46. The Name Is Mrs. Parisi
"The Name Is Mrs. Parisi"
Bianca
Blacked-out SUVs arrive on the lawn. Benny and my grandfather’s men grabbed Michele after clearing the rest of the house.
My grandfather.
It still feels wild to say. He told me about Mama Vee’s connection to my mother.
Although I was robbed of meeting her, I felt her spirit through her best friend who’d raised me with her love.
There are so many questions I have—about him, my grandmother, and mother.
About everything. He promised to answer it all and is prolonging his stay in Sicily to be closer.
Everyone reroutes from Stephanie and Andrea’s car. They haven’t stopped tonguing each other down. My grandfather kisses my cheek and gets into an SUV with a few of his men. He keeps the door open for Vince, who walks back to hug me.
“I knew you were in the mob,” I joke.
“Yeah, yeah,” he chuckles. “I guess this means I’m sending all your shit to Sicily?”
Benny deadpans when I eye him. “Don’t play with me, Trouble.”
“Yes, please,” I laugh. “Why don’t you move to Italy? The restaurant runs itself, and we can be closer.”
A frown shadows his smile. “Can’t do that for the same reason you won’t leave Sicily. My love is at home.”
My brows crease. “Love?”
“Viola was the love of my life, kid. She still is,” he says shyly. “Protecting you brought us together. You’re my greatest joy and the reason for our family.”
I choke back a sob. “I love you.”
Vince reaches for me and kisses the top of my head. “Love you too.” His gaze lifts to Benny. “You and I are still having that talk.”
“Of course,” my husband says.
“I’m trusting you to take care of her.”
Benny nods. “With my life.”
Vince eyes me. “We’ll talk more later. I got a few things to do with Elio. I’ll see you soon.”
He hops into the SUV. All but one race off into the dusk settling into the sky.
What a day.
Benny pulls my back to his chest. We stand in silence for a beat, his arms wrapped around my middle.
His lips brush my temple. “Thank you for staying.”
I smile. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. This is gonna cost you, you know?”
He huffs out a laugh. “I figured. How about a vacation, Mrs. Bennici?”
“The name is Mrs. Parisi, and that sounds good.” I lift in the boots he gave me to kiss his lips. “I want something else too.”
“Yeah?”
My tongue trails his bottom lip, sucking it into my mouth. He groans at my hand cupping his dick before I reroute to grab his phone out of his pocket.
His brow lifts at my smile. “Don’t get used to taking my phone.”
I punch in the command on his app. “I won’t need yours once I get a new one.”
Benny wraps an arm around me and kisses my head. He whistles for Hades and Ares, who barrel around the side of the house as the drones circle.
Explosions boom as our SUV exits the driveway onto the private road, shooting debris into the air. The drones follow us back to the citrus grove.
My new home and the start of my next chapter.