Uncle Tito knelt on the other side of Brando. Vincenzo stood off to the side with Romeo, staring while Uncle Tito placed his hands on me, giving me a checkup.
“Barbarians!” Uncle Tito said, releasing me from his cold hands. “The bunch of you! Lookather. She is fine. But what if that would have been your fists that would have hit her, ah?”
Preach, Uncle Tito.
“I keep quiet, for the most part. I tell myself, ‘Tito, they are young. They will make mistakes.’ However, I will not keep quiet any longer.” He adjusted the spectacles on his face. “At the risk of not sounding eloquent, get yourmerdatogether! All of you! This is war we are in. There is no time for squabbles amongst ourselves!”
After standing, he yanked his black bag up, kicking a rock as he made his way back toward the main villa. We could hear him grumbling to himself.
“He must have a needle stuck in his ass,” Brando said.
“Ice,” I said. “Too much ice.”
Brando’s eyebrows lifted in question. “Get him, Romeo.Adesso. My wife’s—”
“I’m fine!” I snapped. Well, except for being on the cold ground and feeling like a few screws were knocked loose. It was too early to tell if this would improve matters or not. “Where have you been anyway?”
“Now you ask.” He grinned at me. “Making my way back to you, that’s where, Ballerina Girl.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “You’re going to make it.”
“I think so,” I said quietly.
The setting sun never seemed so romantic as when he was with me. It made his bronze skin shimmer and his brown eyes soften. Though a new day was close on the horizon, our eyes connected, refusing to let go.
I threw my arms around him, holding on like a little monkey. He lifted me in his arms and brought me closer.
“It happened so fast,” he whispered. “I planned on talking to you about the plan after the party. Rocco suggested it earlier that morning and I knew it would keep you safe. That’s the only reason why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t have a chance. I’ve kept my word,mia moglie.”
I nodded against him, pulling him even closer. Romeo turned his back, about to follow in Uncle Tito’s footsteps. Vincenzo didn’t move.
“Romeo,” Brando called.
He turned around, waiting for Brando to speak.
“It’s an honor to call you brother. But I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.” He shot Vincenzo a hard look. “Go get your girl. If it’s time.”
Romeo nodded once and then hit Vincenzo on the shoulder. Both of them walked off into the sunset. This little show made me wonder if a lack of emotions was a good thing. Less drama. When the issue was over, it was over.
“I’d like to feign ignorance and pretend like I don’t know how you do it, but I do.” Brando sighed, turning his attention back to me. “This, though, I didn’t expect.”
I followed his line of sight, taking in the dress. “I like it.”
“I’d like it better off. Now.”
“I just got knocked down a hill!”
“Yeah, but you’re going to live. And you made me chase you. You know what that does to me.”
“I was just unconscious!”
“Your head would’ve been protected if you would’ve had your jug or basket up there.”
“Haha. Hilarious,” I said. “I married a comedian.”
He ran a strong hand over my head and leaned in to kiss my forehead again. “That—”
“Shouldn’t have happened.”
“You shouldn’t have tried to stop us.”
