Page 7 of Roman

CHAPTER 3

ROMAN

Ilooked around the restaurant, pleased. Booked solid as always, it was bustling. It was an elegant but comfortable place to dine. My table was in the corner, shielded from view and always available to me or my brother. I stood as Luca appeared, and we greeted each other with a hard hug before sitting down. I had a scotch waiting for him, and we clinked glasses and then each took a sip.

He undid his jacket, running his hand down his tie. “How are you, Roman?”

“Good. You?”

“Busy. Exhausted. Happy. All of it.”

“How is Justine?”

A real smile played on his mouth. “My bride is amazing.”

I chuckled. Luca and Justine had met, hated each other, and fallen in love in a matter of days. Once they did, there was no stopping him, and they were married quickly in Vegas. They’d had another wedding that had been held at the Maple in Niagara Falls, the room packed full of people, some of whom had no idea that over half the guests were dangerous. Justine was the daughter of a powerful man, but she had lived a life away from the business, so her friends were clueless.

But it had been a joyous day, and I had to admit I had never seen my brother look so happy. I had sent them on a monthlong honeymoon to Europe, stepping in and running both sides of our business while he was gone. I was relieved when he returned, happy to turn back over his side of the business. It gave me a headache.

“You need to bring her to dinner at the Maple. The new chef is incredible. I stole him from the top restaurant in Italy.”

He grinned. “I’ll do that.”

We discussed casino business for a while, never bringing up anything else. That would happen behind closed doors where there was no chance of being overheard. He waited until we had eaten the main course and coffee was in front of us, and he cleared his throat.

“What is it?” I asked. “You asked me here for a reason, and you’ve been edgy all dinner. Do we have a problem?”

He wiped his mouth. “In a manner of speaking.”

“What is it?”

“Nonna.”

I frowned, putting down my cup. “What? Is something wrong? I saw her two days ago, and she looked fine. Her doctor keeps me up-to-date with everything, and he hasn’t⁠—”

He held up his hand, silencing me. “She’s fine, Roman.”

I relaxed back into my chair. “What, then?”

“I had dinner with her last night. She’s worried.”

“About?”

“You.”

I blinked. “Me? I’m healthy as a horse.”

“Not your physical self, Roman.” He toyed with his napkin. “I can’t believe I’m saying this to you.” He took in a deep breath. “She is worried you are lonely, and she wants to see you married. She asked me to talk to you about settling down.”

For a moment, all I could do was stare. Then I began to laugh. He looked at me, smiling, lifting one shoulder in defeat. I understood. When Nonna asked you to do something, you did it.

Our mother died in a car accident when we were young, and her mother, our nonna, came to live with us. To the outside world, she was a tough woman, but she loved us fiercely and she was the only soft spot in our world. She always took our side against our father; she cared and quietly nurtured us, wanting more for us than what my father did. It was because of her I had such a strong bond with Luca.

I picked up my coffee cup and drained it. “How does she propose I settle down? I’m at one of the casinos, the vineyard, or meetings all the time. My schedule is crazy. It’s not as if I have time or desire to date. I have no interest in a relationship. I’m happy as I am.”

“She is not. Her greatest dream is both of us settled, a couple of great-grandbabies on her knees, and then she will be happy. She was pretty damn adamant.”

I clasped his shoulder, giving it a shake. “Tell her you talked to me and I am going to try to make her dream come true. That should ease her mind. I’ll make a point of going out a couple times and being photographed. You can show them to her. That should appease her.”