Okay.Interesting change of subject.
“I had planned to make an announcement during dinner, but my sons pointed out you might want to be part of the decision.”Rocco looks their way over my shoulder, chuckling.“I admit, I hadn’t thought of it, but they’re right.You’re a grown man with a home of your own.But it was always my plan to have all of my children live here, on the estate, and it was always in the cards to build a home for Giulia when the time came.I would like to break ground in the spring, that is, if you are amenable to the idea and would consider living here, since I know she won’t want to live anywhere without you.”
It’s not easy to pretend I haven’t thought about it.I’ve never brought it up to Giulia, and she’s never mentioned it to me, but it only made sense to guess this was somewhere in the pipeline.I find it hard to believe Luca is okay with this.Having me under this roof the past five weeks after my release from the hospital was one thing, but a permanent home?
“Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to give up your apartment in the city,” Rocco insists.“You still have your freedom to spend time there whenever you want.I wanted to bring this to you first, in case you took the offer the wrong way.Like I’m trying to keep you locked down.”
I know it would make Giulia happy.As much as she wants her freedom, she needs to be near her family—the girls, her parents.Having a separate home on the property would at least give the illusion of a little freedom.“If this is what she wants, it’s what I want,” I decide.
Rocco’s smile is immediate, warm, and genuine.“Congratulations.Welcome to the club.”
“What do you mean?”I ask, looking over to where Dante and Luca sit.
“It’s always easier in the long run to let the woman make the decisions,” Dante explains.“Happy wife, happy life.”
She isn’t my wifeyet, but I get his point.So long as she can come and go as she pleases, she’ll be thrilled.Which means I will be too.
“And I hope you know,” Rocco adds, clapping me on the shoulder, “I don’t expect you to be her driver anymore.In fact…” His gaze drifts toward Dante, who clears his throat.“There are a few areas we would like your help with when it comes to managing some of what used to be your family’s income streams.”
“Entertainment, mostly,” Dante explains.“There’s still a lot to untangle, and we could use someone with the experience who is familiar with the locations and the clientele.”
“But only if you want to,” Luca is quick to add.There’s still mistrust there, that much is obvious.“No one is trying to force you into anything.”
How generous of him.“I would like to explore that,” I decide, choosing my words carefully.It wouldn’t be the same as running my own family, but then I no longer have one now that so much of it has been absorbed by theirs.This means having a hand in things again.Will it be easy to defer to Dante?No.But it’s a hell of a step up from where I am now.
“Good.”Finishing his drink, Rocco sets his glass down.“I don’t know about any of you, but I have had far too few treats today.What do you say we get dinner over with so we can move on to dessert?”
“Now you know Mama is keeping an eye on your diet,” Dante reminds him as they leave the room together.
“Can you hang back a minute?”Luca asks me, making my heart sink, though I could sense there was something else on his mind.
I turn slowly, reminding myself how Giulia loves him and how I love her.Sometimes, it’s all that keeps me from stomping the little shit.When he gestures toward the chair Dante vacated, I take a seat purely out of curiosity.
“It’s obvious you and Giulia are the real thing.”He can’t help but pull a face, like he tasted something sour.“That’s not easy for me to stomach, and you know it.”
“I had a feeling,” I admit with a smirk.
“It was one thing to learn to live with you being around here, but this is something else completely.It isn’t easy…” he admits, “… but I have to accept Giulia’s decision.And you did save her life that day.None of us will ever forget that.”
Am I supposed to thank him?Burst into tears?I wonder if there will ever come a time when his self-righteous attitude won’t set my teeth on edge.
He takes the other chair, heaving a sigh, staring down at what’s left in his glass.“I want to know about Sicily.That’s all I ask.And before you tell me it’s none of my damn business…” he adds, lowering his brow, “… my sister loves you.Tell me I don’t have to worry about her suffering for what you’ve done.”
I see where he’s coming from, not that I would ever admit it out loud.There will always be part of me that’s contrary, especially when it comes to hypocrites who judge others for the same kind of shit they’ve pulled.But I do understand his concern for Giulia, which is the only reason I’m willing to entertain him.
“You don’t deserve an explanation…” I pause long enough to clock his surprised reaction before explaining, “I’ll give it to you anyway, just so we’re clear on what went down.I would hate to think of it standing in the way of Giulia being happy.”
There’s something satisfying about pausing, leaving him hanging.Finally, I take pity.“I highly doubt anyone would come after me, even if they knew I was the one who pulled the trigger.”
“Please,” he scoffs as he lifts his glass to his lips.
“You find that so hard to believe?”I counter.
“A man like that?The money, the connections.You mean there’s no one who might take it personally?”
“Those connections you’re talking about?Do you think they were friends?”It’s my turn to scoff before sipping the whiskey.I’ll give it to Rocco, he knows how to pick his brands.It’s rich, smooth, burning a pleasant path down my throat.
“They weren’t friends?”
