Chapter 8 Mauro
Chapter eight
Mauro
Icheck my watch for the fifth time, observing the little hand tick slowly around as I lean against the wooden stair banister. It’s fifteen minutes after six, which means Alina’s fifteen minutes late. Unease fills me as my eyes trail over to the front door, wishing for it to swing open.
Everyone’s scattered throughout Madeleine’s house, conversing. Laughter echoes through the halls as the minutes toll by, but the only thing I can focus on is the damn front door and the fact that Alina isn’t here yet.
Maybe she got caught in traffic. Or maybe the roads weren’t plowed.
Shit, why didn’t I pick her up? I should have offered to come and pick her up.
No, I should have told her I was coming to get her, not leaving room for her to refuse.
I never should have let her drive in these conditions.
Especially in that shitty excuse of a car.
Mental note: buy Alina a new car.
I pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts until I see her name. I’m just about to type out a message when the front door opens, and Alina stumbles through. There’s a frantic energy to her as her chest heaves with each breath she takes, like she just ran here.
She dusts off the snow from her hair as she slides out of her boots.
Her cheeks are a rosy pink, matching the tip of her nose.
As she unwraps the scarf from around her slender neck, she looks up, and her eyes meet mine.
Her shoulders drop, a sense of relief washing over her features. A small smile blooms across her face.
I’m just about to let a smile slip free when Madeleine rushes past me.
“Finally! I was about to send the guards out to look for you,” she teases as she helps Alina out of her coat.
She might be joking, but another minute or two and I was seriously considering the same option.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. My car wouldn’t start, and I had to wait for AAA to jump-start it.
” She shrugs. Why didn’t she text me for help?
“I guess I’ll be buying a battery for my birthday present to myself.
” She laughs, trying to appear as if it’s no big deal, but I hear the strain in her voice.
And I definitely don’t miss the slight redness in her eyes as if this situation brought tears that she no longer has on display.
This is the last fucking thing she needs.
“Or just get a new car. That will solve all of your problems.” Madeleine wraps an arm around Alina’s shoulders, leading her toward the dining room. “Come on, Mauro. Dinner is ready.”
I follow close behind and enter the dining room. Immediately, I note one free seat beside Eli and two free seats across from him. Obviously, Madeleine will sit beside him, which means it won’t be obvious when I take my place next to Alina.
As expected, Madeleine sits beside her husband, and Alina takes the seat directly across from hers. I take the free seat between her and Alex, inching my chair a little closer to hers.
While the dinner is rolled out on carts and everyone begins to talk amongst themselves, I notice Alina’s knee bouncing anxiously beneath the table. Before I can second-guess myself, I discreetly place my hand on her thigh, and she stills, her eyes glancing up, locking with mine.
Does she regret going through with this plan?
Has she changed her mind?
Christ, what was I thinking agreeing to this?
“I’m okay,” she says soft enough that only I can hear. “Just nervous about how everyone will react.”
I nod in understanding, slowly drawing my thumb back and forth over her jeans.
Honestly, I’m not too sure how they’ll take the news either, but they all love Alina like she’s one of us, so I don’t see how this could go badly.
I mouth the words, It’ll be okay. She shows a small smile before rolling in her bottom lip and looking down at her dinner plate.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Vin stands, using the edge of his knife to tap against the crystal glass in his hand.
“Family is all that matters in this world. And we are blessed that our family keeps growing.” He raises his glass high.
“Eli, you’ve always been like a brother to me, Leo, Alex, and Mauro.
But now, you are officially one of us—an Alarie.
I am honored to welcome you to our family.
There is no one we would have thought more perfect for our sister than you.
And we know…” He clears his throat. “We know our father would be incredibly happy for the two of you.” He looks around at each of us, including me, before he turns his attention back to Madeleine and Eli. “So, here’s to family.”
Everyone raises their glasses. “To family.”
A moment later, Eli’s chair scrapes across the floor as he pushes back and gets up, striding off toward the kitchen with a giant grin on his face.
“So.” Scarlett leans closer to Madeleine. “Need any help planning your wedding?”
“Yeah, starting with a redo of my bachelorette party,” Madeleine says, laughing. “I’m thinking of doing a girls’ trip somewhere tropical. Maybe—”
“You can go to the family’s island,” Leo interjects.
“But I’ve been there before.”
“So? It has a private security team, twenty-four-seven surveillance, not to mention it’s in a no-fly zone.”
Madeleine rolls her eyes. “I guess it could be a compromise.”
“What’s a compromise?” Eli asks as he walks back into the room, pushing a cart with what looks like a wedding cake.
“For my bachelorette—” Madeleine turns in her chair, her lips parting wide in shock as her eyes narrow in on what Eli is pushing her way.
“You really thought I was going to let you order a vanilla cake when you dream of and live for chocolate?” he asks, smirking.
“What?” She shakes her head. “I don’t understand… How did you do this?”
Their words blur in the background as I notice Alina’s hand shaking on her lap. The one currently wearing the custom wedding band I had Felix, our family jeweler, create for her overnight. Although I can’t say he was too ecstatic from my one a.m. wake-up text…
Her fingers rapidly tap on her knee, and I want to intertwine my fingers with hers. I want to reassure her that everything will be okay. But I can’t.
Not until we tell them.
Which is why I find myself abruptly standing and using my knife to tap against my glass to gain everyone’s attention.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
All eyes turn to me, but my attention remains on Alina.
She bites her plush bottom lip and pushes her hair behind her ear before shyly standing beside me. I feel the nerves radiating off her in waves, so I cautiously place my hand around her waist and pull her against my side.
Out of the corner of my eye, I note the looks that everyone gives one another. There’s confusion clear as day written all over their faces. But there won’t be for long.
“Hi, everyone,” Alina says softly. She clears her throat and pushes up her glasses as she twists her hands together. “Mauro and I, well, we just wanted to share that…” She peers around the table, her lips parting and closing as she tries to form words.
I don’t like seeing her like this, and it’s killing me that I can’t speak for her. That I can’t say the words she’s trying so desperately to convey.
I look to Alex and know he’ll be able to speak for me.
I place a hand against my chest, and then, with my right hand in the shape of a loose C, my thumb touches my lower cheek before moving down toward my left hand, which is also shaped in a loose C, and I interlock my fingers.
I tilt my head to see Alina displaying a breathtakingly beautiful smile as a blush sweeps over her cheeks.
Madeleine speaks first. “What did he just—”
“He said.” Alex catches my eye as he smirks. “My wife.”
Silence fills the room.
“We, umm…” Alina swallows hard as she gives a slight shrug. “We got married.”
Vin chokes on his drink at the exact moment Leo drops his cutlery. Alex roughly pats Vin’s back as Scarlett looks between the two of us.
“You really got married?” she asks.
“Y-yes,” Alina answers. “We didn’t want to make it into a big thing. The both of us don’t care much for attention so we went to town hall a week ago.”
“Well, this is wonderful news.” My mother stands with a warm smile as she approaches the two of us. She reaches for Alina and wraps her arms around her. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”
She’s taking this much better than I thought she would.
“You’re really okay with this?” Vin asks, his eyes narrowing in on her with suspicion.
She reaches over and tenderly places her hand on my cheek, her eyes telling me how happy she is for this union.
“Of course I am.” Her attention shifts to Vin.
“Out of the five of my children, Madeleine, Leo, and Mauro are the ones making me that much closer to becoming a grandmother. I don’t see you or Alex doing anything about that. ”
And there it is.
Alina chokes on…well, fuck I have no idea what, since I didn’t see her drink or eat anything. I rub her back and stifle a grin. She doesn’t have to worry about getting pregnant since that requires sex, and the two of us won’t be doing that per rule number four set in place.
But I can’t lie and say the thought of her carrying our child doesn’t turn me on…
“Mother,” Vin murmurs, rubbing his temple. “You taught us always to keep it wrapped. And you should be thankful I have, otherwise you’d have more grandchildren than you’d know what to do with.”
Madeleine rolls her eyes, laughing as Scarlett presses her face into Leo’s shoulder to hide her grin.
“You know what I mean, Vincenzo. Isn’t it time you try to find Liliya?”
“Enough.” He throws his napkin on the table, sighing. “Why don’t we discuss the actual matter at hand here?” His gaze turns toward us, suspicion evident in his eyes. “Why?”
“Why?” Alina repeats, nudging a little closer into my side. Christ. Her soft body pressing against me feels too damn good.