Chapter 24
Sophia
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that every single member of the Roselli family would attend a Cassone funeral, not to gloat, but to pay respects.
Not because of any sense of loyalty to my father, but as a sign of respect to me for what I did for their family and what I mean to Massimo.
Anna hasn’t left my side, dead set on coming even though the look in her eyes tells me she’s paying a heavy price for being out and in the public.
The only thing that makes me feel better is that the Roselli soldiers have absolutely surrounded the church and are armed with autos that will shred even the most armor resistant of cars.
We are safe because we are prepared and Massimo has ensured that we can lay my father to rest without risk of harm.
Anna spots the sign to the ladies’ room. “Excuse me for just a moment,” she says quietly. Leandro is talking with Gino, Renato, Tristano, and a woman with long dark hair I’ve never seen before as we step inside the vast church, but she has their eyes. She is without a doubt a Roselli.
“Is that your sister?” I ask Massimo, remembering pictures in the great room, but of a younger version of the woman in front of me.
His eyes drift to his family and he smiles.
“Our baby sister arrived home late last night. We do everything we can to keep her name out of the spotlight or from showing up anywhere at all. We’ve had her safely at boarding school but now that she’s turned twenty-one, she has this thing called free will.
Annabelle said she wanted to meet you and didn’t want to miss something that was so important to you and the rest of the family.
She’s anxious to meet you, kitten, and is planning to stay through next week and attend our wedding. ”
My heart swells with the outpouring of love from a family I was raised to hate.
It’s more than overwhelming but in the best of ways.
I keep my eye on the door, waiting until Anna comes out and it’s not until she’s beside me again that my protective instincts relax.
We’re going to get through this, it’s just going to take time, and having the love of everyone around us will help.
But she hasn’t had a chance to get to know Massimo or them the way that I have, and her fight or flight impulses are understandably high.
I squeeze her hand. “It’s okay,” I mouth, as Massimo guides us to join his family.
He introduces everyone and not one of his family are rude to either of us in any way. I hug his sister after greeting his brothers. “Thank you so much for coming, Annabelle. I know it was a long trip. It means a lot to me and my sister that you came all that way.”
She gives us both a genuine smile, her red lips vibrant as she shows a set of bright white teeth.
“You saved my brother and worked tirelessly on my mother when she was almost dead. I would do anything for you,” she says, hugging me tightly.
“Anna, nice to meet you too but I’m sorry it has to be under such a sad circumstance.
I’m so very sorry about everything that has happened and for the loss of your father. ”
She turns to me and Massimo. “I hope you don’t mind but I invited Desiree to the wedding.
She didn’t want to attend, but I begged her.
I haven’t seen her for ages. I thought it would be good for her too, okay?
” She looks at me. “I hope you don’t mind.
She gave me the inside scoop. You know there was never anything romantic between her and Massimo, or I wouldn’t have dreamed of inviting her.
She’s been like a sister to me for years. ”
Maybe at one time, I would have minded with a green-eyed jealous vengeance but that feels like so long ago. “Of course not,” I assure her, squeezing Massimo’s hand to let him know it’s fine. That I really do not mind.
Anna takes to Annabelle’s sweet personality right away.
“Thank you, that means a lot to both of us.” Annabelle nods.
“Come, let’s take our seats,” she says, knowing that we’ve chosen to keep the casket closed in respect of the family differences in the past and the irreparable damage that was done to our father as he fought to keep Barcelo at bay.
Massimo sits protectively by my side, with Anna next to me and Annabelle on her other side.
Their father keeps his arm protectively around their mother who looks almost like the very first day I met her, alive, proud, and sitting up tall as if to dare anyone to mess with her again, while Massimo’s brothers sit together with Jimmy and their most trusted of lieutenants.
The only ones with tears in their eyes are my sister and me, but not one person shows anything but the utmost respect as the priest speaks with words that settle our souls.
Massimo guides Anna and I out of the church and into the back of the limousine, gesturing that Annabelle should ride along with us if she likes.
She jumps into the back seat right away and Anna sits next to her facing both me and Massimo. “Is there anything that I can do?” she asks. “Anything at all?”
Anna shakes her head gently. “No, he had a good life, led the life that he wanted and now he’s with Mamma. It’s how he wanted it at the end. He was only holding out to preserve what was left of the Cassone inheritance from Barcelo and now that he’s dead too, it’s irrelevant. It’s done.”