A thoughtful look overtook the pleasure on his face. One eyebrow rose—just for the briefest of seconds. “Repeat your words from earlier.”
“I didn’t say…” Oh, God I made a noise that sent the birds in a nearby tree fluttering.
“That.” He sucked in a breath and hissed it out as I came down and then lifted up, just to move against him again. “That it was men that had no control.”
I couldn’t find words anymore, but the thoughts crossed my mind, moving like leisurely winds across cerulean skies and sprightly grass, the sun illuminating the thoughts in stark relief to the darkness behind closed eyes…
Oh, how wrong I was. My body might not be able to have such an obvious physical reaction to his, but it’s still as visceral. When he calls to me, I rise, and go to him as blood goes to a heart.
Chapter Five
Brando
Thestronzowas lucky that Father Zullo didn’t press charges, and that Santina’s father didn’t shoot him. In the end, though, Livio got his girl, even if it took a sizable contribution to the church, promises from all of us that we would attend mass every Sunday, and hours of wearing down Signor Grassi to win her hand.
It seemed the man would forever have tomato-colored cheeks after the ordeal his soon-to-be son-in-law and daughter had put him through. He had three other daughters at home. His sanity seemed to be stretched as thin as a ragged thread.
It took a miracle to pull off a proper (so Scarlett had called it) wedding in a week. The women somehow did it. The couple agreed on a week, nothing more.Beggars couldn’t be choosershad been my response; my wife had pinched me. She was the only force standing between Rocco and Livio—Rocco wanted to punish him for abducting the priest. She wouldn’t allow it, giving him a moving speech about love and what a man would do for it.
Needless to say, this worked on Rocco. She knew his weakness. Romance.
The men Livio had chosen to stand beside him as he exchanged his vows were standing in the back of the church, waiting to line up so the puss—man could meet his determined (stubborn) bride.
I stretched my shoulders, feeling confined in the suit. It didn’t have much give. Romeo grinned at me and slapped me on the back, then went off to find a mirror to fluff up his hair or some shi—thing. Dario and Donato were talking about taking a safari in Africa. Rocco paced the floors, deep in thought.
I had told him about the feeling Scarlett had when she was around Santina. He took it as the girl might double-cross us, but I didn’t. I knew that feeling. It had been the same one Scarlett had about herself before she almost hemorrhaged before my eyes. I took a seat, placing a hand over my heart. I sent up a quick prayer of thanks for my wife, that she was safe, and asked that she always be.
Broaching the subject with Livio hadn’t been easy to do. The need to have what Scarlett could do make sense to him was strong—it came down to too much empathy—and what she felt toward Santina wasn’t normal. Livio had to know what he was getting his soon-to-be wife into. It was not just a burden but also a responsibility. I couldn’t allow him to marry her knowing that Scarlett felt a certain way.
Rocco had sat with us, and between the two of us, we tried to tell him that he had to keep a vigilant eye on his fiancé. At first, he didn’t seem to hear us. After a couple of minutes, he blinked, stood up, puffed out his chest, and declared that he was her man and wouldn’t allow any harm to come to her.
Rocco and I had looked at each other and then nodded, but also reminded him of the war on the horizon. I had asked him if he wanted that for her. He accepted the risk.
Here we waited.
Tito fussed with Livio’s tie—Livio held his head up, smiling, absorbing all of the attention. I grinned. I wondered if I had looked that goofy on our wedding day. I’d have Scarlett tell me after the ceremony.
“How does it look out there?” Livio said, as proud as a rooster.
Groaning as I rose out of the chair, I looked outside of the door. The small church was packed with people—the Fausti side filled, as well as the Grassi side. Scarlett sat next to Lola, her ear to the woman’s mouth, nodding at something she was going on about.
“Packed,” I said, keeping an eye on her.
Livio cleared his throat. “I need to speak to you all in confidence. One man to five.”
“If you are wondering if you are going to bleed on your wedding night,” Romeo said, “the answer is yes. Especially if she takes no pity.” He laughed, slicking his hair back. Dario roughed it up, making it stand up. Romeo made an irritated motion with his hands and turned back to fix it.
Livio might have fooled around in New Orleans, but we all knew he was still a virgin, so I had an idea where the conversation was headed. It made me uncomfortable.Man up and please your wifewas the words on the tip of my tongue, but I held it.
“Ah, I drew you a diagram,” Tito reminded him—joking but not.
“I do not need a diagram, Uncle!” Livio almost hissed. “I know where the parts go.” He cleared his throat. “Were you a…virgin when you married Signora Fausti?”
Rocco didn’t answer, so I turned around, shocked that he had addressed me. “Me?” I pointed to myself.
Rocco, Dario, Romeo, and Donato laughed.
I shook my head. “No.”
