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Emilia’s jaw clenches. My wife isn’t the most assertive woman I’ve encountered, but she rails against the subservient role circumstance has cast her in her entire life. Her need to assert her independence is constantly at war with a desire to avoid being slapped down. I can see it in the way she glowers at me. Her mouth flaps open and closed several times. Though my words clearly angered her, she wisely chooses not to use them to start a fight.
“You were away for a long time,” she says eventually. “What did you and your brothers discuss?”
“Business.”
“Did that business have anything to do with me?”
If her tone had been demanding I would refuse to share anything with her, but what I detect is curiosity, concern.
“We discussed the implications of your grandfather’s will.”
“His will?” Emilia sinks onto the edge of the bed. “How do you know what’s in his will?”
“His lawyer contacted Antonio, but we already knew what it would contain.” I move a little closer, ready to comfort Emilia if the topic upsets her. I still have no idea how she feels about her grandfather’s passing. She’s been silent on the matter. “Obviously, this will not be made public until after the funeral, but you are the principal beneficiary.”
“Huh?” She obviously had no idea that would be the case. “So I inherit what? The house? His car?”
I almost laugh as I realize how clueless she is about her grandfather’s vast wealth.
“You get control over his billion-euro criminal empire.”
“What?” Emilia’s hand flies to her mouth as her eyes almost pop out of her head. “That can’t be right.Nonnowasn’t a criminal. He was a retired… well, uh… he owned property, I think. He rented out property.”
My brothers found it hard to believe when I told them Emilia was completely oblivious to the world her grandfather and uncles inhabited but her apparent shock confirms she’s entirely uncorrupted by the darker side of life.
“No,dolcezza.” I take her hand and hold it on my lap. “Your grandfather was one of the most powerful Mafia Dons in Italy. He controlled a vast territory, far beyond San Vicente.”
Emilia shakes her head. “No, that’s… no. I would have known.”
“Would you?” I stroke the back of her hand soothingly. “Think about it, Emilia. You lived in a bubble. Your grandfather could keep you protected, unaware, as long as you were safe in San Vicente. He led you to believe things were a certain way.”
“He controlled the narrative?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly right.”
Emilia blows out a breath.
“You must think I’m the world’s biggest idiot.”
Dropping her head, she stares down at her lap, but I refuse to allow her to hide from me.
“Emilia,” I say sternly. “Look at me.”
She lifts her eyes to meet mine.
“I don’t think you’re an idiot. I think your grandfather went to great lengths to shield you from the truth.”
“Why do that if he intended to dump it all in my lap one day?” Emilia demands. “Why leave it to me and not my uncles?”
“Your father was his oldest son. An old-fashioned man like Ernesto probably favored his heirs.”
“I can’t believe he would leave it to me.” Emilia snorts derisively. “What am I, amere woman, supposed to do with this empire of his?”
There’s a bitterness in her voice I haven’t heard from her before.
“Nothing,dolcezza. He left it to you with the caveat that my family would control things until our sons are old enough to take over.”
Emilia leaps up from the bed, hissing like I just poured hot water in her lap.
