35. Vivi #2
“She is,” I agree, catching a curl of hair that’s escaped over one ear. I wrap it around my finger. Tug. “We’ve agreed on that already.”
Those clear blue eyes watch me so carefully. “Who is her mother?”
Pain darts through me. I keep my voice even, calm. “My sister.”
“Where is your sister?”
There’s that pain again, white hot even after all this time. “Dead.”
“I’m so sorry, Gio.” Vivi’s spine softens slightly, her hands absentmindedly smoothing my chest. “And her father?”
There’s no pain this time, only rage and regret. “Also dead.”
Vivi twines our fingers together. “So…Aurora is your niece, both of her parents are dead, and you’ve taken her in as your own?”
“Aurora is my niece. Both of her parents are dead. And I’ve taken her in as my own. I’m her uncle by blood, her father in all other ways.”
Vivi’s eyelids drift close, her next inhale catching. When she opens her eyes, they’ve gone several shades darker. “Thank you for telling me. And for introducing me.” She hesitates. “Is there a reason you didn’t do it sooner?”
Because you were never going to be here this long.
Because you were never supposed to mean anything to me.
Because I couldn’t introduce my little girl to the woman I believed was a cold-blooded killer.
All accurate answers. None of which I’m going to say tonight.
“Because,’ I answer simply, “there’ve been issues with her father’s family, and it was better to keep her away. And because you and I needed a chance to get to know each other before I added an insatiably curious five-year-old to the mix.”
“Ah.” Vivi steps back. Breaking contact. “Is that what we’ve been doing? Getting to know each other?”
“Yes.”
“No.” She slips further away. “You’ve been getting to know me. I still know very little about you.”
Unease slipstreams through me. I follow her deeper into the suite. “What do you want to know? Two questions for the birthday girl. You ask, I’ll answer.”
“Five.”
“Two.”
She’s made it to the sofas. Halfway across my room and she’s still fully clothed. This is not going how I wanted.
“Five,” she insists.
“Fuck it. Four. My best and final offer. Take it or leave it.”
“Done.” Vivi props her hands on her hips, the fabric of her dress caressing her curves in a way that makes my mouth water. “What was your sister’s name?”
I haven’t said it out loud in so long that for a horrible second it gets stuck in the back of my throat, and I feel like the shittiest brother alive. “Giulia.” My voice is raspy. “Her name was Giulia.”
“Was she younger or older?”
“Younger.”
“Why did you marry me?”
Vanffanculo! That’s why I wanted to stop at two.
I close the distance between us, drawing one arm around her waist. Vivi’s hands stay locked to her hips, her expression imperious. My fiery-haired wife isn’t giving an inch.
I answer as truthfully as I dare. “Because I needed you, Vivi. Need you. Now. Always. I didn’t know how much until I had you in my life. When I stole you from that church, I wasn’t interested in having an actual marriage?—”
My voice cuts out. My conscience is yelling in the back of my head. You were a means to an end. Something to be bartered. An object to be stolen and given away.
I swallow, smothering it until I can say, “But I am now. Because of you, amore mio. I’ve been a cold, hard, calculating bastard for as long as I can remember. You changed all that. I need you.”
Every word resonates from the deepest part of me. Honest, heartfelt. And yet, not. It’s nothing better than half a truth. Which makes it a lie.
Vivi knows it. I see it in her eyes. In the way her mouth tightens and tension stiffens her shoulders.
So this is how it feels to have your head on the chopping block. Waiting for the killing blow to land.
My wife drops the blade so quietly. “That’s a beautiful story, Gio. But it doesn’t answer my question.”
“Every word is the truth.”
“And for tonight, I’m going to let it be enough.” Her expression turns wistful. “Did you know that tonight was the first birthday party I’ve had since I turned ten?”
“Fuck. No, I had no idea.”
She nods. “The nuns weren’t really into gratuitous celebration of overinflated milestones. They said it was wasteful and gluttonous.”
“That really sucks.”
“As a kid, yeah. It really did. But tonight—” She sighs. “Tonight was beautiful. It felt like a fairytale. That’s something I haven’t had in a really long time, maybe ever. And I want to be able to remember it that way. To be able to look back on a completely perfect day, one that’s all mine.”
The comparison to her last perfect day hangs between us, unspoken.
Her last day with Mille and Elena, when perfection ended in tragedy.
I can see the sadness in her eyes as she says, “Tonight, I’m going to be selfish. Tonight, I’m going to accept your answer. But come tomorrow, you’re going to have to do way better than that. You’re going to have to tell me the truth.”
I nod, and keep my fucking mouth shut.
“Which leads me to my fourth question.” Vivi’s lips tilt coyly. “So…did you get me a birthday present or what?”
My laugh turns to a groan, and I’m unable to stop myself from kissing her. I take her mouth, deeply, far too quickly, licking up the remnants of champagne before breaking away. “For the record, I really like Birthday Girl Vivi.”
My wife grins as I hustle to and from my dressing room. I return carrying a simple box and feel unaccountably nervous when I place it in her outstretched hand. “I’ve gotten you several gifts, in fact, but this is the most important one.”
Vivi traces a finger along the sapphire wrapping paper. The one I picked because it matches her eyes. Then, it’s in pieces on the floor, and Vivi is looking between me and a box containing the newest model of the most in-demand smartphone. “You got me a phone?”
“Yes. But there’s more.” I take it, open it with a swipe, and pull up the contacts app. There are just a handful of names. Me. Vampa. Sera. Alik, just in case. I ignore those.
When I show her the name on the screen, Vivi’s eyes go saucer-wide, a single tear slipping free before I catch it. “Is that really my sister?”
I nod. “Elena is safe, Vivi. She has been this entire time. Under my watch, but safe. And living on the west coast of the US. She’s about to start her freshman year at university. And this is her number. You can call her, message her. Video chat. Whatever you want, as often as you want.”
“And can I see her? Can she visit?”
I hesitate but can’t deny her. “Yes. Soon. I promise.”
Vivi stares at the screen one beat longer, then tosses the phone on the nearest sofa.
I want to tell her to be careful; the thing has been out of the box for barely a minute.
But I lose all train of thought as she wraps her arms around my neck.
“Thank you.” She kisses the words against my mouth.
“It’s the best birthday gift ever…with one exception. ”
I bite her lower lip, lick away the sting as she arches in my arms. “Mmm, and what’s that, bella?”
Her fingers are working their way down my chest, slipping beneath buttons and tugging fabric free. “You. Naked. Now.”