The car continues up a steep incline. The landscape is so different from what I’m used to. There are some bushes and things to add a hint of green; otherwise, it’s all stone and sand. For a moment, we have a beautiful view of the city, then it’s concealed by the massive hill we’re driving on… or maybe mountain? I’m so used to being in a flat area that I have no idea what is actually considered a mountain.
I sense Hailey tensing in her seat before I see it. Men… no, an entire army lines up along the road. All of them holding assault rifles.
Max swears under his breath, then glances at Hailey. “You texted my dad that we got them, right? Did he respond?”
“Two minutes ago.”
He lets out a sigh of relief that he knows our dad is still alive.
“I chose a terrible time in my life to sober up,” Bianca says. “Jesus Christ.”
My head snaps forward, not wanting to make eye-contact with any of the soldiers, and then I see it. A castle sitting on top of this hill. It’s tan, like most building’s in this area, but the architecture is astounding. I can tell the side of the building curves around in the back. It’s huge. I grew up in the nicest neighborhood in all of southeastern Michigan and with a couple of vacation homes scattered across the country, but this is insane.
“Does Marco live here?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“Yes, along with his three children.” The car slows down near the entrance. “This is your future home.”
“My future home?” I’m breathless and overwhelmed looking at the place.
Max parks the car and walks around to open Hailey’s door as me and Bianca sit in the back with our jaws on the floor. Eventually, I muster up the courage to step out of the vehicle.
I was so distracted by the beautiful sight in front of me I didn’t notice the people lining the front of the entryway. I feel the pebbles under my feet in my sneakers, wincing that I’m not wearing something nicer.
I look at the familiar faces first—my parents and my grandfather. The men look angry, likely at me and Bianca. I can only imagine how pissed they were when they got into our hotel room to find the window screen popped out.
My mother has the same shocked expression I’m sure I’m unsuccessfully masking.
As my eyes dart over the unfamiliar faces, I land on one I’m surprised that I recognize.
That asshole whose car I jumped on.
I stop dead in my tracks. Bianca notices and stops with me as Max and Hailey continue forward, his arm possessively around her.
Bianca raises her eyebrows, and I keep walking after looking at that bastard again, who’s not bothering to hide his smirk.
Is this a sick joke?
The man I assume to be Marco, the oldest one in the Ferrara group, steps forward, arms spread wide with a grin on his face. “Benvenuto!”
I force a smile. Nothing in his demeanor is genuine, but he’s at least trying to be friendly.
Marco waves the asshole over, then I realize—that’s Alessandro. Well, there goes any of the initial foolish optimism I had about this wedding. This can’t be happening. Not this guy.
He stalks forward with a look of malice in his green eyes. His appearance is even more impeccable than it was when I had the misfortune of meeting him, making me self-conscious of my quick makeover in the back of Max’s car. There’s not a single strand of his dark hair out of place. The sleeves of his white dress shirt are rolled up with precision.
“Sofia,” Alessandro purrs, making my eyes snap up from his forearms. Was I really staring at his arms that much? “I’m happy you made it. Your father told us you were…” he pauses finding his words, “nervous and that’s why you’re late.”
I shoot a glare towards my family. That’s the lie they went with? Dad shrugs.
He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips. “But don’t be nervous, Sofia.You’re home now.”
He smiles at me as if we’re sharing an inside joke. Which, in a way, we kind of are. Except I’m the butt of that joke.
I feel my chest heave, and even though he spoke to me in Italian; I don't have the self-control to speak in anything but English. “I wasn’t nervous. My purse got stolen, and then some fucking asshole nearly hit me with my car and then prevented me from catching the thief.”
Every family member looks at me like I’m out of my mind. Did I really say that? I cursed in front of my new family. Twice. This afternoon has been so stressful that my filter completely dropped.
Alessandro laughs. “Che peccato.I hope you never see that… fucking assholeever again.”
