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“I feel like my heart is breaking. How could I have been so blind?”
“Grazia, stop it.”
“I can’t stop it. My family is broken and I had no idea.”
“What are you talking about? Fabiano’s mistakes don’t reflect on your brothers.”
“There was so much hate in that house and I was oblivious to it.” She shook her head. “Why is Giovani still carrying his orders? I don’t understand. He didn’t say it on the phone, but let it be no mistake, my brother disowned me. He called me an enemy.”
“He calledmean enemy, Grazi, not you. Giovani was in charge for many years, but your father is stillDon. The mafia credo goes beyond family. If Giovani would side with you, your father would retaliate. Why do you think none of your brothers said anything about the problems they had with Fabiano?”
“That’s what I’m trying to understand.”
“Because afamigliathat doesn’t respect itsDonis vulnerable. It’s divided. Giovani can’t afford to seem weak.”
“Is it worth turning his back on me for a man he doesn’t even respect? For a man who dishonored us all?”
“It’s what he has to do.” It’s not pretty, but it’s the world we were born into, where power and thefamigliacome above those we love. It’s what forced Grazia and I apart for so many years and now what’s made her family side with the man who broke her heart. “Grazi, this talk is over. I need you to come back to me so we can enjoy our honeymoon.”
“I want to, but all of this is a lot to swallow.”
That’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell her. Not now. Not ever.
“Do I need to fuck you again?”
She blushed and finally smiled again.
“I don’t think I can.” She put a hand over her lower abdomen. “Too sore.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“Not in any way I didn’t love. I just need an hour to recover.”
“Then,” I murmured and kissed her neck softly, “I have something else that might make you happy.”
Lowering her onto the couch, I started scouring through the suitcase until I found the velvet box and placed it in her hand.
“A ring?” She guessed without opening it.
“Aweddingring.”
“Oh.” When she pulled the lid back, I saw her eyes fill with tears, but no sadness. Good. “It’s stunning.”
The blue diamond I got a while ago was now cut and encrusted on a platinum band, surrounded by what looked like a hundred other stones. It was a massive ring, something that Grazia would typically turn down, but I was very specific with the jeweler when I had this made. I wanted something big, something no one could miss. A message to every man, woman, and child that looked at her. She was taken. She was mine.
“Blue diamond. It’s not as rare as you, but it will do.”
“It must have cost you…”
“Stop.” I cut her sentence short. “It doesn’t matter. Look on the inside.”
She examined the ring with patience. “Honor cum nulla lege.” She read. It was Latin –honor with no law. Next to that, was my name. “It’s your family’s motto.”
“You’re a Fiori now,Tesoro.”
“Your wife.”
“My wife.” We both said it at the same time, like we couldn’t believe it was true.
