Saverio’s grin came slow. “I did.”
“Yeah, you did.” I laughed. “But.” I bit my lip. “Don’t count him out. I think he did some subtle scheming himself.”
Saverio gave me a look that meant “continue.” I did.
“I’m pretty sure Elio Ascari was a pawn in this game.”
“How so?”
“What better way to get me and you to move in sync? Put a third player in to move us closer to each other. You were going to make your move by taking me. Once you got me here, how could I say no? I doubtnonnothought about the specifics that much, but he knew his plan would work. Just like Magpie knew making me watch all those romantic movies without happy endings would soften me up.”
“Everyone knows that. Evelina included.”
I grinned. “I can’t say for certain, but I think my father was in on it, too. Though tonight is being done out of respect fornonno, without papà’s consent?” I shrugged. “We both know this wouldn’t be happening.”
“Fuck,” Saverio said quietly, and I laughed just as quietly. “One upped.”
“If so…” The smile lingered on my face. “Not by much. Stealing me—that was brilliant.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Creepy but brilliant.”
He chuckled as he moved us toward the table. Then he stopped.
“Would you have really tried to marry that pompous prick if the pieces didn’t fall into place like they did?”
“To keep you safe?”
“Stop answering a question with a question.”
Our eyes locked, and it was going to be a battle.
“Saverio,” a deep voice said.
My eyes broke from Saverio’s and landed on his father.
I looked into a pair of piercing blue eyes the color of an exotic sea. His hair was jet black with stripes of silver. His skin was smooth and tan, except for the jagged scar across his throat. His voice had a rasp to it because of that scar, I thought.
Mac Macchiavello was not just fine, but afucking fineman. Looking at him, no one could doubt why his son was so gorgeous, even if his colors were a bit different.
Mariposa came to stand next to Mac. I forced my eyes away from her husband to her. She was the kind of woman who magazines praised as a unique beauty. She was stunning, but in her own way. Her hair was long and chestnut, her skin more olive than tan. She had hazel eyes and a Roman nose, just like Evelina’s.
Everyone called her Mari, except for Mac.
Even though I knew Mari liked me, I still got the feeling that she didn’t like how I’d always said no to Saverio. Maybe one day we’d have an open conversation about it.
“It’s so good to see you, Mia,” she said, standing on her toes to kiss my cheek. “We were going to come by and check on you, but we wanted to give you time to recover first. Saverio said you were sleeping a lot.”
“Your feet—” Mac nodded toward them.
“They’re okay.” I lifted them some. “Just sore.”
Mari squeezed my hand, putting pressure on my ring. “We’re so happy for you both.”
“Grazie mille,” I whispered, squeezing back.
Saverio grunted, and I realized he was sweating. I wiped his head. “Let’s eat. I’m starving. Everything looks and smells so good.”
