I grinned, but it fell fast. “Have you told your husband?”
“Not yet. Brando doesn’t have a traditional relationship with Maggie Beautiful, but Maggie is his mamma. He’s always loved her and wanted to protect her. One thing about the Fausti men?”
“They already know when we’re feeling something and hiding it.”
“Yes, and if not right away, it doesn’t take them long to figure it out. Our men might give us time to come to terms with whatever we’re dealing with out of respect, but…if they feel we’re getting too deep inside of our feelings, they don’t hesitate to get involved.”
“It’s the Fausti way,” I whispered. “The men of the family make shields of themselves.”
“Some of them. Luca’s branch has always been the most passionate about love, in my humble opinion. Even when it’s for the family. It’s still love, and it can still be their main passion. Ettore came to mind just now. He’s Luca’s brother, the one who was supposed to take over if Luca couldn’t. By default, Lothario did, who is younger than Luca and Ettore. Ettore accidentally shot…Marzio, Luca’s father, when he was at war with us.”
I sighed, went to open my mouth to speak, but the men came inside the house. I hadn’t heard them. A strong scent alerted me before any noise. A surge of my husband rushed up my nose and went straight to my heart, making it beat faster. My handsheld on to the table, and I had to take steady breaths to stop the spinning. Rocco was a shot of dopamine.
Scarlett closed her eyes for a second, and when they opened, she looked at me and smiled. “That feeling? It doesn’t lessen. It hasn’t for us, and I know—with all my heightened senses and heart—it won’t for you and Rocco either.”
No matter what else was going on, a true smile came to my face at Scarlett’s words. Scarlett’s smile matched mine. Our men stopped by the entrance to the kitchen, and when they noticed our faces, both of their faces softened at the sight of us sitting together, enjoying our time.
Rocco slid a hand on my shoulder at the same time Brando did the same to Scarlett’s. We both slid our hands over our husband’s hands at the same time. Then we all seemed to look at each other, and a feeling entered the room that wasn’t there before—a strong sense of fate.
“You feel it, too?” Scarlett whispered, like she didn’t want to disturb it.
“I do,” I whispered back, squeezing my husband’s hand, feeling a tremble underneath his skin.
Brando cleared his throat. “The concert.”
Rocco checked his watch. “We have two hours.”
Scarlett had called earlier that day to invite us to a concert in town. It was an older band, Gin Blossoms. Scarlett had told me theirs was the first concert she’d ever been to. Brando was the one who took her. Their friends, Mitch and Violet, were meeting us before we all went together. Mitch and Violet had gone with them to the first concert. I was so game when she’d invited us.
An explosive laugh barreled through my chest when Brando picked Scarlett up and threw her over his shoulder, slapping her ass. He began to sing a messed-up version of “Found Out About You.” By messed up, I meant the lyrics were all wrong. Roccogrinned at me, swooped me out of my seat, threw me over his shoulder, and began to sing a romantic Italian tune.
I sighed, because all the words were perfect.
When we all emerged from our rooms ready to roll out the door, the men were dressed almost identical, except for different colored shirts, and Scarlett and I were dressed similar again too. We both wore leather jackets, a white t-shirt for her, black for me, with edgy jewelry, and wide-leg jeans. Black boots completed the ’90s-inspired outfits.
Violet even laughed, telling us we were “twinning” and winning at it.
That night, I learned a valuable lesson about the Fausti family and being a part of it. Even if we were struggling with the hardships of life, we could put it aside to enjoy the times that were more lighthearted.
By the end of the concert (Vertical Horizon was part of the tour, and Candlebox was a surprise guest!), which I could tell wasn’t Rocco’s thing (and maybe not all mine either, as far as music goes), he was singing the lyrics to me all wrong too. But I’d had such an amazing time, and despite the different taste in music, he wanted to make me happy.
If I was next to him, I’d be happy for the rest of my life.
Chapter 11
One Heart That Reflects Two Bodies
Aria Amora
Irested my head against my husband’s shoulder, my arm wrapped around his, as his private plane took off from New Orleans and headed skyward toward Tuscany, Italy. The trip was going to take a while, and I closed my eyes, grinning when he began to hum “Hey Jealousy,” then started to sing the song in Italian underneath his breath. He’d told me he never hadthosesongs stuck in his head before, and he couldn’t seem to dislodge them.
“Do I dare ask…” I made a drum noise, beating an imaginary one. “Rocco Fausti, did you have fun at a ’90s pop band comeback concert?!”
He laughed, kissing my head, more relaxed than I’d ever seen him. At the end of the concert, Violet had pulled me in by the hips and whispered in my ear, “You’re humanizing him. Keep it up!”
He was still relaxed.
So was I as we reached altitude and the plane evened out. I was tired. I held tighter to my husband, keeping him as close as possible, and then closed my eyes. I woke up with a jolt when the plane shook so hard, the lights flickered.
