“I know,” Edna breathed. “It’s just that you look so much like him. Especially the eyes. Same color and everything. Your haircut too!”
He gave one curt nod, and I squeezed his hand, trying to communicate silently with him. Edna was still obsessed with his grandfather, and probably always would be, especially since she associated him with safety. I should have seen it before, but I didn’t realize it until after. Edna had agoraphobia. I wondered if Luca had told Nazzareno the story about Edna and Marzio too.
“So.” Edna clasped her hands together and set her chin on them, gazing at us. “Tell me all about how you two met.”
I looked at Nazzareno and he nodded. I didn’t have a problem sharing that with Edna, but she was the owner of one of the most notable newspapers out there. I didn’t want to break what little trust was left between me and my husband.
I cleared my throat. “In Venice, at the event.”
She seemed to know how much to ask after that to keep the conversation flowing but not cross any lines when it came to the Fausti family. It seemed like she was truly interested in us—in my happiness. When the conversation stalled, a beat passed between Edna and I before she and I opened our mouths at the same time—
“Why didn’t you come to me, Peps?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you left Vice City to me?”
Our voices and questions collided, then we both took a breath and said, “Neil.”
He’d informed us both about things we hadn’t spoken to each other about.
A knock came at the door. We all turned toward it.
“I heard my name,” Neil said to the door. “Let me in.”
“It’s never locked,” Edna said.
Neil cracked the door open. “Is it safe for me to enter?” He met Nazzareno’s eyes. “I meant that sarcastically, but now I’m not so sure.”
Andrea’s head appeared next to Neil’s. “Love your hair, Peps.”
I smiled. “Gabriella outdid herself.”
Nazzareno stood and fixed his suit. Neil and Andrea came into the room, but not fully. I introduced them, and after Neil held out his hand, Nazzareno took it. He shook Andrea’s next.
My husband was quiet, watching the three of us interact, but I didn’t feel any hostility from him. After a few minutes, Neil and Andrea said they were going to lunch.
That left the three of us again.
Edna sighed. “I didn’t want anyone to know because I didn’t want my kid brother’s son to find out.”
“Parker,” I said.
“That’s not his real name, but yes. Parker.”
“I can’t be sure, Ed, but I think he let a man named Olivier Nemours into Vice City the night before I left. I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t know who I could trust.”
I could tell by her pinched lips she didn’t like that I hadn’t trusted her, but she accepted it. She hadn’t trusted me with her information, either, and I accepted that too.
“My dad had Parker’s dad, Joe, late in life, after my mom died. Joe and I never really got along, especially after dad left Vice City to me. Joe died a few years back and I respected my father’s wishes that family would always have a job here.”
“Is there anyone else you can leave it to?”
“Why?” she rushed out. “Are you not coming back?”
“I’m not.” I sighed. I knew this was going to break both of our hearts. “I’d love to travel the world, Ed. There’s so much out there. So much more than this.” I waved a hand around, meaning work. “I was just afraid. Afraid to fly away from it, because I had no idea where I was going to land.”
Her eyes bored into mine, trying to figure out if I knew about her phobia. Then she offered us each a drink, but we both declined. She poured herself a full glass and turned toward Marzio. She spoke to us, but it was almost like she was speaking to him.
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “Who I can trust, besides you.”
