Cristian chuckles. “Say no more.” His eyes linger on me for a few beats before he takes off. My gaze follows him until he leaves the room.
“He’s a good son. A good man,” Beatrice muses, squeezing my arm.
“A good father,” I add.
“The best,” she agrees, smiling. “He stepped up for Elio when he needed him.” Her smile fades. “Cristian and Sabina are the best people. Kind, loving, hardworking. I don’t know where we went wrong with their brother.” Pain fills her eyes, and my heart swells with compassion.
Thoughts of my mother and the evil men who have hurt her swarm my mind. “I doubt you did anything wrong. Sometimes, people are just born evil,” I blurt before I realize what I’ve said. My eyes widen in horror. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t?—”
“You speak no lie, Sloane.” Beatrice rubs a hand across her chest. “Cruz was…” Tears pool in her eyes. “Cruzwasevil.” She swipes at her eyes. “It pains me so much to say it, but it’s the truth. Josef and I gave him everything. He grew up with lots of love and laughter. He had so much opportunity in life, and he made all the wrong choices. We still struggle to understand it. How it got so bad. How he could do the things he did.”
“I don’t know what he did.” I take her wrinkled hands in mine. “But you shouldn’t blame yourself. He was a grown man, and he made his own decisions.”
“It’s hard not to look back and wonder if we could’ve done something different. Josef hates that he didn’t intervene sooner. Maybe it might’ve changed things.”
I can relate. How many times have I gone over what happened and wished I’d made different choices? “It’s natural to think like that, but it doesn’t help. What’s done is done, and you can’t change the past.”
“No, we can’t.” Removing a tissue from her purse, she dabs her eyes and clears her throat. “Today is a day for celebration. No more depressing thoughts.”
“For what it’s worth, I think Cristian and Sabina are lucky to have you and Josef as parents.” I haven’t been in their company for long, but you can tell.
“Thank you, sweet Sloane. I can’t ever replace your mother, but if you need me for anything, I’m here for you. Even if it’s only to talk.” She asked me earlier about my parents, and I told her my situation.
“I appreciate that, Mrs. DiPietro. More than you know.”
“Beatrice, please.” She squeezes my hand before standing. “I’m just going to check on Elio.”
“I should do that.” I climb to my feet.
“I’ve got it.” Her eyes twinkle when she says, “You should hunt down my son and drag him onto the dance floor. You youngsters should be out there having fun.” She points toward the crowded dance floor where couples and groups of women are having the time of their lives. The band is great, and they’re playing a mix of old classics and current songs, which is a big hit with the wedding guests.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I say, not touching her Cristian comment.
As I meander through the tables, smiling politely at the strangers around me, I wonder what it would be like if Cristian was mine. If my nightmare didn’t exist, and this dream was the reality. We’d probably be scandalizing the crowd with our dirty dancing and would have already found time to sneak out for a quickie. A potent longing surges through my veins, and oh, how I wish his arms were around me.
The music mutes behind me as I exit the room and head down the corridor in the direction of the bathrooms. I slap a hand over my mouth to startle my gasp when I round the corner and find Cristian in some sort of confrontation with Carmine. My boss has the older man shoved up against the wall with his hand wrapped around his throat. Neither of them has noticed me, so I press my back against the wall at the corner and strain my ears to listen.
“I warned you back at the church, Carmine, and you continue to disrespect Sloane and disrespect me.” This is aboutme? He doesn’t include Isotta in that statement, and I’m guessing it’s because she’s disrespecting her husband as much as he’s disrespecting her. It’s not exactly the best way to start a marriage, and I wonder how long it might last. Though if it’s an arranged marriage, it’s probably for life with no get-out clause.
Carmine splutters something that might be “Can’t breathe,” but I’m not sure.
There’s a bit of shuffling, and then Carmine grunts. Glancing behind me, I do a quick check to ensure no one is coming this way before I resume eavesdropping.
“Listen up good,” Cristian says in a cold tone that raises all the fine hairs on the back of my neck. “You’re an idiot if you think I haven’t noticed what you’re doing. You are not to look at Sloane, talk about her to anyone, or go anywhere near her. If you step one foot in her direction, I will blow your fucking head off and not give two shits about it. Have I made myself clear?”
My heart pounds like crazy as Cristian threatens the groom. He’s not joking either. Holy fuck.
“Crystal,” Carmine pants.
“Get the hell out of my sight,” Cristian snaps, and Carmine comes stumbling around the corner before I’ve had a chance to escape.
22
SLOANE
Carmine’s sneering look as he passes by me has ice replacing the blood flowing in my veins. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under by now. Wow. Perhaps he and Isotta are a perfect match after all.
“Fuck.”
