Malavita (26 page)

“Twenty years from now, when I look at pictures of this day, what do you think I’ll remember?” She looked at her father, but he remained mute. “I’ll remember that you betrayed me. I put my trust in you, and you tore it to bits.” Her throat tightened and tears pricked her eyes. She struggled to get the words out; they were horrible words, but they were true, and they needed to be said. “You don’t care about me. You never have. And I have to live with that.”

He set his cigar in the ashtray and joined her at the window. When he tried to put an arm around her shoulders, she shrugged him off. He looked so wounded, she almost felt sorry for him. But he’d more than earned her scorn.

“
Dolcezza
, I did all this for you. For your future.”

“You did it for
you
. Like everything else you do. The rest of us, the rest of the world, we don’t matter.
You
are the center of the universe.”

“That money is all I have to keep the Lucchesis from controlling everything.”

“Rinaldo is hardly a despot.”

“I will not have the likes of Rinaldo Lucchesi telling me how to conduct my business.”

“Maybe someone should.”

“Watch your tone.”

“I will not.” She was angering him, but she didn’t care. “Let’s talk about how you’ve managed the business. Two years ago, you started a very expensive war, almost bankrupted us, and nearly got my brother killed. And now you’ve lost all our money. For the second time.”

His face turned red. “
You
betrayed me to that boy. You told him about Ripoli! If you hadn’t—”

“And you
lied
to me. When you accepted the truce, you did it only to rebuild our finances. You were
always
going to kill them.” She was shaking so hard inside she felt as if she had a fever. “Rico was right. You are a snake.”

His face darkened from red to purple. “You are my daughter. You cannot speak to me like this.”

“Someone has to. You are in no position to fight the Lucchesis, and yet you would rather destroy our
cosca
than admit that.”

He studied her for a long time, saying nothing. When he spoke, his voice cracked. “So even you, my own daughter, are turning against me?”

“How can I ever forgive you?”

In a hoarse voice, he said, “
Dolcezza
, I was this close to defeating the Lucchesis two years ago, but I gave that up when they sent your brother’s finger to us, and I saw the look on your face.”

“But you
didn’t
give that up. That’s my point.”

“I got Dario back for you.”

“You make it sound like he’s my pet.”

Her father shrugged. “I know he means a lot to you. Maybe someday he’ll amount to something, but I don’t have much hope.”

“Dario is smarter than you give him credit for.”

“He’s also stubborn, defiant, and impossible.”

“Like father, like son.”

He snorted in amusement. Then he said, “You have to understand. With the Lucchesis gone, we’d own Milan and the lake. My father and brother are always planning something, and I know they will want what we have. We must be strong enough to defeat them.”

She took his hand, and he squeezed her fingers in his. When he said nothing more, she spoke. “You’re right. We
do
need to be strong. But something has to change. We are isolated here. We need friends. Alliances. If the bugs have told you nothing else, you should know that.”

“The bugs also told me I can never trust Rinaldo again.”

“Can you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Prove it, then. Swear to me that you will not act against them. That you will accept a binding alliance with the Lucchesis.”

“
Dolcezza
, you are asking me to let Rinaldo Lucchesi be my master.”

“You used me to trick them. Not once, but twice. You used me to plant the bugs.”

“I was involving you. I thought you wanted to be part of the business.”

“You killed a defenseless woman and a child because of those bugs. You stained
my
hands with their blood. You call yourself a man of honor. Where’s the
honor
in what you’ve done?”

He said nothing, and she pressed the point home. “You are a wild dog without a master, attacking sheep and children. Someday someone will put a bullet in you. And you’ll deserve it.”

He rubbed a hand over his mouth and stared out the window at the woods across the roadway. “This is what you think of me?”

She hated to say it, but it had to be said. “Yes.”

He looked at her, his eyes bleak. “I have only ever wanted to make you happy. If this is what you want, I’ll do it.”

She needed to make sure he meant it this time. “This is what you
owe
me for today, for all the times you’ve lied to me. Swear to me that you will honor the truce. Swear to me and keep your word, or I will sever all ties to you.”

He studied her face, and she did her best to show him nothing but stone; she wanted to console him, to wipe his sadness away, but he’d take that as a capitulation. “I remember the day I first held you. You were so tiny, so fragile. I swore then I would always protect you. You hold my heart in your hands, Toni.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You’ve forced me to this, Papà. You’ve forced me to question my love for you.” She waited a moment, then she whispered, “Swear it. Swear you will keep the peace with the Lucchesis.”

“I swear.” He touched his chest over his heart, and her throat clamped shut. She hugged and kissed him, then called Enrico and his father back.

She took Enrico’s hand, her heart pounding. He’d been so angry when he’d left the room. Was he clear-headed enough now to see past it? “Do you and your father agree to a lasting peace? A lasting alliance?”

“Does Carlo?” He looked at her father, who nodded. “And you will take the rest of our terms?” Enrico asked.

“As long as you stay out of my business, I agree to all of it. You have my word.”

Enrico squeezed her hand and shook his head. “I do not see how I can believe him.”

She pulled Enrico’s head down to her level and whispered in his ear. “Remember what I said in the garden? That one of you has to be the better man?” He nodded. “He is afraid I no longer love him. I did that for you. Now do this for me.”

He pulled back, and as he searched her face, her pulse quickened. She’d begged him to trust her once, and she’d failed him. What if he wasn’t willing to do so again?

Finally he spoke. “
Cara
, I accept.”

Finally, they’d have peace.

And soon she and Enrico would produce a child that would forever join the Andrettis and Lucchesis by blood.

The wedding ceremony passed by Enrico in a blur. He barely remembered saying his vows; all he could remember was how, even though he’d already seen her in the dress, Toni had still taken his breath away when she’d come down the aisle. The greatest feeling of pride had washed over him at the moment she’d said her vows. This beautiful, wonderful creature was officially his wife. His to love and to honor for all the days of his life.

He was the luckiest man alive. Even if he’d nearly been killed at his own wedding. Even if he’d had to carry a picture of his son in his pocket. The son who couldn’t be—but should have been—with him today. The son he could never let Toni discover.

After their meeting in the priest’s office, Carlo had been subdued, but Enrico should have known it wouldn’t last. Immediately after Enrico and Toni had exchanged their vows, Carlo had embraced her, astonishing Enrico by openly weeping as he’d kissed his daughter on both cheeks. As soon as she’d been enveloped in her mother’s embrace, Carlo had turned to Enrico, the joy on his face gone, the glitter in his eyes now one of malice. His voice a snake’s hiss, Carlo had clapped him on the shoulder and leaned in so only Enrico could hear. “If you ever hurt Toni or let harm come to her, I will make you suffer. And then I will strangle you until the light leaves your eyes.”

It had been on Enrico’s lips to frighten Carlo, to remind him of what he’d done to his men, to remind him that Toni was now in his care. He’d never harm her of course, but Carlo wouldn’t believe that.

However, giving Carlo any cause for alarm would merely fan the
faida
back to life. So he’d said the other thing that was in his heart, the thing that was true: “She is my most precious charge. We will always agree on that.”

Carlo’s snarl had softened then and he’d looked at Enrico with something akin to respect. Perhaps even approval.

And now it was time for Enrico and Toni’s first dance as man and wife. She smiled up at him as the opening notes of “Quando Un Amore Se Ne Va” started. She placed one hand on his shoulder and he clasped her lightly at the waist, thankful that Mamma had made all her boys take dancing lessons. He’d never be a professional, but he wouldn’t embarrass Toni as they waltzed around the floor.

“I love you,” he whispered as they finished their first turn.

“I know,” she said, her tone teasing, light, making his throat tighten. Just weeks ago, she’d never have been able to take that tone with him, to be that carefree about her feelings and his. To flirt.

“You
know
?” He failed to make his face even remotely stern. “Perhaps I’ll have to put you over my knee later.”

Her cheeks turned the prettiest shade of pink. “And what will I be wearing when you do such a monstrous thing?” Her tongue darted across her bottom lip, which she caught between her teeth as she gazed up for his reaction.

He nearly swallowed his own tongue. Where had
that
come from? His bride was full of surprises. “That depends on how naughty you intend to be.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Very, very naughty.”

“Then nothing at all.”

“Promise?”

Dio
, she was killing him. They had the dinner and the party to get through, then bidding everyone good night, and then their trip to Venice—it’d be a lifetime before he got her in bed. “I promise that if we talk about it anymore, I’ll have to spank you here and now.”

She giggled, the pink of her cheeks deepening to red. “You wouldn’t.”

“Are you testing me?”

She wiggled her brows. “Perhaps.”

A laugh rumbled out of him. As much as he’d love to see the shock on her face if he gave her a swat after their dance, it would have to wait. He bent close to her ear. “Minx.” He nipped at her earlobe. “I love you when you’re like this.”

“And I love you always,” she said.

His heart did a funny little flip in his chest. Aside from when Nico had been born, he’d never been happier. And to think he’d first dismissed her. What an idiot he’d been. Fortunately, he’d have the rest of his life to make it up to her. Even though their wedding day had started off rocky—to say the least—he’d make sure it ended well. Very well.

When the wedding guests had finally had their fill of fine food, wine, dancing, laughing, and shouting “
Bacio
,
bacio
!”—Rico’s cue to kiss her—the two of them were able to slip out of the reception and drive to Venice for their honeymoon. They arrived around ten at night.

Antonella found the ancient city enchanting as they traveled by gondola along the Grand Canal, lights from the
palazzi
that lined it spilling across the water. The gentle rocking of the boat and the splashing of the waves almost lulled her to sleep. It had been a long day. And yet, when Enrico took her hand and kissed it, a sudden awareness swept her fatigue away. Soon they’d be in their hotel room. Alone.

She didn’t know whether she was more excited or more terrified. It was hard to tell. Enrico slung an arm around her, and she shivered. He’d touched her more than this before; why
now
was it affecting her so much?

Because there was nothing to stop him. No boundaries, no rules, no barriers.

Anything could happen.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. All the fears she’d poured out to Ilaria weeks ago came roaring back. What if she disappointed him?

“You’re awfully quiet,” he said.

“Just thinking.”

He chuckled. “Worrying?”

She nodded, and he squeezed her hand. “Stop,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “I’ll take care of you.” He kissed her cheek, the contact lingering, gentle. When he smoothed her hair away from her neck, the touch of his fingers made goose bumps rise along her forearms. “Relax,
cara
, and leave everything up to me.”

The gondolier steered them over to a magnificent palazzo right on the Grand Canal: the Hotel Bauer, where they’d be staying for the next two weeks.

Enrico helped her out of the gondola and escorted her inside. Her heart was beating so fast she could barely register their surroundings, beyond their sheer opulence.

But nothing prepared her for the gorgeous honeymoon suite they were taken to. The outer door opened into a foyer with mirrors on each wall. An ice bucket with a bottle of prosecco sat on the table in the center. The bellman explained that each mirror had a room behind it. Two were closets, one was a powder room, and the mirrored door straight ahead led to the main living area of their suite, a long, dark-paneled room filled with elegant overstuffed furniture. A tray of fruit and sweets sat on the coffee table. Two large windows looked out on the Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute opposite the hotel.