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)
"Ciao, Penelope."
His accent is even more Italian than Cesare's, and I'm dying to know why that is.
"I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." His concern makes me feel guilty and awkward. "I wasn't really injured or anything. I just fainted because..." My voice fades as I find myself unable to say the truth.
"Will you try to look at it another way, sorellina?" Giancarlo asks gently. "Because your actions also meant that you were able to save your life and that of my brother's."
"If you hadn't killed the other guy," Sarica adds gruffly, "then it would've been the other way around, and take my word for it: guys like those wouldn't have let you die a quick and easy death. They'd have raped and tortured—-"
"Sarica."
The other girl only shrugs at Giancarlo's exasperated tone. "I just wanted to drive the point home—-"
"You could have done so without being graphic—-"
I clear my throat, not wanting them to argue over me. "I'm, um, okay, and Sarica was - is - right. I got her point, and—-"
The door opens again, and this time it's Cesare himself who walks in, followed by La Strega and another man who can only be his brother as well.
"You're awake..."
Cesare is already cupping my face and kissing me hungrily as soon as he reaches me, and I can't think of anything to say by the time he lifts his head.
"How are you feeling?" he asks tautly.
"I'm fine. Nothing really hap—-" My words falter as he scoops me up to take my place on the bed...before settling me down on his lap.
Awkward...but I also can't think of any other place I want to be.
Cesare's grandmother comes forward then. "Cesare tells me you were very brave, bambina."
"I'm sure what he really means is 'silly'—-"
"You are very new to famiglia business. Cesare should have taken more time to explain to you about the dangers of leaving our territory."
"I think I ended up being a little too lax because it was just the two of us. No bodyguards—-"
"That was unfortunately my choice."
Cesare frowns. "Nonna—-"
"We both know I am solely to blame for what happened today," La Strega says sharply. "I thought it would be safer and less conspicuous if you were to drive out of Boston without security. I also mistakenly assumed that they would not dare attack you in a neutral territory like Providence—-"
"Essato," Cesare says. "What happened was not your fault. It happened because they were stupid enough to break the rules, and even more stupid to go after us without being able to finish the job."
The older woman looks at me. "I am sorry, bambina. Never again will you come into harm while under my watch—-"
I open my mouth to tell her that I'm not blaming her at all, but when she raises her hand in a halting gesture—-
Gotcha.
If she wants me to shut up, then I'm shutting up.
"It is what I owe you, bambina, and a Marchetti always pays his debts, you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
A faint smile touches her lips, and both of us share a moment of déjà vu.
Gosh.
I know it was just this morning I was nervously seated in her office, but those memories honestly feel like they happened a lifetime ago.
"Now, then..." La Strega glances at the others. "I assume you already know Giancarlo and Sarica?"
"Um, yes—-"
"Dare I hope she's introduced herself properly?"
Sarica makes a face. "We all know what you're really asking, signora, and to answer your real question—-yes, I did tell Penelope I'm Giancarlo's fidanzata...for the time being."
I nearly choke at her daring...while the rest of the Marchettis are acting like they haven't heard anything out of the norm.
Huh.
Cesare's grandmother then motions to the only member of her family that I've yet to meet.
"Penelope, may I introduce you to another grandson of mine? Massimo is also twenty-eight like Cesare. Growing up, they were like twins, albeit of different mothers."
"Ciao, Penelope," Massimo drawls with a lazy smile. "It is nice to finally meet you, and if you have any second thoughts about Cesare, you may be pleased to know that we have one other brother—-"
"Fuck off, Mas," Cesare snaps, but this only has his brother smirking.
"What did I say, fratello? I told you, didn't I? You're geloso—-"
I bite my lip hard.
No, no, no.
I'm pretty sure I've heard his brother wrong—-
Cesare tips my chin up. "Penelope?" The frown in his voice tells me he's somehow sensed the change in my mood. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"Um..."
"You can tell me anything."
Well, in that case...
"Why did he call you...an ice cream?"
"Scusa?"
"He said you were 'gelato'—-"
Everyone in the room starts coughing, and the sound is all too annoyingly familiar.
Yeeeargh.
I make a face at them and throw my hands up in surrender. "It's not my fault I don't speak Italian or mafia—-"
Everyone winces at this, but this doesn't really make me feel any better, and I can't help eyeing Cesare's family rather warily. "How much do you guys know about what went down today?"