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Prologue - Ramona
The first time I ever set my eyes on Elias Mariani, I was attending my father’s funeral ten years ago.
Families from all over the state had come in to pay their respect and get a better look at the person taking his spot as the head of the Franzolli family.
Antonio and I were forced to greet people and listen to their condolences. While my brother kept up a strong face, I cried my eyes out for the first few hours. Funerals were always the hardest.
My brother promised everything would be alright. He’d protect us no matter what. To him, family meant everything. He wouldn’t let any of the surrounding families take advantage of our loss.
I believed every word. As protective as he was toward me growing up, I had no doubt that Antonio would keep me safe.
When three more men approached us, I was ready to scream. I didn’t think I could hear another person tell Antonio how great our father was or how much he’d be missed.
“Enzo Mariani,” the man in the middle introduced, giving a small bow. He was older, painted in age lines, and gifted with a broad frame. The cane he walked with had a crow’s head as a handle. Fancy.
I’d seen him before in our home. He was the man who ran the south side of the city if I remembered right. With a listening ear, I could only know so much.
“If you were my son, I wouldn’t be more proud as a father,” he started up, saying words I’d already heard be spoken three times in the last two hours. “I’m sure you’ll take his chair without any complications.”
Sniffing, I wiped my eyes. How much longer would I need to sit in the stuffy room?
Enzo continued to praise my brother, speaking the words he assumed Antonio wanted to hear before introducing the men behind him.
One of them, Rilo, had his attention lingering in the direction of the casket. The other, Elias, was staring straight at me.
I hadn’t even noticed him at first, not while I was too busy rubbing my eyes raw and rubbing the snot from my nose. Surely, there had to be something more interesting than watching a woman cry.
Unlike most of the men lingering about, the man watching my suffering stood out like a sore thumb. Pale skin, blond hair, and blue eyes.
Elias reminded me of a diamond, sparkling in a room of disgusting, disgruntled men. So handsome, a walking distraction I could really use at the moment. At the same time, he was being a bit creepy by not blinking. Why was he staring at only me?
Antonio was the star of this show.
He looked like an absolute outsider. Someone who didn’t belong. Yet, he looked to be the most comfortable person in the building.
What in the hell was wrong with him?
How could I continue to feel miserable with such a beautiful spectator? Even after I looked away, I could feel the cold chill of his eyes.
When I moved to stand, Antonio immediately grabbed my hand. Probably didn’t want me to leave him to suffer all alone.
“Where are you going?” he asked, interrupting one of Enzo’s stories about the past.
“Fresh air,” I muttered, already needing more than a lungful.
“I don’t want you going alone,” Antonio pressed. Protective as always.
Enzo let out a laugh, making me jump. I didn’t expect to hear one of those today. “Please, allow Rilo to walk with her. He’ll keep her–”
“I’ll go with her,” the blue-eyed stranger interrupted.
I stiffened. Which was more startling, his voice or his volunteering to be alone with me?
With Antonio wanting to keep me at his side, having the idea that I couldn’t be left alone, my feelings became too overwhelming and I snatched my wrist from Antonio’s grip. “I’ll be fine, thank you very much. I don’t need to be supervised.”
Twisting away, I stormed away before my brother could think about ordering me around. After today, I’d have to follow everything he said. Today, I just wanted to appreciate a few minutes outside before I made a scene that would bring shame to my family.
I made it outside without looking back. Hearing the doors shut and open after I left, I groaned.
