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I reach for them and note the way he’s stripped them of their thorns. I swallow. Sometimes I get way too in my head and I see symbolism in everything. I take the flowers with a shy, “Thank you."
He bends and kisses my cheek. "Come meet my family."
* * *
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Sergio
I needto get used to how quickly her moods shift. One minute she's chatty and happy and talking with her eyes wide open, looking around her in wonder with the simplicity that draws me to her. The next, panic flashes through her eyes. I don't know if I'll ever be able to quell that panic for her.
I want to.
"Well, look who the cat dragged in." My cousin Orlando is standing in the doorway to my family home, a large glass of red wine in hand. Orlando is the Rossi family group heavy, large and intimidating, and as fierce as they come. He's also the most loyal guy I know.
"Hey."
"You brought a guest.”
So rumors haven't reached the Rossis yet. Great. That's going to make my job of telling Romeo I'm not getting married to the woman I'm engaged to a little harder. But I need to do that tonight.
"Orlando, meet Eden. Eden, this is my cousin Orlando. Mario's brother."
Eden looks at him with a patient expression. "I'm so sorry about the accident. I'm so glad he's okay. How's he doing?"
Orlando gives me a brief look.
"He'll be alright. I'm not sure how well you know Mario, but he's a fighter. And he's a Rossi too, so he's an asshole and those two things help."
I don't know why I flinch when he swears. I swear myself. Most of us were swearing before we could walk. And yet there's something about Eden that makes me want to shield her, protect her, and keep that innocence that she has. I of all people know how easily innocence is lost, and how impossible it is to ever get back.
“You brought Eden!" Marialena stands on the steps in those stilettos I swear are six inches high. "Eden! Come join us. Nonna is dying to meet you. I was telling her about how you taught me how to make bread, and Nonna said if you could teach me how to bake bread then you have magic in your hands." She gestures toward Eden. "Sorry, cuz. I'm taking her from you."
I growl at her. "You canborrowher," I compromise.
Marialena sticks her tongue out at me, Eden laughs, and the two of them go into the house.
Orlando gives me a piercing look but doesn't ask any questions. Good. I’ll talk privately with Romeo.
"Sergio!" I look up to see Orlando's mother Tosca waving to me, and behind her, Nonna.
Tosca and my mother do not get along. The family ties are complicated, and all I know is that there was no inbreeding, thank fuck. Other than that, we have cousins and brothers and uncles and aunts and all sorts of family all over the place from here to Tuscany. Tosca and my mother are archrivals who have learned to put their differences aside temporarily. Two women who couldn't be more different from each other. Unfortunately for me, the cruel one is the one I was born to.
"Hello," I say warmly when Tosca embraces me. I kiss both of her cheeks.
"Who is that gorgeous girl you brought?” She gives me a curious look and whispers in my ear, “I thought you were engaged.”
“Yeah, about that… Is Romeo here?"
“I’m sorry, he couldn’t make it. He wanted to come to thank you for saving Mario.”
“God, you guys are seriously overplaying this one.”
"Unfuckingbelievable,” Orlando mutters. “Yeah, I lifted a few cars off my cousins before breakfast, too. What’s everyone’s problem?”
"Sergio! Sergio!Tu sei qui!”
Nonna welcomes me with both arms open.
