We’ll just have to keep it a secret.He already had once.
Because he knows exactly what’s at stake too.
I’ll tell him that as soon as I see him tonight.
Tell him I’ll be his.Just as long as no one else knows.
Which must include my sisters too.
Chiara banging on my bedroom door woke me and my mind is still full of last night, as though no time has passed since Matteo left.But, as Chiara also informed me, it’s almost four in the afternoon.
“I’m up, I’m up,” I answer hoarsely and roll out of bed.
She opens the door and walks in.“What’s going on with you?Did you go out last night and didn’t tell me?”
I shake my head, looking for the kimono to put over my nightgown.“Of course I didn’t go out.I just couldn’t fall asleep until dawn.”
“Why?”She’s looking at me like she’s trying to read the answer off my face.And as fiercely as I’m still thinking about Matteo, I’m pretty sure she might actually succeed.
I turn away from her to prevent it.“Don’t know.Just couldn’t.But you’re right, we should go out.We can have dinner somewhere nice tonight, just the three of us.”
And Matteo and the rest of our guards.My sisters can’t know anything, my dad doesn’t want me alone with Matteo… but if Lidia and Chiara are there too, he can’t object.
The idea seems so brilliant that I want to act on it this minute.
“OK, sure,” Chiara says, still looking at me like she’s waiting for me to tell her the truth.
One day I’ll tell her everything.But for now, it’s too dangerous.
“Let’s say at eight o’clock,” I add.“Now I’m going to take a shower.”
She mutters, “Sure, OK,” and I don’t wait for any more questions to come.I just walk into my bathroom where I’ll probably spend the next few hours getting ready.I feel bad not telling her everything.I want to tell her everything.And relive every detail of last night as I do.
But she’s my little sister and I must protect her.
I’m the one who decided to betray my family’s honor.My sisters can have no part in it.
One day they’ll understand.
I hope.
Chapter31
MATTEO
I’d barely fallenasleep when Angelo’s call woke me.Now I’m sitting in his smokey study, watching him add yet more smoke by puffing on his cigar, the noonday sun streaming in through the large windows that I wish he’d open more often if he insists on going through a cigar an hour.
Angelo’s taking his time to get to the purpose of this meeting.Even Nico, who came with me, is getting impatient.Not that he’s showing it.I just know because we’re so alike.It’s in the way he moves his mouth when he talks, namely barely moving his lips, and how straight he’s sitting in his armchair.The conversation so far has basically been about nothing.I wonder how much Nico’s father, the consigliere, is involved in this plan.I doubt Nico would be OK with his father losing his life in Ferro’s takeover, but I don’t know much at all.And I’d rather not ask.
“How are things going with the daughter?”Angelo asks me, finally getting to the point.
I sit up even straighter in my chair.“I have her eating out of the palm of my hand.She’s pretty much ready to do whatever I tell her to.So what should I tell her to do?”
Maybe that’s too forward a question, as the sharp look Nico gives me is plainly telling me.He did warn me not to press Angelo too hard on anything.Apparently, Angelo’s the kind of guy who likes to be in charge down to the smallest detail in any situation.But I’m the kind of guy who always likes to know where I stand.And I’ve done my share of being subservient to power-obsessed men.I’m finished with all that.
Angelo takes a slow drag on his cigar as he looks at me.It’s one of those looks that’s supposed to make me rethink everything about myself, but I’m done with all that too.I want to get Angelo’s thing wrapped up and over with as soon as possible, so I can get on with fulfilling my own plan of revenge.I won’t leave him disappointed.Things just need to get moving.
“The Codelli’s are unpredictable at the moment,” Angelo says.“Having no male heir apparent, as it were.”
