34. Vivi
VIVI
Aurora is the little girl from the photo. She’s a few years older, but it’s definitely her. And she called Gio papà.
I’ve got so many questions I can barely think straight. But, amazingly, I don’t want to. Not right now when this thoughtful little girl is pointing out all of Lulù’s favorite foods on the buffet.
She’s talking about arancini and caprese salad and calamari, and my head is stuck on a three-way pivot between her, the food, and Gio.
He’s watching us right back, an emotion I can’t identify infusing the angular lines of his face.
Sweet lord, he looks amazing. Delicious.
I salivate more looking at him than I do smelling the freshly prepared cannelloni Chef has made.
His white dress shirt is crisp, pressed into the point of submission and open at the collar to reveal the base of his throat and the heavy planes of his upper chest. Dark suit trousers define his narrow waist before stretching to accommodate his muscular thighs and powerfully long legs.
His hair is swept back, silver threaded through mahogany and just begging to be touched.
Pulled. I remember how soft it felt between my fingers when he was kissing me on his terrace, touching me until I was a puddle of pleasure in his arms. My body remembers, too.
Despite my orgasm in the bath, I’m keyed up, attraction simmering a little too close to the surface.
Aurora tugs my hand, her fingers tiny in mine. I force back all the inappropriate thoughts I’m having about Gio and give her my full attention. She’s bouncing on tiptoe, pointing at the beautifully decorated table. “We’re having a party!”
“Yes, isn’t it exciting?”
“Yes. Papa is letting me stay up past my bedtime.” Her grin is infectious.
Gio has wandered over to the adults standing in a group. I recognize all but two: the giant bald man standing behind Alik and the beautiful, dark-haired woman that the Russian has his arm wrapped around.
They’re all out of earshot. I kneel back down to Aurora’s level. “I’m sorry you’ve been away from your papa so long. It’s hard being away from family.”
The little girl nods, licking a drop of cheese from the corner of her mouth. “I like being with Zio Alik and Zia Sera, but I missed Papa Gio very much. I like being with him best of all. Since mamma and papà went away, Zio Gio has been the best papà.”
Her caramel eyes are serious. “Zio Gio says that even though my mamma and papà are in heaven, they still love me very much and that he will do everything he can to be the best papà now that I’m his.”
She says it so matter-of-factly, with the unvarnished honesty of childhood, when the realities of the world are still painted black and white. Still, I can see the sadness in her eyes. The love, too.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your parents, Ro. And I’m so glad that you have Gio to take care of you.”
“Me, too.” She holds up her turtle. “So is Lulù. We like living in the villa very much.” She scrunches her nose at me. “Do you like living here?”
A few weeks ago I would’ve had to lie. Now, I let the catharsis of the past few weeks wash over me. The secrets I’ve let go, the parts of myself I’ve met for the first time. I’m being completely honest when I say, “You know what, Ro? I think I’m really starting to.”
Her expression stays somber as she looks between Gio and me. Then she giggles, squeezing my hand tight. “Good. Because Papà Gio likes having you here too.”
“How do you know?”
“He keeps looking at you like you are tiramisu. That’s his favorite food.
He doesn’t look at anything like he looks at tiramisu.
If he looks at you the way he looks at tiramisu, he has to like you a lot.
” She spreads her arms wide, stretching them around the word, and accidentally slaps one hand against an expensively-clad leg.
We both look up to find Gio staring down at us, something unreadable in his expression. “Yes, thank you, Aurora. And thank you for showing Vivi the buffet. It’s time we introduce her to our guests.”
He offers me a hand, helping me to stand. I have so many things I want to ask him. So many questions that need answers. “Later,” he whispers. “I’ll explain everything later. But first?—”
With a hand on my lower back, he guides me to the adults clustered together.
Francesca is there, as immaculate as ever in a dress of tangerine-colored silk.
Alik is next to her, the clean lines of his suit only exaggerating the predatory aura radiating off him.
Both he and Francesca are holding glasses of champagne.
Vampa and Elio have been relegated to water.
Despite their presence at dinner, I’m assuming they still have work to do tonight.
The last two people in the group are strangers. The bald man and the striking woman.
As we approach, Alik flashes a quick grin, dropping a peck on my cheek before Gio has a chance to stop him. A rumble moves through my husband.
The Russian chuckles. “Vivi, allow me to introduce my wife.”
The woman next to him steps forward. Zia Sera, as Aurora called her. She’s tall, more muscular than slender, with black hair that’s cut to curl around her shoulders and vibrant green eyes. “Buonasera, Vivi. Thank you so much for having us this evening.” She’s friendly, warm, her smile genuine.
I reach out for Sera’s hand and swallow a gulp of surprise when, instead, she pulls me into a warm hug. When we break apart, my smile matches hers. “It’s really nice to meet you, too.”
“And this,” she points at the enormous bald man behind her, “is Dimitri. Don’t let the silent giant vibe fool you. He’s thrilled to be here. You’re always up for a party, aren’t you, big guy?”
Dimitri grunts. Sera laughs, looping her arm through mine.
“Come,” she says as she leads me to the table.
“I’m dying to know what it’s like to live on a private island.
And in this place?” She casts an appreciative glance around, eyes touching the beautiful detailing of the villa.
“If Alik isn’t careful, I’m going to start pestering him to find us one just like it. ”
Sera leads me to the central seat on one side of the table, quickly claiming the spot next to me for herself. Aurora takes the seat on my other side, while Gio and Alik take the heads. Gio on the end closest to Aurora, Alik closest to his wife. Vampa, Elio, and Francesca fill in the opposite side.
I can barely describe what happens next. The kind of night I didn’t know was possible.
We eat and drink and conversation flows, relaxed and warm. Alik and Gio banter back and forth mercilessly, some form of male bonding that’s combative and oddly endearing.
Sera cracks everyone up with stories about how many times she’s subjected poor Dimitri to her homemade cookies—and how many times he’s pretended to swallow the charred pucks instead of spitting them out.
“You don’t have to keep baking for him, moya voitelnitsa,” Alik chimes in.
“I know, but I’m determined to get it right one of these days.” She glances at me, smile dimmer than before. “What can I say? I’m a work in progress.”
“Me, too.” It slips out before I think better of it.
Sera finds my hand under the table. Squeezes it. I return the gesture.
The meal is in full swing, Chef sending up course after course. It’s not lost on me that all of the dishes are ones I’ve come to love since arriving on the island. When I shoot Gio a questioning look, he just shrugs, smiles.
When the last course is cleared, I’m beyond stuffed.
Relaxed. Happy. The musicians are still playing, and Aurora pulls me from my seat, grasping my hands as she twirls us around the room.
The sequins on her dress and leggings sparkle, and the gold fabric of mine catches the light, and for this brief second in time, everything feels perfect.
Aurora brings us to a stop, and we tumble against each other, laughing. Her hand sticky in mine, she pulls me down until she can whisper in my ear. “It’s almost time for the best part.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“It’s a surprise. Papà says it’s coming soon.” She pulls her little turtle from her pocket. “Lulù is excited too.”
The little creature is threadbare in spots. Well-loved. “How long have you and Lulù been friends?”
“Since forever,” she says confidently. “He’s my best friend. The one I bring everywhere. Do you have a best friend like that?”
“Not as soft and cuddly as Lulù, but I do have a little treasure that I always carry with me. Something that keeps me company, just like how Lulù keeps you company. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes, please.” Aurora scurries back to the table and hops into her seat. Legs swinging excitedly as she waits to be formally introduced.
Sitting next to her, I pull my little stone from my dress pocket and place it on the table. Aurora looks from the stone to me and back again, unimpressed. “It’s a rock.”
“It is,” I confirm with a laugh. “Not exactly as snuggly as Lulù.”
“No.” She runs her finger across the surface. “It’s not very pretty.”
“Not at first, no. But it’s a magic rock. Look.” I take a nearby glass of water and carefully dip the stone inside. When I pull it out again, it’s covered in its telltale hexagonal pattern, delicate and intricate and mesmerizing.
Aurora stares up at me. “How did you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything, the water did.” I explain to her about the stone as Aurora dips it in and out of the water, watching in fascination as the pattern slowly vanishes as the surface dries, only to spring back to life when she gets it wet again.
“I take it back,” she says, eyes glowing. “It is very pretty. I’m glad you have it to keep you company.”
“Me too,” I say, matching her smile for smile. “Me too.”
From across the table, Francesca clears her throat. She’s watching us with a closed expression. “Aurora, come here, sweetheart. I’ve barely seen you and Lulù since you’ve gotten back.”
The longer Francesca looks at the little girl, the softer the lines of her face become, her affection for the girl shining through. “I’ve missed you, Ro. Come, tell me what you’ve been doing with Zio Alik and Zia Sera.”
Aurora doesn’t hesitate. She gives me a cheerful wave and runs around the table, happily snuggling into Francesca’s lap. Heads together, they fall into easy conversation, the shift in the other woman’s demeanor so dramatic I have to blink several times to make sure I’m not imagining it.
As I watch Francesca giggle and chat with the little girl, I feel myself warming toward her. A gentle glow fills her face as she shares a story with Aurora. Likewise, Aurora basks in the interaction, her conversation animated, delighted.
A warm hand settles on the base of my neck. I turn as Giovanni takes the seat next to me. He tips his head in their direction. “You’re good with her. Aurora, I mean.”
“She’s good with me,” I say, somewhat dazed. “I’m this stranger in her house, a woman she’s never met. She has no reason to like me, and yet she’s been so friendly. Sweet. She’s wonderful, Gio.”
“She is. She absolutely is.” He’s watching me, studying every visible detail, like he’s searching for something.
I can’t tell if he wants to find it or not.
He must come to some sort of conclusion because he lifts my wrist to his mouth, kisses the delicate skin with open lips.
Heat jumps from that single contact point, washing through me so fast I go lightheaded.
I sway toward him, his other hand finding a home on my upper thigh.
Every ounce of attraction I felt earlier flares to life, my body so sensitive to his touch. He skates his eyes down my chest, his own expanding on a deep inhale when he sees my breasts straining against the shimmering fabric of my dress.
He leans in, his hand skating dangerously close to the apex of my thighs as he drags his nose along the exposed curve of my neck. “You look divine, bella. Absolutely edible. And I’m going to be tasting every luscious curve of you very soon. But there’s one more surprise first.”
“Another one?”
“Mmm.” Gio pulls me in for a kiss. He tastes of wine and spices, and I want more of him, of this feeling I get whenever he’s near.
Someone clears their throat.
Vampa. The older man is standing near one of the entrances to the room, his expression flat as he gestures something to his boss.
Gio thumbs away some of my smudged lipstick. “Close your eyes, bella. It’s time.”
Nervously, I do. I’m holding my breath, no idea what to expect, when the musicians start playing a song I haven’t heard in a decade. Everyone in the room starts singing, and tears are stinging my eyes before I even open them. When I do, I can barely keep the waterworks in check.
This isn’t just a party. This is a birthday party. My birthday party.
Gio is placing the most beautiful birthday cake in front of me on the table. It’s a confection of chocolate and sugar flowers, the top tier glowing with candles. All around me, people are singing happy birthday. Even Francesca.
The last strains of the song die out and Gio waves at the candles. “Go ahead. Make a wish.”
I do. Faster than I would’ve guessed. It flies into my head and sticks there, worming its way into the background of every thought as I lean forward and blow.
Everyone cheers. Sera starts to serve up pieces of cake. Gio tugs me to my feet. His hands are warm as he cups my face, his eyes glowing as he tips me up for a fleeting kiss. “Happy Birthday, bella.”
“Thank you, Gio. This is incredible. The best party I’ve ever had. But—how did you know?”
His only answer is a cryptic, “I have my ways.” Then he kisses me again, longer. His hand coasts down my neck, my back, and settles low on the curve of my hip.
He pulls away, his voice pure sex as he says, “We’re going to continue this celebration upstairs. But first—” His eyes drift to where Aurora is half asleep on Francesca’s lap. “I have to put one sleepy little girl to bed.”