18. SIENNA
18
SIENNA
The room that Sofia leads me to is stunning, if a little stark for my taste. But it has a beautiful window seat that overlooks the back garden, and will be the perfect spot to watch the sunset. Not to mention, there’s even a secret door that has a winding staircase that leads to the rooftop terrace. The four-poster canopy bed is super comfy looking, and the ensuite is as luxurious as you might expect with a walk-in stone shower, a separate clawfoot soaker tub under a wide stained glass window, and double vanity.
“I think this will work out nicely,” I say with a grin at Sofia. “Who is next to me?”
Sofia snickers and replies, “That would be Massimo. I’ll let him know that you’re in here so he’s not surprised, but don’t worry, he won’t tell Alessio. The two of them are brothers, but they still love to piss each other off just as much as they did when they were kids. ”
I look around again. The room has some artwork and some smaller pieces of furniture like tables and a chaise. It’s not as grand as Alessio’s room, but it’s definitely one I can be comfortable in. “I want to check out the terrace, can I?” I ask. Sofia laughs and walks to the wall near the door. She moves a book on the little table beside it, and the door unlatches with a very soft click. “That is so cool,” I beam. “I had something like this in my apartment in LA, but it’s always cooler when it’s in a castle. Makes you wonder how many times whoever was in this room so many years ago escaped out this way for a little bit of quiet time for themselves.”
“It makes me think of a special place for two lovers to meet,” Gia sighs dreamily.
“She reads a lot of romance novels,” Sofia explains wryly as we all start to ascend the steps. I marvel at the stonework throughout, and then I beam when we reach the top and Sofia opens the wooden door revealing the terrace, and the low lights that make it look like it’s almost glowing.
“Wow,” I breathe.
“It’s something, isn’t it?” Sofia smiles. “You two sit out here and enjoy it. I’m going to grab a few things, and I’ll be back.” She heads back down, leaving the door open behind her.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Gia grins. “You know, I always wished for moments like this. Being able to step outside and look up at the stars and just take it all in without worrying that someone will make me stop.”
I frown at that and look at her. “You weren’t able to do this?” I ask carefully.
Gia gives me a sad smile. “No. I was locked away in my room or in my own wing of the house and wasn’t allowed to be out and about wherever I wanted. And then when I was allowed my own apartment, it was a lower unit in the middle of the city so I couldn’t see the stars. No balconies or anything either. So now, I’m going to do this whenever I can and make up for lost time.”
My heart breaks in my chest at the thought of what my sister has suffered; knowing that while she was living completely isolated, I was with my parents being loved and doing all the things that most take for granted. I act on instinct and wrap my arm around her waist, and we look up at the stars for a long moment, neither of us saying anything. Finally, I can’t stop the words that are bubbling up in my throat. “I’m sorry, Gia. I really am sorry I left you all alone.” My voice cracks and I swallow hard to keep the tears at bay.
Gia looks at me and I see her own eyes are wet, but there’s no resentment there, no judgment, no hate, even though she has every right to feel all of them. “Why? It’s not like you knew I existed, and honestly, I’m glad you didn’t have to deal with all of that, or hear the vile things that they like to spew. You got to be loved and accepted for who you are, and you’re wonderful. I just hope I can be as strong as you are some day.”
“You’re plenty strong for having dealt with all of that and still stand here,” I correct her. “Even though I don’t know much about you, I wager that everyone who matters thinks you’re wonderful just as you are. Which is why you and I are going to work to be close and be there for each other.”
“Yeah, I’d like that very much. And, really, Sienna, please don’t ever feel bad about any of it. None of it is your fault, and none of it really could have been prevented. If things were different, you’d be married off by now and miserable.” She gives me a teasing smile. “Instead of giving a sexy underboss a run for his money.”
I smirk, the tears receding. “True. I can admit that the man keeps me on my toes. I still can’t figure out how he found me though,” I finish with a frown.
Gia snickers. “Oh, trust me, Alessio is damn good at what he does. Or rather, what all his men can do. I mean, he knew things about me that I didn’t even tell Nico when we first met. Like how I know American Sign Language. Considering I didn’t even exist on paper because the family didn’t want any record of me, just so they could keep their all male sons image, I don’t know how he could possibly know that, but he did. He signed to me the first time we talked.”
“Wait, Alessio knows sign language?” I gasp, shocked.
Gia nods. “Yeah, and he’s proficient at it. Which means he’s studied about as long as I have, even though I’m a bit rusty. My tutors taught me; I also learned Italian, and Spanish.”
“Damn, you’re doing better than me,” I grin. “I learned just enough Spanish in school to make passable conversation, but that’s about it. I tried to learn Greek in college, but yeah, that was a terrible failure. But I would like to learn Italian. Maybe then I can figure out what Alessio keeps calling me.”
“What does he call you?” she asks curiously.
“ Coniglietto ,” I manage to get out, mangling it slightly.
Her face softens. “It means little rabbit . Awww, that’s so sweet. Though I don’t think he called you that when you had a knife to his throat.”
I grin. “He did, but I don’t think it was in the sweet way, more like in a I’m going to kill you, little rabbit, kind of vibe. And what does cara mia mean?”
“My dear. Usually it’s in a sweet endearing way to a woman that you’re close to or have an affection for.”
I snort. “I don’t think affection is what Alessio is feeling for me. If anything, it’s frustration and maybe a strong dislike.”
Gia gives me a yeah-right look. “I may not know Alessio super well, but what I do know is that he is very protective of you, and if he didn’t want you around, I don’t think you would be. When he realized I wanted Nico, he backed off right away, and from there he’s only ever been friendly. I hear his brothers talking about some woman that really wanted his attention one time, and he straight up ignored her. So I think that if he really wanted you out of the way, he’d have dropped you off in a room like this one and left you with someone else, his job done. But from the sound of things, that’s not at all what he did.”
“Or he’s trying to make me give in to this contract or whatever it is,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
Gia shakes her head. “No. Marco was the one who promised me to Alessio, and since I married Nico, the contract is null and void. Technically Father or Uncle could promise you to Dante or Rafaele Parisi, but Dante rejected the contract. Rafaele Parisi is the one we need to be careful of, but the only way Alessio would have a contract for you is if my father or uncle offered you up to him or Pietro, or, I guess, in some weird way, if Nico did. But he would never do that,” she rushes to add.
I frown. “So there is no marriage contract?” Gia shakes her head again. “That fucking worm,” I hiss, letting her go and stalking away to pace. “He’s been telling me this entire time the reason he wants me to come here, well mostly, is because he plans on marrying me due to that contract. It’s all a lie?”
“Maybe he really just likes you?” Gia offers with a weak shrug.
“Or he’s on a power trip and trying to trick me into marrying just for shits and giggles. Or, maybe, he never planned on marrying me at all, and he only used that to get me here.” Why does that piss me off so much? Like he’s lied to me over and over.
Gia leans against the wall and regards me curiously. “I can’t say I have any experience with men and what goes on in their heads, but sometimes it’s as simple as they see a woman they want and they do whatever they have to to get her.” She gives me a wry smile. “I mean, at least Alessio talked to you first. Nico just kidnapped me.”
She says it so calmly that it takes me a moment to register what she’s just said. I whip around and stare at her. “Wait, what? He kidnapped you? Why?” And why the hell did she stay? But I keep that thought to myself.
“Because he could. Men in this world, few of them ever date, or try to woo a woman to marry them. They have women that throw themselves at them, or options to marry through mergers and marriage contracts. And sometimes, they see a woman they want and just take her. Nico saw me at the library, and being the nosy guy he is, when he couldn’t find out anything about me, it made him curious and he kidnapped me. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to escape constantly, but eventually I started to see a different side of him. A side that a mafia boss won’t want the outside world to ever see.”
“You mean, he likes to dress up in women’s clothes and put on his own fashion shows?” I joke lightly.
Gia sputters out a laugh. “No, but now I’m going to have to suggest that just to see what he says. What I mean is he’s got a softer side just for me. I don’t think anyone gets to see it outside of me, and honestly, that’s what makes him so special to me. Well, that and the sex is out of this world.”
“Yeah, I could see that. He is hot.” I fan my face, and her grin widens. “So I guess despite the unconventional start, the two of you work. But that doesn’t mean Alessio and I will be the same.”
“Have you talked to him at all about what he wants?”
I give her a droll look. “Kind of hard when I’m trying to run away from him.”
Gia chuckles. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Honestly, half the time he talks to me, he’s trying to order me around, so we spend a lot of time fighting and arguing.”
“Yeah, Nico and I did that too. I finally got so mad that I just spit out everything I was thinking and feeling and he started to understand. Not that it changed anything with regards to him constantly wanting to know where I am or chasing me around everywhere. But he takes into account my thoughts and feelings on things more now, instead of acting like any other Don out there that expects you to jump when he tells you.”
“How long have you two been married?”
She purses her lips. “I think close to three weeks now.”
I gape at her. “You’re newlyweds? Wow, really? That’s amazing. So is this some kind of honeymoon or something?”
“I guess you could call it that,” she giggles. She explains how she managed to get here and I can’t help but laugh. “So, yeah, Nico told me that we would stay so that I could relax, but we’re going to have to go back soon. He’s left his head of security in charge since Dante is here with us, but he won’t want to be away from there too long.”
“And you’ll go back with him?”
She nods. “I can’t imagine he’s going to want to leave me here. He’s not all that big on letting me be far away from him. Though I suppose if things get bad in New York with everything going on, he might not have a choice.”
“Well hopefully you’ll be here for a few more days so we can spend some more time together,” I suggest hopefully. “That or I’ll have to follow you to New York.”
She smiles. “You’ll always be welcome, Sienna. If you really want to go back with us, you can. Nico may piss off Alessio, but something tells me with Alessio’s antics he’ll be alright with that. I know what it’s like to not have choices, and you will have them, if I have anything to say about it.”
“Thank you,” I say with a grateful smile. “I’ll see how things turn out and then let you know.” Mostly because now I want to take some time and really think about my next move. And I need to do it away from Alessio.
“Okay. So what exactly do you do for work?” Gia asks me curiously.
We spend the next hour talking and laughing, and I quickly realize that this woman is genuinely nice. She hasn’t been corrupted by her—no, our —crazy family. We eventually make our way back inside, and into the bedroom. At first I think she’s going to leave, but instead she and I make ourselves comfortable on the bed and she shows me the TV that comes down from a hidden slot in the ceiling. “And here I thought we had money growing up.”
Gia grins. “The guest house where we’re staying has one of these and I love it. I told Nico I want one but he said we already have one in our room at home. Now all we’re missing is some popcorn. Unless you’re tired, of course. You’re probably exhausted and just want to sleep.”
“I’m good with watching something. I’m a little too wired to sleep now, with everything.”
“Good. Then I’m going to go and sneak us up some, and then we can watch something. I don’t know where Sofia went, but knowing her, she’s probably pranking her brothers while they’re all distracted.” She hops off the bed and scurries out, leaving me alone.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the canopy. My mind is running a million miles a minute. Being in this place, even for only a few short hours, is a whole new culture shock. I mean, hello, my own sister was kidnapped by a mafia Don and married him. It might be Stockholm Syndrome or something, but she certainly seems to care about him. Now I’m even more determined to spend some time alone with my new brother-in-law, because I want to know what kind of man my sister has found herself with.
Sofia’s words also echo through my mind that a war is coming, and if that happens, everything is going to be turned on its head again. It’s like I barely get my head above water to get air before I’m pushed back under to face whatever new problem is arising. I long desperately for my quiet life.
I just want it to go back to normal, where there is no mafia after me, no one constantly demanding I marry them, and where I can live my life like I have been for the last twenty-six years. It’s just so fucking hard to wrap my head around all of this. To see everything I’ve done up until now go up in smoke. Maybe someday I’ll come to terms with it all, but until then, I need to figure out how I can survive and not lose any parts of myself.
Growing up, I knew about the mafia, and I knew about some of the larger families like the Carusos. Of the bloodshed, the arrests, the wars in some countries that would spill out onto the streets and end with children becoming orphans and women becoming widows. My parents did their best to shield me, but even at my young age I knew what was happening was bad. That I didn’t want to be a part of it, and avoided it at all costs. Even when some of the kids at school started disappearing because their families got tied up in things that they shouldn’t have, I didn’t stick my nose in. But now, here I am, right in the middle of it all.
There’s probably some ironic, poetic statement to be made about all of this, but all I can think is that this bites. It fucking sucks, and I want to pretend for a little while that nothing in my life has changed, other than finding my sister, and doing something simple that most sisters would do at some point in their lives.
So I push all other thoughts out of my mind and grin when Gia comes running back in with some freshly popped popcorn, more wine, and even a couple boxes of chocolate that she’s found. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. What are we going to watch?”
“I haven’t seen much, so whatever you think,” Gia says easily as she climbs back into bed.
“How about we start with something funny?” I suggest, grabbing the remote to start flipping through the channels.
“Works for me,” she beams.
I lose track of the time as we watch show after show, laughing, talking and eating. And when I’m finally too tired to keep my eyes open, I smile and curl up next to an already sleeping Gia.
Yeah, okay, I needed this. I’ll figure everything else out in the morning.