He starts laughing again and I feel my face turn hot with embarrassment. I look down at myself trying to figure out what he thinks is so damn funny but I see nothing.
“What the hell is your problem?” I growl out with more venom than I even knew I had. “Do youfind the way I look to be that comical or are you so dense, you cannot string together a proper sentence?”
Pita sucks in a sharp breath and Diego stops laughing. His eyes crinkle at the sides and a small smirk forms on his face.
“Okay, now I get it,” he says, which only confuses me more. “Come on Princess. Let's go see your cousins.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Liana
The restaurant is definitely the kind of place my uncle would have chosen, zero hesitation. The shiny floors stretch beneath my feet and I look above to see chandeliers with dangerously sharp crystals hanging overhead. This place is absolutely ridiculous. The staff navigate tables with rehearsed smiles. These people don’t want to be here, but I bet the money is good. A part of me yearns for belonging in this orchestrated world and in some sense, I guess I do…just not willingly. The other part of me craves to disrupt this facade with every fiber of my being. Every single person here looks as if they were born knowing exactly which fork belongs to which course, and I feel the strange familiarity of it settle on my skin. This isn’t much different from my Italian prison after-all.
Diego walks right behind me, so close that I can sense him without even turning around. I wonder if he was told I might run? Well, jokes on you dumbass. I’m not sure I could run now even if I wanted to. I'm tempted to stop short just to seeif he will run into me…to see if he’s paying as close attention to me as I think he is. I don’t dare look back, but I know he’s watching, I’m just not sure what exactly he’s watching for. I let out a breath as we twist and turn through the rows of tables before finally coming to a slow stop.
And then I see them. They’re clustered in a corner booth, half-hidden by the curve of the wall, and for a second, my heart stops beating altogether. Family. Excitement rushes through my body and I feel a smile form on my face.
Antonio spots me first, his broad face breaking into a smile that makes the lines around his eyes crinkle. Next to him, Alexander's sharp gaze snaps up, his expression carefully neutral but his eyes drinking me in, assessing. He’s looking to see if I’ve been hurt. Felix, simply nods, the slight upturn of his lips forming into a small smile.
I should remain proper. That’s how I was raised to act in public, at least, but my composure cracks. All my careful preparation and all the reminders to stay cool and collected shoot out the window the moment Antonio stands and opens his arms. I practically fly the last few steps, crashing into him as his arms fold around me protectively.
"Little L," he murmurs against my hair, his voice thick with emotion.
I breathe in his familiar scent. It’s what all the men in my family smell like. Expensive cologne, strong coffee…home. Family. Safety. For just a moment, I'm not in Arizona anymore. I'm back in Italy.
Diego clears his throat loudly behind me, ruining my vision and reality crashes back in. I pull away reluctantly, quickly brushing away tears I didn't realize had fallen. I don’t need anyone to see me weak right now. Least of all, the brother of the man I’m meant to marry.
"It's good to see you," I say with a neutral tone, completely aware of Diego's watchful eyes. I slide into thebooth beside Felix, who squeezes my hand under the table, his silent way of offering support. Antonio turns to Diego before reaching his hand out and I watch as both men shake hands, squeezing a little too firmly for just a moment too long. They both sit down and Alexander immediately focuses on me.
"You look well," Alexander says, studying my face with those analytical eyes that never miss anything. "Taken care of…."
I know what he's really asking though. Are you being treated well? Are you safe? Have they hurt you?
"I'm adjusting," I reply carefully. "The house is beautiful, and Pita, the housekeeper, takes good care of me. She reminds me of Marta."
“I am glad,” Antonio cuts in. “I would hate for you to be…unhappy.”
I don’t miss the subtle threat as all three of my cousins stare at Diego.
He stares back impassively before signaling to a waiter who materializes instantly at our table.
"Champagne," he orders without consulting any of us. "Your best."
Antonio raises an eyebrow slightly but says nothing. The power play isn't lost on any of us. This is Diego's territory, Sanchez territory, and he wants them to know it.
"Tell me about your new restaurant," I say, desperate to hear them talk and break this awkward tension.
Antonio launches into a detailed description of their new venture which happens to be an upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Phoenix. As he talks, Felix quietly places his phone on the table, showing me pictures of the space. I see glimpses of dark wood and elegant light fixtures that look stunning.
"It's beautiful," I say sincerely. "Uncle would have approved."
A flash of something crosses Felix's face before he masks it with a smirk.
“I am not stupid, Liana. No one gives a damn if that man would have approved. Least of all, you,” he murmurs. Then just a little lower, “we are here for you, Little L.”
A small smile forms on my face and I nod at him slightly while continuing to look at the pictures on his phone.
"We've been working with some interesting local partners to get everything set up quickly," Antonio says to Diego.
