Many men looked at her in a way that made me nervous, but no one even dared to shake her hand.
Faro winked at me while talking to some of our captains.
I ignored him and turned my attention to the door where my mother and Gianna’s mother walked in with the sheet between them.
They walked to the side of the room and draped the fabric over two chairs.
Gianna made a small choked sound, and her cheeks took on a red tinge the moment she saw them.
“This is mortifying.” I peered down. I wasn’t embarrassed, but I too didn’t like showing the public this glimpse of our private life. With Gaia I didn’t mind, perhaps because I was young and eager to impress.
“It’s a sign of your honor, nothing to be ashamed of.” “And a sign of your ruthlessness, no?” There was a little twitch of her mouth and that surprising glint in her eyes, as if she had made a secret joke.
“I suppose so. Given your age, I should have had scruples. The fact that I didn’t is a sign of my nature.”
After the commotion and initial applause had subsided, Gianna and I made our way to the table with our immediate family and Luca and his wife.
Gianna’s mom immediately hugged her.
Dad patted me on the back, peering into my eyes. Whatever he was worried about seeing, he would not be present in a room with acquaintances.
Mia hugged me despite my reluctance to show affection in public.
“I really hope you tried to be a decent human being for that girl.” I was not at all sure of my ability to be decent. It was not in my nature, but I had not been impatient or rough with Gianna.
“Mind your own business.” She squinted her eyes. I had lost count of the number of times I had told her that, but she had not complied with my wishes. “Are you all right?” Whispered Gianna as we took our seats at the head of the table.
I approached. “My sister was afraid I would not be decent to you.”
“Because of the sheets?” Horror resounded in Gianna’s words. “Because of my nature.”
Gianna tilted her head in that curious way. Her hair smelled like a field of strawberries in summer, and the insane urge to press my nose into it rose within me. “You were decent.”
He touched the hand resting on my thigh with his fingertips. Feeling eyes on me, I turned back to the table. Christian, Felix and my father looked on in curiosity. My expression stiffened.
Gianna
Alessio was obviously uncomfortable with any kind of emotional display in public. Soon she was talking to Luca and the other Underbosses, leaving me at the mercy of my nosy mother.
Eventually I managed to shake her and my aunts off and hid in a stall in the bathrooms. It was here that Mia found me twenty minutes later.
“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?” she said after I came out and we both did our makeup.
“It is.” “Are you okay? You can tell me if you’re not. Alessio is my brother, but I am a woman first.” I nodded, remembering Alessio’s words and his reluctance to involve other people in our private life. “I’m fine, but thank you.” He gave a small smile.
“Don’t let me turn you into something that is not you. Our world needs girls like you.”
I hugged her quickly, and unlike her brother, she didn’t mind and hugged me back. I was happy to have her by my side, but I needed to find my own place in Alessio’s life. He would not tolerate anything else.
It was almost 8 p. m. when we finally pulled into the driveway that led to Alessio’s mansion, a magnificent three-story sandstone building with white columns supporting the porch, white fixtures, and old crooked trees on the front lawn. Alessio parked in one of the double garages on the left.
He got out and opened the door for me. My stomach emptied from nerves. That was my home now, and soon I would meet the children I would raise. Alessio’s hand regained its place on my lower back as he led me toward the magnificent white front door. Someone on his staff had collected my things in the morning and brought them home. I let out a shuddering breath as Alessio slipped the key into the lock. His eyes rested on me.
“This is your house.” I turned a quivering smile to him, knowing he was serious. Yet, judging by the way he had handled everything up to that point, his rules would be the only ones he would want to be followed within those walls.
I would have to fight for every bit of power and freedom; he would yield neither freely.
He opened the door and motioned me to come in. I did, trying to figure out what I was smelling as I scanned the gray and white granite floor.
The high-pitched barking almost gave me a heart attack, and a small ball of reddish-brown fluff crossed the room and stuck to Alessio’s pant leg.
Growling, the little dog began to tug at the fabric. I blinked and then bit my lip, stifling laughter. It was a sight too ridiculous not to be funny.
“Fuck!” Alessio growled.
“Sybil, didn’t I tell you to keep that damn dog locked up?” My smile died. He bent down and tried to grab the dog’s neck, but the little being snapped its teeth and bit his finger.
Fury crossed his face, and he finally managed to grab the dog and lift it into the air. The dog squeaked once, then fell silent and hung in Alessio’s clutches. My husband looked like he was thinking of putting him down with his gun or strangling him with his strong hands. I touched his arm, terrified for that helpless animal.