Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34419 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34419 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
"Ahem."
I quickly whirl around as soon as I hear La Strega's voice, and I see her witchy gaze narrow when her grandson also turns to face her...while casually placing a hand on the small of my back like he's already claiming me as his property.
I try to pull away and fail, with Cesare this time refusing to let go.
"How disappointing." The older woman's tone is dry. "I thought you'd have charmed her by now."
"You must have me confused with Massimo, Nonna," Cesare returns mockingly. "I've always gotten what I wanted...while being the opposite of charming."
"Hmph."
La Strega walks past us, and Cesare firmly keeps me by his side as we follow behind her.
"Please let go of me," I mutter under my breath.
Cesare bends his head, and I don't even have a chance to gasp as he takes a punishing bite of my ear before whispering—-
"Never."
I trip over my own feet after that, and of course this gives Cesare another opportunity to play the gallant knight as he easily yanks me back and saves me from my clumsiness.
Grrr.
Cesare only lets go of me when we finally reach what I can only assume is the Blue Room at the end of the hallway, and being famiglia must pay really, really well because the room apparently borrows its name from the blue porcelain dinnerware sparkling from a Rococo-style dining table that can comfortably seat a dozen guests.
Agnes from earlier starts handing out menu cards when we're all seated, and I guess that makes it official: it really pays to be famiglia, and ooooooh...
My stomach rumbles as soon as the mouthwatering smell of our first course hits my nostrils. It's the creamiest soup with the freshest slices of mushroom, and I feel like crying when I finally have a taste. It's really, really, really good...and the last time I had anything as good as this was back when my parents were still alive.
Just focus on the food, Penny!
I grab the menu card to distract myself, and it certainly does the job.
Wow.
I have to read the menu card twice just to make sure I'm not imagining anything. Everything listed here is plant-based, and I guess that means the Marchettis don't see anything wrong with harming fellow human beings...but are choosing to draw the line on consuming animals?
"Is anything wrong, tesoro?"
I realize both Cesare and his grandmother have heard me choke back a laugh, and I quickly shake my head. "Just, um, something stuck in my throat." My life right now may be in shambles, but I'm still far from suicidal, so thanks, but no thanks, I have absolutely no plans on sharing my thoughts about their dietary choices.
Their famiglia, their rules.
Agnes and two other maids come back to take away our soup bowls, and the other starters that follow include three-cheese cigar rolls (non-dairy, of course) and edamame tartelettes. The real star of the night is, of course, the main entrée, and it's only when I'm halfway done with my cauliflower truffle risotto that I hear Cesare bite my name out while talking to his grandmother in Italian.
"Are you guys talking about me?" I ask suspiciously.
"Sì," the two Marchettis confirm at the same time, and without any hesitation at all.
Err...ouch?
Should I feel offended because they're being rude...or alarmed since they are my kidnappers, and it's quite possible they're planning something nefarious?
I know I should feel concerned at the very least, but it's hard to make myself care when I'm enjoying the best meal I've had in ages, and...oooh, dessert's here, and it smells decadently divine.
Just one bite of my seven-layer chocolate cake tastes like sin, and I make up my mind then and there: I'm just going to focus on filling my stomach, since I am still their prisoner, and I need to have enough energy for whatever my next ordeal will be.
Supper comes to a satisfying end with a palate-cleansing coconut sherbet, and it's only when I hear Cesare murmur my name that I'm aghast to realize I've nodded off while waiting for coffee to be served.
Oops?
"Congratulations, tesoro," Cesare drawls. "I think it's safe to say you're the first person in the world to have had food coma while being kidnapped."
I think so, too, actually, but no way am I going to admit it, you know?
"I...I...was just tired—-" It's the lamest excuse, but I end up stunned when the gleam of amusement in his gaze abruptly vanishes. He bought that? Really?
"I asked Nonna if I may speak to you in private," Cesare says tautly.
The atmosphere in the room instantly changes, and I start feeling nervous when I realize the sudden tension between us hasn't anything to do with my food coma. "Is it that bad?"
"Sì, tesoro. It is that bad."
Shit.
Is this about something I did? Is it something that could get me killed? Is it—-
"Perdonami."
—-something that would make him say 'fuck me'?