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I nodded. “I did. I just wanted to get through my last year at school and—”
“Oh, you go to college?” This time I recognized the voice as Aida’s. “What college do you go to?”
Shaking my head, I met her gaze, feeling the tears prick at my eyes. Dante clearly hadn’t told them about me yet. “I’m a senior…in high school.”
Aida blinked, her head turning toward Dante’s mom, then back to me. She wasn’t hiding her shock at my words, and for the first time since I’d walked into this room with Sofia, I felt like I wanted to leave. I wanted to hide. I wanted to run away. I wanted to—
“I was in high school when I met my husband.” I turned to face Dante’s mom, not having expected her to say that. She offered me a reassuring smile, her eyes shining with understanding. “There’s no shame in it, gioia.” She nodded, as if she was pushing her point home. “Age is simply a number.”
My nerves settled at her words; the judgement I was sure I was going to get seemingly disappearing.
“I suppose it’s Fate,” I whispered. “At least, that’s what Dante says.”
Dante’s mom smiled wider. “My Dante, he always has a way with words.” She stood, piling the empty plates on top of each other as she rounded the table. She stopped next to me, her hand tapping my shoulder. “If you ever need anything, you come to me, okay, gioia?”
“Okay,” I murmured, watching as she left the room through a different door, humming under her breath.
“Well,” Sofia started and I turned to face her. “You definitely have Ma’s approval.” At my confused face, she explained, “She called you gioia…it means joy in Italian.” She paused, raising a brow. “You’re her new favorite.”
She laughed, Aida joining in with her, and I couldn’t help but smile too. It had been so long since my own mom had been here, that just for a split second, I thought I could feel her in the air, and maybe I did. Maybe she was right here with me, seeing me through all of this turmoil, watching over me.
* * *
DANTE
“You want me to sit at the table with your entire family while wearing this?” she asked, standing in the middle of my bedroom, waving at her body.
I shrugged. “You look good to me, sweetheart.”
She huffed out a breath, her eyes still puffy from the nap she’d taken. Although, nap was probably not the right word considering she’d slept for about six hours today.
“Dante.” The way she said my name had me simultaneously turned on and frightened. It was cruel, but so damn alluring. “I can’t sit at that huge, grand dining table for dinner while wearing your T-shirt and some shorts.” She shook her head. “I’m not going down there like this.”
I grinned over at her, pushing off the edge of the bed. “Ma washed your clothes from yesterday, they’re hanging in the closet.” I wrapped my arms around her waist, planting a kiss on the end of her nose. “Go get changed, I’ll meet you down there.”
As I went to let go, she held on to me tighter, her eyes wide. “No. No way in hell, Dante. You’ll wait right here and walk down with me.” She huffed out a breath. “Do you have any idea what it’s like walking down all of those stairs when you’re this big.” She paused, pursing her lips. “Slow. Real slow.” She let go suddenly, brushing past me. “Wait for me, okay?”
Staring as she wandered into the closet through the door next to the bed, I murmured, “I’ve been waiting eight months for you, I’m not going to stop now.”
“What was that?” she shouted, huffing and puffing.
“Nothing.” I leaned back on the edge of the bed. “I’ll wait here for you.”
I stared at the door, going over everything that had happened today. Lorenzo had called a meeting and proceeded to fill everyone in about Navy, including that her dad is an FBI agent, and the fact that she was still in high school. I wasn’t sure how they’d all taken it, but I could see that Uncle Alonzo wasn’t happy by the stern look splattered over his face. I was sure it would have been Uncle Antonio—the more violent and scary uncle—who wouldn’t have been pleased with what was transpiring.
Luckily for us though, they wouldn’t be here tonight. It was just us siblings and Ma. Lorenzo said everyone should get to know Navy, but I of all people knew that was code for him to analyze her without her knowing. He wanted to get a feel for her, and although I didn’t like the reason for it, I knew it was necessary.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I snapped my head up to look at Navy, my gaze trailing over the sage-green leggings and white T-shirt she was wearing. I could see the bottom of her bump showing, but I didn’t think she was aware.
“Beautiful.”
She rolled her eyes, but even she couldn’t stop the smile on her face and the blush rising on her cheeks, showing off her bruise even more.
“Why am I so nervous?” she asked, wringing her hands in front of her. “I was literally sitting at the table this morning.”
“Because…” I sauntered toward her, glancing at her red-painted toenails. “Everyone will be there this time. You’ll be the main entertainment of the night.”
She rolled her eyes at my words. She may not have believed it, but I knew it was the truth. It wasn’t just Lorenzo that wanted to get a feel for Navy, but everyone else too. He was a firm believer in someone showing their true colors when they were around the entire family. Not much got past the men of the Beretta Mafia.
