The plane touches down. After hours of silence with Alessandro buried in documents, me pretending to read or napping, we're finally back in New York.
Alessandro's phone begins ringing before we even taxi to a stop. He answers immediately, his voice shifting into a cold, commanding tone.
"I'll be there in thirty." He ends the call without a goodbye. To me, he offers only, "Car's waiting. I need to handle this."
"And me?" I ask, hating how small I feel.
"My driver will take you to the house." He doesn't meet my eyes as he gathers his things and heads to the door of the plane.
He exits without looking back, striding down the steps of the plane toward a waiting black SUV flanked by two hulking security men. I watch from the window as they driveaway, leaving me with my assigned escort and feelings of abandonment.
The ride to Alessandro's estate passes in a blur. When we arrive, a housekeeper greets me, showing me inside what is now my home.
"Your things are in the primary suite, Mrs. Dante.”
Mrs. Dante. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that. “I thought I was to live in a wing?—”
“Don Dante made new arrangements.” She gives me a knowing smile. “It seems the honeymoon went well?”
When did he make new arrangements? Perhaps in Capri before Adriano’s call. For a moment, I consider asking to go back to the prior arrangement, but I’m sure his staff wouldn’t go against whatever he told them.
“Don Dante asked that I give you a tour and introduce you to the staff. The house is well run, but of course, you’re now the mistress of the house, so if there are things you’d like to change, Don Dante has told us to make the arrangements.”
“I have no need to make changes to a well-run household.”
I follow her through room after room. A grand foyer with marble floors, a formal dining room that could seat a small army, a library with floor-to-ceiling shelves. Everything is tasteful, and yet, utterly impersonal. I wonder if it’s a requirement of the Mafia. Cold, impersonal homes designed only to give impressions of wealth.
"Will Don Dante be returning soon?" I ask when the tour ends.
"He didn't say, Ma'am. Would you like something to eat?"
I shake my head. "No, thank you. I'd like to rest."
Alone in the primary suite, I find my luggage neatly unpacked, clothes hanging in a walk-in closet bigger than my childhood bedroom.
I sit on the bed, remembering how different things felt this morning in Capri. I move to the window, looking out over the back gardens. The house is quiet except for the occasional footstep of staff moving through the corridors.
Is this to be my life now? Sitting alone until my husband comes home? Will he always be looking at me like I’m a traitor?
I return to the bed, curling up in it, still in my travel clothes. Will this place ever feel like home?
I wake with a start, disoriented. I sit up, realizing I’m still in my travel clothes. Looking at the bed, I can tell I’m the only one who slept in it. Did Alessandro decide he couldn’t bear to be next to me and slept elsewhere? Had he even come home?
I shower and dress into fresh clothes. I might as well get settled. This is my new home, and I’m determined to make myself a part of it.
The house seems even larger than it was yesterday. It’s a maze of corridors and rooms. I wander aimlessly, feeling like an intruder.
Turning a corner, I nearly collide with someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry?—”
“Isabella. Welcome home.” Eva wraps her arms around me in a warm hug.
“Eva. Hello.”
“Such a shame you had to cut your trip short. I was just taking Mirabella to the garden." Eva gestures to the little girl half-hidden behind her legs. "Would you like to join us?"
I glance down at the child, who has some of Eva’s features, but I see Dante DNA in her as well. "I'd love to."
