“Where do you think?” Serena’s hazel eyes sparkle with mirth.
“Ah.” Sierra grins. “She’s gone to the playroom.” Sierra looks at me. “Does Caleb’s bad mood have anything to do with my niece’s not-so-subtle crush on him?”
I shake my head. “Not a bit. It has everything to do with him not wanting to leave his legions of adoring fangirls behind in New York. Joshua wasn’t impressed either. He just hides his moods better than his brother. He’s going steady with Bettina now and you’d swear they weren’t going to see each other for ten years the way they could barely tear themselves apart.” It’s actually cute, but I can’t deal with the drama.
Sierra smiles. “I’m not surprised both your sons have girls crawling all over them. They are very good-looking and sweet boys.”
“I’m not sure sweet is the word I’d use to describe Caleb right now. He’s acting like a typical teenager. He’s been in trouble at school, and I have caught him drunk on more than a few occasions.” Caleb has always been a little wild. He’s the more outgoing, gregarious twin. Joshua has always been happy to stay in his brother’s shadow. Joshua is sensitive and quieter, and he hasn’t given us any cause for concern over the years. Unlike Caleb.
“Is this a reaction to Gino being away?” Serena asks, drinking from her bottle of water.
“I think it’s a combination of things. Teenage hormones. Initiation. His dad being gone.” I chew on the inside of my lip. “He’s been asking about Juliet again lately.”
“Auntie Natalia!” My nephew Rowan screeches, racing across the kitchen floor like he’s got a bee up his butt. He flings himself into my arms, and I lift him up onto my lap. “I missed you.”
He clings to my arms, and my heart melts. “I missed you too, little charmer.” I ruffle his dark hair and hug him close. I adore this little guy. He is an amazing kid, and I’m so happy for Ben. Things were touch and go for a while with him and Sierra, but they worked through their differences and got married, and now they are the epitome of a happy family.
Romeo and Elisa trail into the kitchen, the latter hanging her head and looking upset. If Caleb has said or done anything to wound her little heart, I will throttle him. I warned him in the car to be gentle with her. I know it’s annoying for him. She is only nine, and he just turned fourteen, but she’s family, and he must treat her with kindness.
“Where are Caleb and Joshua?” I ask.
“They went to their rooms,” Romeo says, bouncing over to his mama.
“To talk to their girlfriends.” Elisa’s lower lip wobbles.
Serena and I share a look as she climbs into her mama’s lap. The poor little thing. She’s too young to learn this lesson about boys.
“Who wants to go out to the playground?” I ask, knowing that will cheer them up.
“Me!” they chorus, and we all stand.
Ben had a full playground built for Rowan, shortly after he found out he had a son. Ben is extremely protective of his family and his privacy, and very few people know he lives in Greenwich or where this house is. To avoid having to go out in public, Ben has equipped his mansion with pretty much everything they could need.
The playground definitely comes in handy, especially during the summer months when the kids can play for hours while we enjoy a long dinner and a few drinks al fresco.
“Race you outside,” I say, taking off through the French doors with the sound of little feet chasing after me.
33
Leo
“That was delicious,” Serena says, pushing her empty plate away. “You two should open a restaurant together.” She points between Sierra and Natalia. “You’d clean up.”
We are eating a late, casual dinner in the kitchen now the younger children are in bed. My brother Frank—Rowan’s bodyguard—is watching the small ones over in the west wing. Natalia’s sons ate dinner in record time and then asked to be excused so they could return to the Xbox. I know it must be boring for them here, and I wonder how much longer Natalia will be able to come over for weekends.
“No, thanks.” Sierra crawls into Ben’s lap, circling her arms around his neck.
I never thought I’d see my buddy so loved up, but he worships the ground his wife walks on. And he lives for his son. He’s living the dream, and I’m happy for him, even if it’s a reminder of everything I will never have.
“Sounds like too much stress. I’m happy with my little center,” Sierra adds.
Ben bought his wife a building in town as a surprise wedding present and Sierra recently opened a holistic center. She’s a qualified acupuncturist, and she has hired a couple of other specialists. By all accounts, business is booming.
“Gino would never agree to anything so provincial,” Natalia says, gulping back wine.
I’m not sure if something has happened, but she’s been drinking a lot tonight. She wears this veil of sadness that clings to her skin. It hurts my heart to see her like that. There’s a hint of sarcasm in her tone, which is unusual too. Natalia is the perfect mafia wife, from what I have seen, and it’s rare for her to cast dispersions on her husband.
I hate that prick.
