Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
We stare at each other for the longest time. I drink in the sight of her. There’s a vulnerability about her that I do not want to argue with. Almost as if I could break her if I’m not careful.
“Vance!” I snap my fingers. “Get the second vehicle. You’re taking Francesca to her grandfather’s house.”
“I’ll just order a ride and-”
“No,” I cut her off harshly. “And by the way, your family doesn’t live in the same house anymore.”
“What?” Her eyes widen. “No one told me this! Are they okay?”
“They’re under my protection. It’s insulting that you ask me that.”
She swallows. “Then why did they move?”
“You’re headed there. You can ask them when you arrive.”
Francesca narrows her eyes and appears to want to say more, but Vance pulls up in a Mercedes. I hold the door open for her. I hold her gaze for a brief moment before closing the door. The Mercedes drives off and I feel a great emptiness inside me.
I turn away and enter my Audi.
As Dutch drives me away I turn and stare out of the window. My father was right. Love makes a man weak. I am no longer the man I once was.
I have become weak.
Chapter Twenty-Three
FRANCESCA
“Oh, Francesca!” My mother hugs me tightly. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I didn’t know you were coming today. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have cooked something special for you.” She pulls back, her gaze roaming my face.
Tears sting my eyes at how beautiful and relaxed she looks. I attribute it to the fact that it’s because she doesn’t have to worry about anything anymore. She’s safe and protected in this gorgeous brownstone house in a good neighborhood… all because of Valentino.
‘They’re under my protection; it’s insulting that you ask me that,’ he said, and I know he meant it.
“I didn’t know I would be coming today. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” I explain lamely. “We just arrived from Italy a few minutes ago, and I decided I must see you.”
“Really?” Mama beams with happiness at the unexpected pleasure of my company. “Well, come on in. There’s some leftover lasagna in the fridge. I’ll warm it up for you.” She starts to drag me towards the kitchen, but I stop her.
“I’m not hungry, Mama. I ate on the plane.”
“Nonsense. That was hours ago. You-”
She stops suddenly when Nonno appears in the hallway, confusion and bewilderment on his face.
“What are you doing here, Francesca?” he asks suspiciously.
“You don’t seem very happy to see me. I just came to visit.” I walk towards him and kiss his cheeks. “You look well.”
There is no answering smile as he peers at me anxiously. “What about your husband? Does he know you’re here?”
I frown. “Yes. Of course, he does.”
“Hmm.” He grunts and turns to go back into the room he had emerged from.
“Nonno, wait.” I touch his arm slightly, and he stops. “Why did you have to move out of your house?”
He frowns at me. “And when did you start asking questions, piccola?”
The condescension in his tone reminds me again of the way my father had spoken to me all my life, but I keep a smile on my face. “Valentino said I should ask you…”
Nonno’s eyes flare, and it’s funny to see how much he fears Valentino. “He said that?”
“Yes. He did.”
“Uhm…”
I stare at him with amazement. I’ve never seen my Nonno flounder like this. Obviously, he’s hiding something.
“He gave this house to me as a gift after your wedding.” Nonno forces a smile onto his face. “It would be rude if we didn’t move in. After all, it is much bigger than our previous house, isn’t it?”
Obviously, this house is nothing like the majestic mansion Valentino owns in Italy, but it’s a great house and as Nonno noted, much bigger than our previous home. Even now, as we stand in the foyer, the difference between this house and our former one is clear. It’s spacious, with high ceilings and a polished hardwood floor. There’s a minimalist console table to the left with a sleek silver art piece on it.
“Francesca.” I feel my Mama’s arms curve around me. “Are you staying the night?”
“Yes… for a few days, actually.”
“Did Valentino approve of this?” Nonno asks worriedly.
Maybe you should ask him, I want to say, but I’m too scared of Nonno to say that, so I nod instead and quickly follow my mother up the stairs. When we reach the first landing, Mama leads me to the second door and stops.
“You can sleep here. I had all your things from your old room brought here,” she says.
I push the door open and gasp. She has recreated my old room for me. Tears fill my eyes as I turn and hug her. “Mama, thank you.”
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” she asks, herding me towards the bed.