“Oh Nico, this woman…she means more than Aimee, doesn’t she?”
“Does it matter?”
Luna laced her fingers together. “Your answer depends on my telephone call, Nicholas.”
It was the first time he’d heard his Christian name in a long while. His father was an Italian-American, whereas Nico’s mother was full-blooded Italian and stood by her roots. Nico learned the name Nicholas was what his father’s parents wanted and his mother understood the reasoning behind it even if she didn’t approve. But then shortened his name to Nico after everything was said and done.
Nico ran a hand through his hair and glanced back at Luna. She had wide, curious dark brown eyes on him. Her sun-bronzed skin was golden in the lamplight. “Do I love Autumn?” He gave a subtle shake of his head. “I don’t know. It’s too soon to tell. We’re barely acquainted. I’ve—”
“Done the two-step triangle?”
Nico squinted at Luna. “The what?”
In response, she made a fist with one hand and stuck two fingers within her fist. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “Il cazzo?”
“Luna!” Heat filled Nico’s cheeks. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d blushed.
“Don’t Luna me!” She snapped back. “I know what my children, blood or no, do when they aren’t home.” Luna rolled her eyes, “I’m not dead,nipottino.” She waved her hand at him, “Continue.”
Nico glowered back at the woman who partially raised him. “There’s something about her I can’t stop thinking about. I worry about her as if she were a part of me.”
“You. Love. Her.” Luna nodded and raised her hands above her head and clapped once. “I will make the call.” When Nico stayed seated, she blinked back at him. “What?Vattene!”
He wasn’t leaving. Not yet.
“You promise no harm will come to her.”
“Si. No harm will come to either of you on my property.” She cradled the phone’s receiver between her neck and ear. “And tomorrow? I’m assuming you're staying in the little bungalow?”
Nico nodded. A breath of relief left him. Whenla vedova neramade a promise, she kept it. “Yes, I’m leaving her here while I work tomorrow.”
“Va bene.”
Nico went to the door and was about to open it when Luna’s question stopped him. “Why don’t you leave Casale and come back here, Nico? You’re so tense in that big city. I know you love it here.”
That was the plan, Nico thought. “I need to see this thing through,Zia. I just might take you up on your offer afterward.”
“And will you be myconsigliere?”
A mob lawyer.
He turned to Luna with an eyebrow raised, “Maybe. Maybe not.”
Luna muttered something in Italian he didn’t catch. He smiled back at her and then shut the door behind him.
You could see the ballroom was decked out down the hall past the dining room. White fairy lights around the chandeliers and in the tall windows. Pink and blue flowers along the banners. You would think it was a celebration instead of just a dinner party.
Nico leaned against the wall as he watched Autumn dance with Mario to “Ti Amo.” He heard Autumn’s bubbling laugh from the other side of the room. Nico’s eyes softened as Mario dropped her in a deep bow over his arm.
“She looks good on you.”
Nico blinked and glanced over at his sister, Vera. She swept her long hair over her shoulders, cradling the youngestbambinoin her arms.
Nico stood straighter and glanced at Maria with her curls over Vera’s shoulder. “I haven’t the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please, you may be a stranger lately, but I’ve never seen you smile quite like that.” Vera glanced at where Autumn was dancing with another family friend. “I’ve seen you on TV at society balls among other places and those were superficial smiles. This one, though…you look positively happy.”
“I think you’ve been reading too many romance novels, little Vee.”
