Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Giovanna
‘ G i.’ A deep, resonating voice found me just as soon as we stepped inside Salvatore and Serafina’s villa.
Coming around the side of the large sweeping staircase I found my elder brother and offered him a smile. Knowing he was never one for making meaningless pleasantries, when his arms opened wide to engulf me, I willingly stepped inside to receive his embrace.
‘Good to see you, Gi.’ He placed a quick kiss on the top of my head as his arms squeezed the breath from me and then just as suddenly released me.
‘And you... looking, dare I say it—happy?’ I replied.
‘She’s back.’
‘She is and I’m so pleased for you both,’ I answered, while staring up at him with what I knew was obvious adulation.
I loved all three of my brothers, but Salvatore and I had a special connection. The only explanation was that although we were two out of the four children our papa had sired, we were for very different reasons the misfits. And in that knowledge, we had found our strength and love for each other.
‘Learnt that new piece yet?’ he teased.
‘No, not yet… I’ll need to go back to Bologna a few more times to master it.’
‘You do surprise me,’ he uttered sarcastically.
He spoke the words, but I knew he was aware of my need for more outside of the almost at times subjugated life I’d been born into.
‘Mmmm… I’m not sure I do.’ I raised my eyebrows at him and felt them touch my perfectly styled fringe.
‘How many more times, Gi?’ he sighed. ‘I understand you want to play the music you love. I also would prefer it was done here at home.’
‘My preferred professor only teaches at Bologna,’ I implored.
‘I could persuade him otherwise.’
‘No, Salvatore… no!’
He looked amused, knowing full well his plan to wind me up had played out to full effect.
‘You’re too easy, little sister.’ His words left him on a deep laugh. A laugh so rare I could see the people around us had stopped talking just so they could watch the phenomenon. ‘Of course, you must continue to play and to study. But you know you can only do so if you’re prepared to comply to the terms regarding your security.’ His tone effectively underlined the words he’d just used.
‘She understands, Salvatore.’ Serafina approached us from the side and placed an arm around us both. ‘Now, please let’s not ruin what has the makings of a beautiful day, a day with so much to celebrate,’ she appealed.
Salvatore lifted his thumb and forefinger to her chin and after directing her face to his, he brushed his lips over hers.
My heart skipped in response to their show of affection for each other.
‘We will celebrate later, little bird. I intend to make sure of it.’
A blush hit my cheeks at his discernible intent.
He spoke once more as he began to back away from us both.
‘Gi, you look beautiful today and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.’ I understood that the “anyone” he was referring to was my mama.
‘He’s right, Gi. That style of dress and the colour look amazing on you.’ Serafina took both of my hands in hers and stood back slightly to take all of me in.
‘Thank you both, and Serafina you also look amazing. Being back home evidently suits you.’
‘It really does,’ she agreed, glancing to look in Salvatore’s direction. Something unspoken passed between them and he turned once again to look at her. The heat in his gaze was so intense, I was surprised when she didn’t spontaneously combust.
Then he turned and we were left to our own devices.
Serafina’s arm looped through my own and we walked together through the villa and out to the terrace, saying hello to everyone we passed.
My dress had been a good choice. My papa and brothers had all commented on how lovely I looked. My grandfather had stood from the chair Ricco had carried out to the vestibule especially for him to sit on, while the men of our family waited for the two of us. Clasping my hand, he had twirled me around just so he could get a better look at me. Those few compliments had given me the confidence to sweep past my mama and her disparaging look just as soon as she’d appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
We were here, and I was determined to enjoy both of my friends being back and my newfound confidence, for however long it lasted.
After what seemed like a lifetime of exchanging pleasantries with the gathered guests, we finally made our way out and into the very middle of the gathering and under one of the many large canvas sails which had been placed in strategic positions to offer us all some respite from the heat of the sun.
I heard Mia before I spotted her. ‘Giovanna… you look stunning!’
And suddenly she was next to me, closely followed by my brother Gabriel.
‘Drink, Gi?’ he offered as Mia gathered me in close for a hug.
‘Yes, please… just a soda.’
I waited until he’d moved away before I spoke again.
‘I can’t believe you’re both back. I’ve missed you so much.’
The three of us hugged it out for a few seconds.
‘So, come on… tell me all about anything and everything.’
‘Rome is fantastic,’ Mia revealed.
‘I’m sure Bologna would be too if only…’
I could see the sympathy etched on their faces and Mia was just about to speak again when another voice interrupted us.
‘Look at the three of you beautiful women, back together.’ Serafina’s mama Rosa walked up to us, ‘Sorry I’m going to have to break up your reunion. I need your help, Serafina.’
‘Okay, mum. We will set up a day soon—yes?’ Serafina asked.
‘Of course,’ Mia replied.
‘Yes. If your husband will let you out of his sight,’ I teased as Serafina walked away. Mia and I started to laugh at her as she looked over her shoulder and directed a “don’t go there” look at us both.
‘Now, tell me how your studies are going?’ I questioned Mia, as I looked around nearby for a quiet secluded table we could go and sit down at to chat. But it appeared that most of the tables were already full. Disappointed, I grabbed hold of her hand and turned us around, but instead of finding a table a little further away, I found the mature version of a boy I’d once known. The same one I’d done nothing but fantasise over for the past five years, as he made his way through the people between us, grabbing a drink on the way.
‘They’re going well,’ Mia answered me. ‘Who knew I’d be so well informed in the history and culture of Italy?’ She rolled her eyes up high into her head.
‘Well, we do live the culture, and the history runs through our veins,’ I managed to reply, without once breaking my gaze from staring at the beautiful man who appeared to be making his way over to us, albeit taking as much time as he could. He was taller than my brothers, Gabriel and Romeo, so I put him a few inches over six foot. He had filled out, with broad shoulders. His shirt was fitted, and it gave the indication of a well-defined, muscular frame underneath. His dark hair was short, with the top styled with longer lengths of hair.
Finally, he arrived and I felt my legs begin to tremble a little at his proximity.
At once, he took my hand in his and kissed the back of it. My skin tingled instantly, feeling as though it had been burnt. My heart started beating at a frantic rate and my stomach gave flight to at least a thousand butterflies.
‘Dante.’ I all but whispered his name and smiled at him at the same time.
At last, his beautiful blue eyes, the same ones I’d pictured in many of my dreams, lifted to mine.