Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Como’s chin dipped, he lowered his eyes and the only thing filling the long silence that passed between us was the flicking of my lighter.
And then, I thought about my wife and her desperate need to maintain a familial connection. I thought of a way where both Famiglia Vero and Vittoria got what they wanted. “Okay,” I began. “You want Vittoria to do your books? Come by the house to discuss terms and payment.”
The man’s head shot up in disbelief. “What?”
He heard me. “If Vittoria wants the job, you’re going to pay her for the work she does.”
The asshole had the nerve to say, “But we’re family.”
A laugh shot out of me. “Yeah? That’s funny, Como. That’s real funny.” I sobered quickly. “You disowned her.” When I leant in close, he backed away from me. “I’m her family now and when you hurt one of mine, I feel it. A direct cut to my flesh. It’s my job to protect her, even from pieces of shit family members like you.”
Knowing the situation demanded one, he caved with a shaky, “I’m sorry.”
But I was not impressed. “I’m not the one you have to apologize to.” My cold glance passed the space around us. “Tonight. 7 o’clock. You’re going to host dinner for us, as a family.” The last word in that sentence dripped with disdain. “I’m going to tell my wife that you called me and begged to see her. I’m going to tell her this because I think it will make her happy to believe you care. I’m sure she misses the house she was raised in. No doubt she probably has things here she’d like to bring home with her.” Flick, flick. “She doesn’t need to know the truth and if she does find out,” my eyes narrowed on the man, “I will make you hurt. Do you hear me?”
Como Vero watched me closely. “You really do care about her.” A statement. A skeptical one, at that. Then he conceded defeat. “I already lost a brother to you. I don’t want to lose anyone else.” He sighed, “Bring her home.”
Right then, with his shoulders drooped, he appeared smaller somehow, and I realized then that the only Vero who was capable of holding a seat at the high table was Vittoria’s father. Como was too weak a man for the role. And the thought of Vincenza in that seat… it made one shudder.
Without another word spoken, I stood tall and walked out of his room. I then drove home and woke my wife with kisses and breakfast and good news. Her initial shock turned into a quiet laugh and wide smile, and then, it all fell away. Heartbreak, mourning and intense longing broke through the forefront. I held her as she cried softly into my throat, and it told me I’d done the right thing in disregarding my every instinct to destroy Como Vero.
And I knew then I would have done anything for this kind of response.
Anything to make her happy.
Vittoria
Dinner went better than I could have hoped for. From the very moment my Zio Como opened the front door, I didn’t wait. I threw myself into his arms. And when the first of my tears escaped, he held me close with a hand to the back of my head. I barely heard his apology over the pressure in my head relieving itself, but the truth was, even if he hadn’t offered it, I would have come and embraced him nonetheless.
Como may not have been the best role model, but I couldn’t just forget what he did for us.
He was a bachelor with zero commitments, living a free life, when we were dumped into his lap. He took us in without a second thought. He never complained. He didn’t mistreat us. In fact, he changed his life to work around our needs. I couldn’t discount all the good he did.
Sometimes people said things they regret.
The sudden memory of the night my father died caused a shadow to fall over my soul.
I was guilty of it myself.
Sure, it was a little awkward at first. When Vincenza hugged me, I could feel her stare Ettore down in some bizarre power move. Thankfully, my husband had more sense than to engage. Besides, that fight would have been over in seconds. Like a rottweiler vs a chihuahua, I know Ettore was simply waiting for Enza to overstep so he had an excuse to tear her head off.
He was behaving for me.
The conversation was stunted at times, but polite. The flow of the evening slowed some and when I asked my uncle if I could go up to my room, he said, “Of course. It’s your room, Vicky. It’ll always be your room.”
I didn’t except Tor to follow me up and I felt mildly embarrassed of the soft pink bedsheets and lace frill around the posters of my bed. Dear Lord. Why did I still have dolls on shelf? My cheeks turned a deep shade of pink as I laughed nervously and uttered, “I guess I wasn’t all that set on growing up too quickly.”