Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“Not often,” he admits. “But it’s an honor when it happens.”
Marlena reappears wearing one of the dresses I purchased for her. It seems like ages ago when we wandered the city looking for a new wardrobe. I try not to laugh when I think about the scene she caused at the airport. Who would have guessed that just a short week later, we would be wed?
I toast her with my wineglass as she selects one for herself. We circle the room, talking to everyone. Marlena is much more interested in learning about how she’s related to each and every one of them than she is in talking to me. That’s okay. We have a lifetime to get to know each other, starting with the wedding night.
I guide Marlena to a table away from everyone so we can take a break from mingling. She’s happy to follow my lead, which is a good sign. Sitting down opposite me, she gives me a satisfied smile. It warms my heart to know that she’s accepted me as her husband, not just because I’m offering to save her life, but because she genuinely cares.
“Thank you,” she says.
“For what?” I ask.
“For all of this,” she responds.
“I think this is largely Carmine’s doing,” I reply.
“Yes, but I never would have met Carmine if it wasn’t for you,” she argues. “I never even knew I had a family, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have been able to come here to meet them.”
“I’m glad you approve,” I say.
“This whole thing feels like a dream,” she admits.
“That’s good, right?” I guess.
“It’s good,” she confirms. She pauses, and a shadow passes across her face. “What do you think this means for Brandon?”
“I let Giovanni know we’re married,” I report. “He’ll pass the word around the city. It won’t be long before Andretti’s aware that any harm that comes to your brother will mean war. I doubt he’ll be interested in taking on both of our families.”
“I hope so,” she replies.
I reach across the table, covering one of her hands with my own. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
She smiles bravely, just as Carmine’s wife finds us hiding out.
“Come meet my sister,” Carmine’s wife demands.
Marlena looks at me as if to ask if it’s okay. I appreciate the gesture, so I nod my approval. I find myself increasingly comfortable with my new wife. She’s fitting into my world as if she’s always been there.
“I’ll be right back,” Marlena promises, getting up from her seat.
“Take your time,” I tell her. “I’m in no hurry.”
As soon as the girls walk away, Carmine and Luca sit down. They’ve each got a glass of wine, and Luca has a plate full of linguini. He digs in, talking and eating at the same time.
“You’re a lucky man,” Luca says.
“Thanks for coming out here,” I reply, knowing that he had to drive at least three hours to attend the ceremony.
“No problem,” he says. “Anything for my cousin.”
“Let’s step outside,” Carmine suggests, pulling three cigars out of his pocket.
“Hang on,” Luca bargains, slurping up the last of his noodles.
As soon as he finishes, we move to the front of the restaurant, leaving the comfort of the place behind. It’s a little chilly outside, but nothing I can’t handle. There’s a group of men sitting at a table out front. They’re playing cards and shouting at each other. I recognize a few of them as people I saw at the ceremony.
Carmine shakes hands, tossing out compliments before introducing me. “This is the newest member of our family,” he says jovially.
“Hey, America!” one man calls in heavily accented English.
“Hey, Italy,” I shout back.
I feel young again. This is like old times, when I had fewer responsibilities and all the time in the world to shoot the breeze with my friends. Carmine leads us down the block so we can talk privately. He hands out the cigars, and we pass around a lighter.
I take the first few puffs to get the cigar started. It tastes expensive, and I know Carmine has spared no expense. Then we get down to business, looking for all the world like a groom and two family members discussing sports or maybe family. In reality, we’re talking business.
“So, tell us about the trouble your wife’s been having,” Luca says.
I already shared the fact that this marriage happened so quickly in order to bring Marlena into the fold. But I haven’t given Luca any of the specifics. “You know the Andretti family?” I ask.
Luca nods. “I’m acquainted.”
“We’ve had some trouble in America,” I disclose, without adding any details.
They understand. In our line of work, the less you know, the better.
“And that’s who you think has her brother?” Luca guesses.
“That’s my educated guess,” I confirm. “Carlo Andretti has been out to get me since I took over the family ten years ago. He has a mole in my organization.”