“Thank you for inviting us to your lovely home and for facilitating the introduction.” I smile politely at Sierra. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Mazzone.”
“Please call me Sierra.” She leans in, enveloping me in a warm hug. A delicate floral scent tickles my nostrils as her summery perfume wafts in the air. She is truly stunning with gorgeous golden-blonde hair tumbling in soft waves over her shoulders, expressive green eyes, and a bright smile. Her maxi dress is made of white silk with a chiffon overlay stamped with vibrant pink and purple butterflies. The thin spaghetti straps showcase her slender arms and the delicate curve of her collarbone. Looking at her flat stomach and slim hips, I can’t believe she only gave birth a couple of months ago.
“I’m Catarina, and this is myconsigliere, Dario Agessi, and his wife, Nicolina; my underboss, Renzo Dutti; and Ezio, who is one of my most loyalsoldati.” I gave Ricardo the night off to take his girlfriend out dancing. There are enough of us tonight that I can do without my regular bodyguard. Ben and Sierra shake hands with everyone, and I watch her closely as she shakes hands with Renzo. He doesn’t prolong the greeting, and I don’t see any trace of recognition on her face.
“The Greco party is due to arrive shortly,” Ben confirms. “Why don’t we enjoy a pre-dinner drink while we wait for them?”
I purposely fall into step beside Sierra while Dario moves up to talk to Ben. Nicolina, Renzo, and Ezio trail behind us. “I can’t believe you only gave birth a couple of months ago or that you are a mother of three. You look amazing,” I truthfully tell Ben’s wife.
“You are so sweet, thank you. You look amazing too. That dress is stunning. White really suits you.”
“Thank you. My wardrobe contains a lot of white. It’s kind of my thing.”
She cocks her head to one side, looking contemplative. “Was that a strategic choice?”
I nod.
“Ah, I love that!” Exuberance exudes from her tone. “The symbolism is powerful.”
“I think so.” There’s a brief pregnant pause, which I quickly fill. Earning Ben’s trust will be easier if I win his wife over. “What did you name your new son?”
Her face lights up at the mention of her baby. “Rhys. His older brother is Rowan, and his sister is Raven, so I insisted we had to give him an R name too.”
“How old are your eldest children?”
“Rowan is twelve, and Raven is six.”
She’s quite disarming. Genuine too, which is a surprise, because a lot of women resent me and are hostile. From the things Anais has said about her, I wasn’t expecting her to be so welcoming. My sister painted a totally different picture, saying she is always rude and unfriendly toward her. Knowing Anais, she did something to cause Sierra to treat her that way. Like me, Anais is not the kind of woman other women want to be friends with—for some of the same reasons and for completely different reasons too.
She loops her arm through mine, as if we have been friends forever. “Do you have any children?” she asks.
I shake my head, deliberately not elaborating.
“Ben has been telling me about you,” she continues. “It is hard to impress my husband, but you have impressed him. I can only imagine how difficult it must be, as a powerful woman, operating within the confines of a regime that is still so archaic. Ben has been trying to effect change, but it isn’t easy.”
“It’s not. I share your husband’s philosophy, but implementing that vision is a tall order. I have encountered a lot of prejudice. As a donna, I need to constantly prove myself, and even then, most of the men I do business with still consider themselves superior to me when I could outfight them, outmaneuver them, and outsmart them nine times out of ten.”
“You must be highly intelligent with thick skin and nerves of steel to even consider going up against them. I don’t envy you, but I applaud you.” Her smile is genuine as she looks me in the eye. “We need more women like you in our world.”
“We do,” I agree, trying not to gape as we round the back of the majestic mansion, onto a large paved area in front of exquisite manicured gardens. A massive wooden canopy, decorated with rows of twinkling string lights, presides over the elegant outdoor table and chairs. Vases filled with roses and lilies line the top of the table, interspersed with a myriad of lit candles glowing behind glass covers. Soft music plays in the background as Ben pours Cristal into flutes at the outdoor bar tucked into the corner alongside an impressive kitchenette and industrial grill. “Wow, this is beautiful. You have a gorgeous home.”
“Thank you.” She beams at me. “Nat, Rena, and I have done a lot of work in the garden over the years, and Nat has even cultivated an orchard and vegetable patch, like she had growing up.”
“You are talking about Natalia Messina, Ben’s sister?” I make a show of looking around. “Is she here?”
She shakes her head, and soft waves of golden curls cascade around her shoulders. “Ben thought it would be more relaxing if we kept dinner confined to us, but they might join us for a drink after.”
Goose bumps sprout on my arms at the thought, but I know I will have to meet them sometime. It is best to get it over and done with to see if there is any hint of recognition from any of them. “That sounds lovely. I look forward to meeting them.”
Ben hands the ladies glasses of champagne and offers beer to the guys, and we move to the plush seated area on the left, just in front of a large outdoor pool. It is currently covered but illuminated via a border of lights embedded into the stone surrounding.
Ben takes a seat beside me with Dario on my right. Nicolina is across from us, chatting with Sierra, while Ezio and Renzo stand off to the side, both men fixing their gazes in my direction. “Your men are very loyal to you.” Ben observes, flicking a loose thread off his black pants.
I turn my head so I’m facing him. He’s a very good-looking man, and I can see why the ladies of New York were disappointed when he showed up one day with a wife and son in tow. “I expect and demand it. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you loyalty is not always guaranteed despite the oath. I have to work harder than most dons to earn it and keep it, so I won’t accept any deviation. If you swear loyalty to me, itisfor life.”
“I respect that.” His blue eyes penetrate mine as if they are probe lenses, digging deep. I hold his gaze confidently, used to this kind of analysis. “I am aware of how you rose to power.”
“I think most people are.”
