“No,Signore,” Philippa replied. “I promise you. Your sister wrote those words to you of her own desire.”
I nodded. “Then I won’t interfere,” I said. “You can tell my sister that she has my blessing.”
Philippa offered a small smile that was difficult to know the meaning of, then she bowed her head and turned her back to me, leaving the room just as quietly as she’d arrived. I looked down at Lucia’s beautiful scrawl across the paper in my hands and felt a knot in my throat. At least I’d get to see her. Get to see Alessandra and Chiara. Those things would be worth it.
“Are you okay?” I looked up and Natalia had returned to the doorway.
I stood up and walked over to the doorway and held out my hand. She swallowed hard but lifted hers and I took it in mine. I brushed my thumb over the soft silk of her skin and took a deep breath. More would have been preferred, but just that little bit of contact provided me with the comfort I needed.
“I’m okay,” I said. “Lucia is marrying Romeo.”
“Yes,” Natalia said. “I’m sorry for not mentioning it, but I was afraid they’d leave you uninvolved and I didn’t want to upset you even more.”
“I understand. Thank you for considering me.” I looked into her eyes. “They’re going to let me attend. I’ll get to see my sisters.”
“That’s worth it,” she said.
“Philippa,” I said. “What do you know of her? Would she lie?”
“I don’t know her well, but from what I know she’s all surface. She’s honest,” Natalia said.
“I’m scared for my family,” I admitted.
“I know,” she replied, “but for the first time in months you’re going to be able to hold them again and protect them yourself.”
“Yeah.” I smiled at her. “Thank you.”
“Thankme?” Natalia asked. “For what?”
It was funny when she asked because I didn’t entirely know the answer, but at least one thing for sure. “For being here,” I said. “Please don’t go anywhere.”
Natalia gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I won’t.”
17
Natalia
Considering the bloodstains that had led us to the matrimony of a Cavetti and a Bonifacio, the church where they were being wed was covered top to bottom in white accents, from white calla lilies to flowing white sashes that hung from the ceiling as well as connecting the pews on the aisle side, forcing all of the guests to walk around to the other side to take their seats. I shook my head at all the people in their finest dress, with bright smiles on their faces as though they wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to strike down any member of my family if they were presented with the option. No doubt my father had cashed in many of his favors to make sure that the church was packed with faked loved ones in order to maintain his facade of being well respected.
Among the guests were the heads of the other mafia families, along with their families, and a few goons each. At least two of them, by my guess, had considered using this wedding as a cover to start some mayhem with my family, and the rest wouldn’t bat an eye over getting involved if it happened. My father was no idiot either, however, as he had some of his own henchmen stationed around each of the families. If any of themdidcome with a plan to cause trouble, they certainly wouldn’t get very far.
“You look beautiful.” I jumped a little at the voice in my ear, but turned and saw Savio looking back at me. Given that I was no more than Lucia’s sister-in-law, and one she’d only seen at required meals no less, I didn’t have a large role to play in the wedding, but I was still wearing a chiffon dress matching the wedding’s scheme, though in a deep burgundy. “That stern look on your face doesn’t do you justice.”
“I shouldsmilemore?” I asked with disgust. “Are you really hitting me with that chauvinist bullshit right now?”
Savio chuckled at me like we were two kids sneaking out of Sunday mass. “Shh, don’t swear in church.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t say things to piss me off.”
“Besides, what I meant is that you shouldn’t be glaring at the wedding guests,” he said.
“How many of them do you think want to kill us?” I asked.
“None of them would be dumb enough to try. Not today anyway,” Savio replied. “Did you know that Romeo made arrangements for Giorgio to be here?”
I hadn’t seen Giorgio yet since arriving at the church, but I knew that Lucia was seeking his blessing for permission to request his presence. “Did he? I haven’t seen him.”
“Supposedly, Lucia sent a letter requesting it to Giorgio, but Philippa returned it to Romeo instead of Lucia. He allowed her to believe that the letter was unreturned so that she’d be truly surprised when she saw him here.”
