Giovanni nodded, wearing a neutral look on his face, and left with his group. Depending on what Ermanno had done would determine his look the next time I saw him, if I chose to tell him the specifics of what my intentions were with speaking to his son.
Keeping Ermanno’s shoulders in my hands, I directed him with my group.
“I am to hunt with the royals?” he asked, but it did not seem as if he had meant to speak the worlds aloud.
“Quiet,” I said in Italian.
Ermanno nodded and squared his shoulders. Once my father led us to our area of the property, and I was off on my own, we would speak, Ermanno and I. My brothers all glanced at Ermanno, as did my sons and nephews, but seeing nothing special about the situation, except for my hands on the short Fausti’s shoulders, they all turned their eyes forward, and we followed our head lion. Once we’d reached the area we were to hunt, our king sent us off in groups of two.
Brando went in a different direction so I could speak to Ermanno alone. He stood in front of me, squared his shoulders, and looked me in the eye.
“My heart is not the size of yours, but it is mighty,” he said. “I am ready.” He stuck his chest out.
“Tell me, Ermanno Fausti, what you are ready for.” It did not take a scientist to understand what he was ready for, but I wanted to hear the words with my own ears.
“A man is allowed last words before his heart is stolen. Depending on my offense, I also have the choice to direct my heart wherever I would wish it to go.”
“You do not get the choice to direct where you would prefer your heart to go,” I said, “if the offense is personal. To have your heart stolen means you have personally aggrieved me. Tell me, what have you done, Ermanno Fausti, to deserve this punishment.”
“Francesco’s line was clowning around last night,SignorFausti, and when Gennaro and I entered the woods to see what the fuss was about, we found them pretending to smoke the sparklers. I do not recall how it happened, but one of the sparklers fell. It started a small…ah,fuoco…ah,fire. I could not put it out alone. I did not want to see your beautiful home destroyed by its flames. This is when I found your wife and asked her for help.”
“I do not see why this would deserve your heart being stolen.”
He took a deep breath. “I have lusted after your wife,SignorFausti. I watched her dancing to the song, ah, ‘Papa Loves Mambo’ at the celebration last night.” He took another breath. “I am ashamed to admit this, but I cannot tell a lie. My first thought was…SignoraFausti does not need a trampoline. Then…I fell in love with her. Gennaro says this is because I recently watched the filmMalèna. Women and their wiles. Breasts and honey pots…” He sighed wistfully. “All the rest.” He sighed again, this time longer.
Roaring laughter echoed from the woods, and a moment after, my brother’s head appeared out of the trees. Brando shrugged. “Ermanno is only telling the truth, brother.”
“This, I am,” Ermanno whispered.
Brando disappeared a moment later, and a gun blast echoed throughout the trees. Ermanno stood tall, although I could tell he wanted to look in the direction of the blast. He sucked in abreath when my hand went around his throat, and I lifted him off his feet. I brought him eye level with me. His were wide, but he was not even attempting to dislodge my hold.
Fausti through and through.
I ran my teeth over my bottom lip. “My wife tells me you attempted to shield her from thecinghiale. For this, and for her grace, you will walk away from me a whole man. However, if I ever hear you speak ofmywife, or any woman the way you have, you will answer to me. I am a mere human man. I do not give second chances when it comes to my heart.” I set him down on his feet, and he gulped in air, but he did not attempt to rub his throat. He also dug his boots down and refused to allow himself to teeter.
Impressive.
However, when I set my hand on his shoulder, I felt a quiver run through his body.Bene.He would never forget my touch or my vow.
I directed him in another direction. One of the men appeared with my gun. The one my son custom made for me. I ordered the solider to fetch me another. I looked down at Ermanno. “I will teach you the proper way to hunt. This way, if there is ever another time a woman is in danger, you will know how to properly protect her.”
“Will you teach me how to sword fight?” I could see how eager he was, even if his voice cracked. “You are one of the best! A legend in the family!”
I squeezed his shoulder. “No. This is your father’s honor.”
He nodded, his face going serious. “I understand this.”
As we walked side by side, we stopped in a clearing. Autumn leaves fell around us, almost as steady as rain, drifting to the ground, making a fall carpet. Around the collection of leaves, mist purled at our ankles and feet. A roasting scent, blazing fires and meat on the spit, perfumed the air.
“Permission to speak,SignorFausti.”
I lifted an eyebrow at him. He stood taller, refusing to move his eyes from mine. I respected the Fausti in him, even if I did not respect the words he chose to use about my wife. I would never forget them. If he valued his life, he would not forget them either.
“Permission granted, Ermanno.”
“Your son,SignorMassimo Fausti, killed thecinghialelast night.”
My eyes narrowed on his.
