his eyes.
He’s done.
“Your name?” I ask sweetly.
He gives me a sharp look. “Josiah.”
“Josiah, I think it best you take the rest of the evening off.” Maybe I’m overstepping. Maybe I’m losing my temper. But there’s no way my husband would allow disrespect from his staff, so it thereby follows I am the one that will ensure his staff behaves the way he expects.
“Excuse me?” He looks as if he’s about to throw a plate across the room.
Pierre steps in and takes Josiah by the elbow. “You heard her. Let’s have a talk.”
He curses under his breath. I wait until he leaves, then turn to see the shadows of onlookers in the doorway. My stomach plummets until I recognize my sister Rosa, looking gorgeous and stunning as ever, beside Romeo, whose eyes have gone a bit wide in surprise.
“Well, well, well,” Rosa says with a smile. “Seems all our little sister needed was a ring on her finger, hmm?”
I squeal and launch myself at them, grabbing them both around the necks to squeeze the life out of them. “Oh myGoddid I miss you. I missed you so much! Salvatore just had me check on the food for tonight to make sure it’s perfect and it so is.” They kiss my cheeks, one after the other. I squeal again when I see Tavi, Orlando, and Mario standing behind them.
“Thank fuck,” Orlando mutters. “Airplane food was nonexistent and none of them would let me eat at the airport.”
“You’d ruin your appetite and we’re not going to disrespect the Capos, Lando,” Rosa says, rolling her eyes.
“Dude,” Mario says under his breath. I grin at him. “This place isepic.”
“You’re the one who lives in a castle,” I remind him.
“Ain’t the same,” he whispers. “You have the Gulf of Mexico out your window.” He swivels to look at me. “You got a guest room?”
“I think there’s like ten,” I tell him.
“Mario!” Tavi elbows him. “Knock it off.”
“What? We’re family now. Capo can stay at The Castle or Tuscany any time he wants.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” My pulse races when I hear the deep timbre of Salvatore’s commanding tone. I quickly look over at him to see he’s fully dressed for dinner, but although his tone is softer than normal, he’s wearing his stern Don face.
“He means it,” I tell Salvatore. “And I would very much take him up on that if I were you.”
He reaches me, then gently slides his hand to the small of my back. Romeo’s eyes follow the possessive gesture. Rosa’s gaze widens ever so slightly. Is Salvatore pissing on me in front of his associates? “I’ll have to keep that in mind, won’t I?”
I nod and wink at him. He nods and winks back.
“Dinner’s perfect,” I say in a low voice. “But I have something to tell you.”
I turn back to Rosa and Romeo. “Just a second, guys.”
I pull Salvatore to a quiet nook in the room. “I did a taste test like you said, and everything is perfection. But one of your staff members gave me shit about everything.”
I fill him in. I watch the dark storm cloud roll over his features, but he doesn’t speak. “He had the nerve to disrespect my wife,” Salvatore mutters. “And what was your response?”
Now I’m proud of my response.
