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Auntie Carlotta stands up from where she was playing with Petra on a blanket on the floor.
“Do you want anything for the pain before you leave?”
“I probably should.”
She hurries to grab something stronger than ibuprofen that no one asks how she got ahold of. Chellie’s not sure where to look. I know she’s still embarrassed that people might know what we were doing and because we’re headed to her family because of their mob connections. It’s not just a nice meet my boyfriend brunch. It’s meet my Mafioso fiancé. It sounds totally fucked-up to my ear. Luca walks over and leans to whisper to me.
“Sarà imbarazzante come il cazzo. Ma lasciamo che dicano tutto quello che devono dire. Mamma e papà non sarebbero diversi da Maria se la situazione fosse invertita. Ricorda solo che tutto ciò che hanno sempre voluto è proteggere la loro figlia. Ho dovuto ricordarlo quando ho incontrato la madre di Livy.” It will be embarrassing as fuck. But let them say whatever they need to. Mama and Papa wouldn’t be any different about Maria if the situation were reversed. Just remember all they’ve ever wanted is to protect their daughter. I had to remember that when I met Livy's mom.
I nod just as Auntie Carlotta reaches out to give me some pills and a glass of water. I take them quickly before we say goodbye and head out to the next disaster.
* * *
I don’t know what to expect when we walk into Chellie’s parents’ house. I assume it would be a frosty reception, and I can tell she’s just as nervous as I am. She slides her hand into mine just before her dad opens the door. I follow her in, one step behind. I’m prepared to let go, but her fingers don’t uncurl when mine do. In fact, she digs her nails into the back of my hand. Unfortunately, she has to let go, so I can shake her father’s hand. I ended up putting my other arm back in the sling before we left the house. Auntie Carlotta insisted, and she was right.
“Mr. Russo, nice to meet you. I’m Lorenzo Mancinelli.”
“My daughter’s fiancé. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
It could have sounded snide, but he sounds far more welcoming than her mother did on the phone. I don’t know if he’s more laid back or if he hides it better or he’s just had time to gear up for this. When we follow him farther into the house, I rest my hand at the small of Chellie’s back. She shifts a little closer to me, the only sign of how nervous she is. Her mom’s already in the living room when we walk in. I step forward and extend my hand. She takes it, and I don’t sense the same anger as before.
“Mrs. Russo, thank you for having me over.”
“Welcome.”
Has she accepted it? Or is she as good as Chellie usually is at disguising her thoughts? Chellie leads me to the sofa, and I wait for her and her mom to sit before I do. Old habits die hard. I know her parents notice, but I’m not doing it to gain their approval. I’m doing it because my father drilled it into me.
Her dad looks at Chellie, then me before he speaks.
“How did you meet?”
“I remember seeing Michelle at Laura and Maksim’s wedding reception, but it wasn’t until my sister, her husband, and I were at the movies. We ran into Chellie, Laura, and Laura’s sister-in-law. We went across the street to a coffee shop after the movie, and I fell in love.”
I didn’t expect to say that. Apparently, I’m the one who doesn’t know how to disguise his feelings. Chellie beams up at me. When she speaks, she’s still looking at me.
“And I thought you had to catch up to me. I know I fell in love with you there. It was like I’d known you my entire life instead of talking for the first time.”
I don’t take her hand to hold it, but I cover hers with mine where it rests on her leg near her knee. She moves them when she rests her palm under mine. I look at her parents and gird my loins.
“I’m sure there is plenty you want to know about me, my family, and what life is going to be like for Chellie. I’ll answer whatever I can.”
That seems to take them both aback. What’s the point in beating around the bush? Her dad recovers first.
“What type of security will you have for our daughter?”
“She already has twenty-four-hour protection. Unless it’s going somewhere routine, like work, she has a man in my family with her if I can’t go. If something comes up, and I need to be away for more than a few days, then I’ve asked Chellie to stay with my parents. They live in a gated community behind a gated property wall. They have plenty of security.”
I can’t think of an embassy in the world that’s more secure than my parents’ house.
“Why can’t she stay with us?”
It’s Chellie’s mom who demands an answer.
“Now that I know how well you shoot, I might not be as nervous. But I’d still feel better with Chellie having a full detail on a fully protected property.”
“But don’t your parents live in the same neighborhood as the Kutsenkos? Aren’t they your rivals? Isn’t that the entire reason Chelle’s in this mess?”
“They live in the same neighborhood as my aunt and uncle. My parents live in a different one a few blocks away. But it’s the same type of community.”
