Chapter 22 #3
It’s clear that she was terrified of the man.
Antonella had believed him when he’d said he was going to kill her.
She was scared enough that she went into hiding and didn’t emerge until now.
But why? The former don has been dead for a few years.
Did she think one of her sons would harm her in his place?
Was she hiding from the Andriani brothers? From Alessio?
A chill goes down my spine at the thought, but it’s not my place to ask, and I doubt she’d give me an honest answer in front of Lucky even if it was.
“How long did it take for them to subside?” I ask gently instead.
“A good ten years,” she says bitterly. “And even then, I was always looking over my shoulder. Every strange car in the rearview was one of his men, coming to finally put a bullet in my skull.” She turns away abruptly and returns the lemonade pitcher to the refrigerator.
“But enough of that. I stayed away far too long. If I could do it over again, I’d change almost everything. ”
Lucky finishes tapping on his phone and slides it back into his pocket. “Hey, Mom. None of that now. We’re making up for lost time. Speaking of which…”
As his words trail off, a voice I recognize filters into the kitchen. It’s a voice I definitely shouldn’t be hearing right now.
I wander out of the kitchen area, still holding my lemonade and convincing myself I’m imagining things.
It’s been a hell of a day, and it’s entirely possible that I’m hallucinating my best friend in the world strolling across the safe house, looking tanned and effortlessly beautiful in a tropical dress that stops just above her knees and matching sandals.
She’s got Cid in her arms, who looks overjoyed to be reunited with his mama.
“Luna?” I’m baffled, standing here with a cold glass of lemonade in my right hand.
What’s she doing in the safe house? Her honeymoon shouldn’t be over for another week.
She catches sight of me, and her expression shifts. “Is? Oh my God, I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened. Are you okay?”
She sets Cid down on all four paws and then launches herself at me. I catch her in an embrace, narrowly avoiding spilling my drink down her back.
“Never mind me. I’m fine. What are you doing here?” I demand. “You should still be in paradise, floating in the gorgeous water and drinking up umbrella drinks in the sunshine.”
“Saint called Priest and gave him a rundown of everything,” she says, squeezing me so tightly, I think she might legit crack a rib.
“Are you sure you’re fine? I can’t believe the Bratva was trailing you around and then broke into Saint’s apartment to get to you.
I never would have asked you to cat-sit Cid if I had known what was going to happen. ”
“You didn’t ask me,” I remind her. “I volunteered because you’re my bestie and I wanted you to enjoy your honeymoon. Plus, Cid’s a sweetie. I can’t resist his face.”
“I know, right? You just want to kiss it.” She’s sniffling a little, and I can tell she’s crying.
Which is very unlike Luna, who’s tough as nails.
I give her a squeeze back, trying not to be as hard on her ribs. “Are you okay?”
“As okay as I’m going to be. They blew up a restaurant too?” She withdraws and looks at me, searching my face. “This is so unexpected. Are you sure you’re all right? Saint said one of those Bratva bastards handcuffed you to your bed. Did he do anything else?”
I notice he didn’t mention it was actually Alessio’s bed I was handcuffed to, or that I was naked when the Russian left me there. She’d be even more shocked if she knew the real story, that I’ve been having wild sex with her brother-in-law ever since before the wedding.
“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “I’m all good.”
As good as I’m going to be anyway.
“Thank God.”
My mind is whirling with more questions, so I just blurt them. “Where’s Priest? What’s going on?”
“He’s with Saint,” she says. “He forced me to come here against my will. Said it wasn’t safe for me until they know what they’re dealing with.”
And at the worry lacing her voice, my heart drops. This isn’t over. We finally release each other, and that’s when Antonella emerges from the kitchen with Lucky.
“You must be Priest’s wife,” she says.
I’m standing between them, holding the lemonade she squeezed, wondering how I’m going to introduce my best friend to the mother-in-law and the two half sisters she didn’t know she had.
This family reunion just got a whole lot weirder.
Luna sends me a searching glance. “Yes, I am. And you are?”
“Antonella Rossi.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Matteo, Alessio, Lorenzo, and Luca’s mother.”
On cue, Camilla and Bianca show up, lured away from their cooking show binge by the drama about to unfold.
“And these are my daughters,” Antonella adds softly. “Their father was Tomasso Revello.”
“Holy shit,” Luna breathes, looking shell-shocked.
“Here.” I press my glass of lemonade into her hand. “Take a sip.”
She looks down at my offering. “Is there vodka in that?”
“No.”
“Tequila?”
“Nope.”
“Gin?” she asks hopefully.
I wince. “Just straight up lemonade. Antonella made it fresh, and it’s incredible.”
“This is a nightmare, right?” Luna asks hopefully. “I’ll pinch my arm and wake up in a king-size bed in St. Thomas with the moon glistening off the ocean, and none of this will be real. No psycho Russians, no bombs, no surprise family members.”
And she’s just beginning to scratch the surface.
“Not a nightmare,” I confirm. “Need to sit down?”
She gulps the lemonade like she’s been wandering in the desert and is desperately parched. “I think I need more than that, but it’s a start.”
“Sorry to spring this on you,” Bianca says.
“It’s been a shock to us too,” Camilla adds.
“Does Priest know about all this?” Luna asks weakly.
Lucky shakes his head. “Not yet. Saint’s planning on bringing him up to speed. He didn’t want to tell him over the phone.”
“Good.” Luna nods. “Otherwise, I’d be tempted to smother him in his sleep if he were keeping this a secret from me.”
There’s her inner Mafia princess, coming out to shine. I feel faintly relieved that she’s rebounding so quickly.
“I think we’re going to get along very well,” Antonella pronounces with pride in her voice.
Lucky wasn’t joking. The Andrianis really are one big, fucked-up famiglia.
Why do I find myself wishing I were really a part of it?