Chapter 22
For three months, things were eerily quiet. The more time went by, the more uneasy he became.
Lucrezia foolishly wanted to believe that the threat had been past them, and that it was merely a scare tactic. But, rightly so, only a fool would believe that in this world.
There was still danger, as much as Romero tried to shield her from it.
He kept Lucrezia nearly always by his side or accompanied by Tony if he needed to meet with important people.
Romero never left the house without her, and on the rare occasion they did leave, all was well.
Whether it was because of the upped security that surrounded them or never showing themselves at the same place twice, Lucrezia was unsure. But there was no gunfire, no threats, not even a menacing glare in their direction when out in public.
Still, she didn”t let her guard down, as instructed by Romero. She still noticed how hyper alert he was when she looked in his face. Her Daddy appeared to map out every escape route humanly possible everywhere they went, even in his own businesses.
Lucrezia wished he could relax, laying a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He would be momentarily drawn from his fixating stare to smile at her or kiss her knuckles. But he would then go right back to his mental planning.
Today, on a hot midsummer day, she and her Daddy lounged in his office. He was insistent as ever that she remain close to him, especially ever since she began feeling ill.
Lucrezia went a month or two keeping her unnoticeable symptoms to herself, electing to wait until she could summon the doctor in secret. He would confirm what she already knew.
She smiled to herself in her special chair in the corner, adjacent to Romero while she read her book.
Every few minutes, whenever she shifted her weight or cleared her throat, his head whipped over to her in clear worry.
”How are you feeling, Perla?”
”I”m fine, don”t worry about me so much.”
”I”m your husband and Daddy. It”s my job.”
He anxiously flicked his lighter open for another cigarette, then there was a knock at the door.
Romero cast a glance over to her, something he had grown accustomed to doing when there was business to attend to in her presence. He cocked his head, silently asking if she was prepared for a visitor.
Lucrezia nodded and straightened herself, fixing her skirt and demurely crossing her legs.
”Come in,” Romero curtly said.
One of his men poked his head in.
”Boss, your mother is here.”
”My mother? Is she all right?”
Romero stood up from his desk.
”She”s fine, sir. She wants to see you, that”s all.”
”Well, send her in. Don”t keep my mother-in-law waiting, please. She”s always welcome,” Lucrezia spoke up, one of very few times she gave direction to one of Romero”s staff.
”Yes, ma”am.” The man nodded his head and shut the door.
Romero smirked at her.
”I think you”re taking to being the lady of the house quite nicely, perla.” He loomed over her and gave her a kiss.
”I think it suits me.”
Giulia entered the office seconds later while they were still lip locked.
”Oh! I”m sorry, you two, I don”t mean to intrude.”
Her mother-in-law bashfully clasped her hands together, looking fabulous, as she always did.
”You never intrude, Mother.” Romero gave her a hug.
Lucrezia got up and followed shortly after.
”Oh, sweetheart, look at you! You”re absolutely glowing!”
Giulia ran her fingers over Lucrezia”s hair, noticeably thicker.
Her skin had become healthier looking and dewy lately, as well.
Lucrezia crossed her fingers, praying she didn”t say anything while Romero was there. But the knowing look on Giulia’s face confirmed that she knew.
”Well, I was just in the neighborhood and thought I”d stop by. I wanted to give you two some space after the wedding; I didn”t want to be a bother.”
Giulia waved her hand, accepting a chair by Romero.
”You couldn”t bother us, Mother. Drink?” Romero picked up a fancy glass decanter.
Giulia pinched two fingers close together in response, and Romero poured for her.
”I”d love for us to spend more time together,” Lucrezia spoke up, smoothing her drop waist dress over her hips.
”Yes, we must have a shopping day! Romero, being my only child, was never interested in trailing behind me at the boutiques, of course. I”d love having a partner in crime.” Her mother-in-law winked, swirling her glass.
Lucrezia felt herself warm at the prospect of a mother, or rather, a mother figure spending time with her, let alone wanting to.
She blinked away tears, knowing her own mother was missing out on this vitally important stage of her life and likely would for the remainder of her days.
They had received no calls or letters from her parents; just radio silence. It was as if Lucrezia had simply been cut away from their lives. Like she was never their daughter at all.
Romero came to her side, noting her sudden silence.
His hand was on the small of her back, and his brows furrowed.
Lucrezia stood on her toes to kiss him, silently letting him know she was all right.
The three of them spoke comfortably for some time until there was a sharp knock on the door.
Instead of waiting for Romero”s approval to enter, the worried man burst in.
Romero shot a lethal glare at the man.
”I am with my family, Victor. Can’t you see that, or are the eyeballs glued to your head not working?”
Lucrezia winced at his words.
”Boss, I”m sorry. But we have a situation.”
The man”s chest was rapidly inflating as he pulled his gun from his suspender and began loading it.
Romero followed out of instinct, suddenly appearing alarmed.
”What?”
”It”s Sal Jr. He”s here.”