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Three
RAOUL
“Good to see you, darling.” Mother stretches herself up on her toes to kiss both my cheeks.
“Where’s Father?” I ask, pulling down the cuffs on my jacket. I know today is going to be tense. So does she. I’m sure she’s already popped a few Prozacs, especially for the occasion.
“In his study, but we're going to enjoy a nice family lunch before we discuss anything business-related,” she assures me, trying to sound assertive.
“Of course.” I fake her a smile before following her through to the dining room.
“How you feeling?” I slap Rhett on the back of his head as I pass where he’s sitting. As I expected, he’s looking like he partied a little too hard last night.
“Better than I deserve.” He looks up at me groggily.
I take my usual seat at the table, next to where Father will sit, and nod my gratitude to Berta when she places a glass of wine in front of me.
“What’s his mood like?” I ask my brother, taking a sip from the glass. Father’s choice from the wine cellar has me a little apprehensive. Barolo Riserva Monfortino is his favorite, and I know there’s only one thing he’s been intending to celebrate lately.
“Haven’t seen him yet, he’s locked himself away in his study. Probably trying to figure out who this Prizrak is. You know last night at the party I went to, the shit that was getting passed around wasn’t ours. Do you need me to tell you who I managed to trace it back to?” My brother looks across the table at me with a raised eyebrow.
“He won’t last, they never do.” I shrug him off.
“Meanwhile, we sit back and do nothing, let his organization grow more powerful.” Rhett looks unimpressed with my attitude.
“Raoul is right,” Father's voice echoes from the high ceiling as he enters the room with Mother. He kisses her on the top of her head when they part to take their seats at the head of the table. “If we act too quickly, people will think we feel threatened.” He picks up his napkin and spreads it onto his lap.
“I’m just saying—”
“I know what you're saying, Rhett. And what I’m saying is that we let the man show his cards,” Father interrupts before he has the chance to make his point, and I see how much it frustrates him.
“Has anyone heard from Violetta?” I try to ease the tension that’s building, and can tell from the bright smile Mother gives me that she’s grateful for it.
“Yes, she called yesterday, she’s doing so well with her studies,” Mother answers proudly.
“That’s good, maybe you should fly out and visit her during her summer break, it’s been a while since you visited Rome,” I point out. “Maybe you should both take a vacation.” I move my glance to Father, who is slicing into the steak that Berta placed in front of him for his approval, and when he nods his satisfaction, she proceeds to serve everyone else.
“We won’t have time for a vacation, not with the wedding to prepare for.” There’s the first jab, and not even a subtle one.
“There is no rush.” I shake my head and wait for his next move.
“No rush, he says.” Father looks at Mother and laughs, and I watch her smile quickly fade out. “You and the Quinn girl should be welcoming your second child by now.” He huffs another laugh at me before shoving a fork full of meat into his mouth.
“I’m not the one stalling.” I slice into the tender cut steak on my plate casually, awaiting his comeback.
“Your father appreciates that times have changed, and I think it’s fabulous that Briella wants to fulfill her education before she gets married, it shows ambition,” Mother intervenes, trying to play peacekeeper.
“Women who marry Burlusconi men do not need ambition, Mariella.” He shuts her down and pisses me off all at the same time.
“Yet you pay a fortune for your daughter to study in Rome’s finest art school,” I throw back.
Rhett clears his throat, which only draws more attention to the mound of growing tension around the table.
“Guess who we ran into last night while we were meeting with the Morretti boy?” he asks, and my shackles rise immediately. I’ve been trying really fucking hard not to think about last night.
“Evelyn Lane,” Rhett announces before anyone has the chance to actually guess.
“Evelyn, yes I remember. Her poor mother, really suffered after she lost her husband, and Evelyn was such a pretty girl. It’s been a long time since we last saw them. How was she?” Mother sounds genuinely interested.
