Chapter 8
Lucrezia held the taboo glass of wine in her hand, watching the deep purple liquid condensate on the outer part. It was an easy thing to look at when the party became too raucous.
Romero, ever by her side, stroked her cheek as he checked in with her to make sure she was all right.
As expected, her mother and father were no shows at the reception, disappearing some time after the ceremony. It was better that way, Lucrezia supposed. But the sting would be fresh for a while.
Her new mother-in-law sauntered over to them, maybe two or three glasses of wine deep.
Giulia was a clear social butterfly, and the drink only enhanced that.
”There is our bride! Would Romero terribly mind if I steal you away? There”s some more people I”d like you to meet.”
Before leaving the safety of her husband, Lucrezia looked up at him.
”Can I?”
Giulia passed a strange look to Romero at Lucrezia”s question.
After a moment, he cocked his head with permission but only after another kiss.
When they separated, his head dipped to her ear.
”Thank you for asking Daddy, perla. Go ahead, but come right back here. And be good.”
He chuffed and nipped at the outer shell before reluctantly letting her go.
Giulia took his place and downed the remainder of her wine, passing it to the nearest waiter.
”Has my son treated you well? Is he gentle? Kind? If not, he knows I”m not above taking my shoe and whacking him over the head with it. You don”t have to ask permission to leave his side, you know. These are different times.”
Lucrezia couldn”t help but laugh at the visual of Giulia removing her slipper and chucking it at a younger Romero.
”Romero is wonderful. He”s everything I ever dreamed of. We just have...a special relationship, is all.”
Her mother-in-law smiled, the wine slightly staining her pearly white teeth.
”Well, good. His father, may he rest in hell, hasn”t lingered in his personality.” She rolled her eyes.
”Romero never talks about his father.”
”For good reason, I”d imagine. That son of a bitch and his brother put us through enough misery when Romero was growing up.”
Giulia sneered, and Lucrezia was reminded of the extremely brief topic.
”What happened to his father? And his uncle? Romero won”t tell me.”
Lucrezia hoped she could get a straight answer out of Giulia, given her state of somewhat inebriation. She felt guilty for taking advantage of the situation, but her curiosity was too great.
”They were no good, lying and conniving bastards. Alessandro, Romero’s father, passed away when Romero was just sixteen. His brother Tomasso was at the helm after him, as Romero was still young. But it”s best that any memories of them are left behind, sweet girl.”
Lucrezia”s shoulders dropped. So much for answers. The only thing she knew now was where Romero’s middle name came from.
What was he hiding?
Before she could say anymore, the two were bombarded with even more cousins whose names and faces she began filing in the back of her mind.
After what seemed like endless mingling, a train of wedding presents being carried upstairs to the spare bedroom and plenty of flowing alcohol, the guests finally sat for dinner.
Romero”s chef indeed prepared only the finest; soup as an appetizer with, of course, Italian meatballs. Roast duckling followed, which was without a doubt the best she had ever had. Finally, a three tiered lemon sponge cake was carried out by two waiters and placed in front of them. Lucrezia knew she could hardly stomach anymore, but she accepted one small, delicious bite by Romero”s fork while he did the same by hers.
The crowd applauded as they kissed, slightly smearing icing over their lips.
Romero clasped her close to his side as he made his toast.
”Thank you all for coming, my wife and I appreciate the dedicated support.”
He emphasized that she was in fact his wife, while pulling her even more flush to him.
”You all have been very kind to Lucrezia, accepting her not just as my wife but as a member of the family. I am hers, and she is mine. And should anyone challenge that-” he downed the rest of his drink, stronger than what everyone else was drinking. ”You”ll feel my wrath. Now, if you”ll excuse us.”
Romero practically slammed his glass down and hoisted Lucrezia up into his arms.
She yelped in shock.
”Romero! What are you doing!” Lucrezia kicked in his grasp and grunted, not heard by the hollering crowd.
”Taking my wife upstairs. I think we”ve had enough social interaction today.”
She bounced as he ascended the stairs.
”But everyone is still here. It”s rude!”
She craned her neck to see that the guests were still partying.
”My men will have them dispersed within the hour. If I had to tolerate another minute watching you move around in this dress, being unable to have you, I was going to lose my fucking mind.”
Romero growled, tapping her on the behind when she struggled.
”But-”
”Hush, perla.”
Lucrezia obeyed, realizing she was glad to be out of the noisy environment. But not quite appreciating the way her husband removed her from it.
Romero opened the bedroom door one handed, kicking it closed.
He put her down but kept a hand on her as he pinned her against the door.
”Do you want to get more comfortable, Mrs. Mancini?”