Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Liana
The restaurant is definitely the kind of place my uncle would have chosen, zero hesitation.
The shiny floors stretch beneath my feet and I look above to see chandeliers with dangerously sharp crystals hanging overhead.
This place is absolutely ridiculous. The staff navigate tables with rehearsed smiles.
These people don’t want to be here, but I bet the money is good.
A part of me yearns for belonging in this orchestrated world and in some sense, I guess I do…
just not willingly. The other part of me craves to disrupt this facade with every fiber of my being.
Every single person here looks as if they were born knowing exactly which fork belongs to which course, and I feel the strange familiarity of it settle on my skin.
This isn’t much different from my Italian prison after-all.
Diego walks right behind me, so close that I can sense him without even turning around.
I wonder if he was told I might run? Well, jokes on you dumbass.
I’m not sure I could run now even if I wanted to.
I'm tempted to stop short just to see if he will run into me…to see if he’s paying as close attention to me as I think he is.
I don’t dare look back, but I know he’s watching, I’m just not sure what exactly he’s watching for.
I let out a breath as we twist and turn through the rows of tables before finally coming to a slow stop.
And then I see them. They’re clustered in a corner booth, half-hidden by the curve of the wall, and for a second, my heart stops beating altogether. Family. Excitement rushes through my body and I feel a smile form on my face.
Antonio spots me first, his broad face breaking into a smile that makes the lines around his eyes crinkle.
Next to him, Alexander's sharp gaze snaps up, his expression carefully neutral but his eyes drinking me in, assessing. He’s looking to see if I’ve been hurt.
Felix, simply nods, the slight upturn of his lips forming into a small smile.
I should remain proper. That’s how I was raised to act in public, at least, but my composure cracks.
All my careful preparation and all the reminders to stay cool and collected shoot out the window the moment Antonio stands and opens his arms. I practically fly the last few steps, crashing into him as his arms fold around me protectively.
"Little L," he murmurs against my hair, his voice thick with emotion.
I breathe in his familiar scent. It’s what all the men in my family smell like. Expensive cologne, strong coffee…home. Family. Safety. For just a moment, I'm not in Arizona anymore. I'm back in Italy.
Diego clears his throat loudly behind me, ruining my vision and reality crashes back in. I pull away reluctantly, quickly brushing away tears I didn't realize had fallen. I don’t need anyone to see me weak right now. Least of all, the brother of the man I’m meant to marry.
"It's good to see you," I say with a neutral tone, completely aware of Diego's watchful eyes.
I slide into the booth beside Felix, who squeezes my hand under the table, his silent way of offering support.
Antonio turns to Diego before reaching his hand out and I watch as both men shake hands, squeezing a little too firmly for just a moment too long.
They both sit down and Alexander immediately focuses on me.
"You look well," Alexander says, studying my face with those analytical eyes that never miss anything. "Taken care of…."
I know what he's really asking though. Are you being treated well? Are you safe? Have they hurt you?
"I'm adjusting," I reply carefully. "The house is beautiful, and Pita, the housekeeper, takes good care of me. She reminds me of Marta."
“I am glad,” Antonio cuts in. “I would hate for you to be…unhappy.”
I don’t miss the subtle threat as all three of my cousins stare at Diego.
He stares back impassively before signaling to a waiter who materializes instantly at our table.
"Champagne," he orders without consulting any of us. "Your best."
Antonio raises an eyebrow slightly but says nothing. The power play isn't lost on any of us. This is Diego's territory, Sanchez territory, and he wants them to know it.
"Tell me about your new restaurant," I say, desperate to hear them talk and break this awkward tension.
Antonio launches into a detailed description of their new venture which happens to be an upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Phoenix.
As he talks, Felix quietly places his phone on the table, showing me pictures of the space.
I see glimpses of dark wood and elegant light fixtures that look stunning.
"It's beautiful," I say sincerely. "Uncle would have approved."
A flash of something crosses Felix's face before he masks it with a smirk.
“I am not stupid, Liana. No one gives a damn if that man would have approved. Least of all, you,” he murmurs. Then just a little lower, “we are here for you, Little L.”
A small smile forms on my face and I nod at him slightly while continuing to look at the pictures on his phone.
"We've been working with some interesting local partners to get everything set up quickly," Antonio says to Diego.
"Oh?" Diego responds with a drawl. "Which partners?"
Alexander sips his water, his expression innocent as he interjects.
"Several. Most recently, we've been negotiating with the Degerson group for some supply chain logistics."
Diego's posture stiffens beside me.
"Diablo Degerson?"
"His organization, yes," Alexander replies casually, though I catch the calculation in his eyes. "Know of him?"
I feel the tension at our table suddenly spike so high I can practically taste it in the air. Diego's expression darkens noticeably as his fingers tighten around the glass he is holding.
"Everyone knows Degerson," he says curtly. “But I think you already knew that.”
My cousin just smirks. Fortunately, the waiter returns with champagne, pouring it into the delicate flutes. The bubbles dance upward, creating a momentary distraction as we all raise our glasses in a toast.
"To family," Antonio says meaningfully, his eyes fixed on me.
"To family," we all echo.
Somehow the conversation shifts to safer topics like the weather in Phoenix compared to Italy, the best local wineries, and places I might enjoy visiting.
Underneath everything though, I still sense the tension.
Every time Diego looks away, one of my cousins catches my eye, silently communicating questions they can't ask aloud.
When our entrées arrive, I pick at my pasta, my appetite diminished by anxiety.
What do they know about my situation? About the wedding? About Frankie? Rio?
"Your wedding preparations must be keeping you busy," Felix says suddenly, his voice gentle. "It's coming up soon, isn't it?"
My fork freezes halfway to my mouth, my appetite now completely gone.
"Yes," I manage, setting it down carefully. "Next week."
"So soon," Alexander murmurs, his gaze flicking briefly to Diego. "And have you met your fiancé yet? I heard he’s been gone a lot."
I can feel Diego watching me, waiting for my answer.
"Not yet," I say, forcing a smile I don't feel. "It is all happening rather quickly…."
Antonio reaches across the table, grabbing my hand.
"These arrangements can be complicated," he says carefully. "We are here for you, no matter what. Remember that."
As he squeezes my hand, I feel something slip between my fingers from underneath the table. A small, folded piece of paper. I don’t dare look in Felix’s direction, knowing he’s the one who passed it. Carefully, I transfer it to my lap and then under my napkin.
"Speaking of arrangements," Diego interrupts, checking his watch with exaggerated concern. "We should be getting back soon. You have a fitting this afternoon for your wedding dress."
I blink in surprise. This is the first I've heard of any fitting and it thoroughly annoys me.
"I do?"
Diego's smile doesn't reach his eyes.
"Yes. Santiago arranged it himself."
My stomach drops and the abrupt announcement hangs in the air like a death sentence. My precious time with my family is being cut short, and there's nothing I can do about it. Antonio signals for the check, but Diego waves him off.
"It's taken care of," he says dismissively.
My cousins exchange glances I can't fully decipher and as we stand to leave, each embraces me with a tight hug.
"Remember what I said," Felix whispers against my ear in Italian. "We are here for you now."
Alexander kisses both my cheeks, then pulls back to look me in the eyes.
"Be careful, Little L," he murmurs."
Antonio simply holds me tight for a long moment before letting me go.
"Let's go," Diego says, his hand coming to rest possessively on my lower back as he steers me toward the exit.
I glance back once to see my cousins watching me leave, their faces set in identical expressions of worry. At that moment, I realize they aren't here just to open a restaurant. They really are here for me. And whatever they have going with this Degerson man…it has Diego on edge.
I carefully palm the note from earlier and slip it into my purse casually, before pulling back out a small tube of chapstick.
The anticipation of being able to read it has me more anxious as we head to our next destination.
The only thing keeping me going is knowing that my family hasn't abandoned me after all.
For the first five minutes, Diego drives in silence. I stare out the window at the pristine Scottsdale streets while clutching my purse with the note inside. My mind races through lunch, replaying every word, before his voice cuts through.
"Your cousin Alexander,” he says. “How does he know Degerson?"
I turn to look at him, genuinely confused.
"What?"
His jaw tightens.
"Don't play dumb, Liana. The Degerson name is well known. You don’t just fall into business with him. Do your cousins fight?"
“Fight?”