Chapter 33 Francesca
Francesca
Things have been going well, I thought, so I'm mulling over Carlo's resistance to my idea to spend time with the girls. Does he not want me to get to know them better? Am I good enough for him to bed but not good enough for his sisters?
“We’ll need to make a stop. You won’t be late,” my bodyguard says, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.
Immediately, my fight or flight reflexes stir. Did they find out about Maeve somehow? Carlo would consider it betrayal because I didn’t tell him about the meeting or Ronan’s intentions.
Deciding my best option is to play it cool, I simply nod and release a relieved breath when we pull to a stop in front of a ladies’ fitness center. It doesn’t strike me as a place they’d dispose of a traitor.
A brunette dressed in workout clothes dashes out as Faro steps onto the sidewalk.
She’s around twenty, but it’s obvious this is Faro's wife. The casual intimacy of her palm resting on his chest when he speaks in a low voice, the way his hand settles at the small of her back before he turns her toward the car tells me they’re comfortable around each other even if he’s not happy for some reason.
“You must be Mrs. Cucinotta,” I say with a friendly smile, getting out once it seems their discussion is over.
“Please, call me Aurora, Mrs. Vicini,” she says with equal friendliness.
My nose crinkles up, and she laughs when I reply, “In my mind, my mother-in-law is the only Mrs. Vicini. I hope you’ll call me Frankie instead. I’ll ride in the back so you may sit beside your husband.”
Aurora widens her eyes comically as she stage-whispers, “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll ride in the back, too, since I’m in trouble.”
“I’m not a goddamn chauffer, Rory. You'll ride up front. Both of you, get in.”
Despite our assigned seats, Aurora and I chat pleasantly until we arrive at the school. Noticing her fingernails, I ask if she has a favorite place to get them done before I get out. I want to get to know the girls better, but it would be nice to have a friend closer to my age, too.
***
I'm sitting at my piano, pecking out notes for a song I'm working on, when Faro says he'll see me tomorrow. "It's not even four yet, far too early to expect Carlo…" My words trail off as my husband steps out of the elevator.
Faro shoots me a smug look and starts to go. "Wait! Can I get Aurora's number? I thought maybe she'd want to have lunch."
He doesn't conceal his initial hesitance, and my mood sours. Carlo doesn't want me around his sisters, and Faro doesn't want me around his wife. It's going to be a very lonely existence if I remain here.
But then, Faro surprises me by sending her number. "I think Aurora would enjoy getting to know you better." I'm smiling from ear to ear when my bodyguard turns to go again.
"Dinora, you may go, too," Carlo says, removing his suit jacket. "I'm taking my wife out for dinner."
"Where are we going?" I ask as our maid follows Faro into the elevator.
He strides toward me, my skin tingling in anticipation of having his hands on me. "Wherever you desire. I want to hear all about your first day." He gives me a slow, deep kiss that gets my engine revving. This man is temptation in the flesh.
"I'm in the mood for pizza. With lots of pineapple."
He makes a face. "Why the hell would anyone-"
"At home, just you and me," I clarify. "How long do you think it would take for them to deliver it?"
Chuckling, he pulls out his phone, promising they'll take at least a half hour.
***
Over an hour later and wearing only his robe, I'm still catching my breath from our vigorous sofa activities when we dig into cold pizza with lots of pineapple.
"This is an abomination," he grumbles, eyeing the pineapple.
"This from a man who does the things you do," I say, dryly. "You'll eat it anyway."
He does, and we discuss my day in detail. Carlo promised to come home early for this and did. There's a concerning increase of flutters in my chest lately.
"What were you playing on the piano when I arrived?" he asks.
"Nothing special. Just something I'm writing."
"Would you play it for me?"
I flush at the very thought. I can sing songs written by others easily enough, but the music I write is another matter. "It's not good."
"I'd like to hear it."
"I'll consider it at some point," I say, remembering his similar words this morning in response to my suggestion.
Shaking his head, he gives me a knowing smile. "Francesca, would you like to invite my sisters over after school one day?"
I grin and nod, grabbing another slice of the pizza he doesn't like but ordered anyway.
***
"I'm having a late lunch with your wife today, Warden," I tell Faro as we're leaving school.
"I'm aware." Of course, he is. It doesn't dim my excitement about possibly making a friend here. "Dinora is making your lunch."
"But we texted about going out for-"
"Dinora is making your lunch," he repeats, firmly.
"You're not my father," I snap.
"You're goddamn right about that," he snaps back.
Heat shoots into my face, knowing he hates Da and what he did. Folding my arms over my chest, I glare out the window.
"I'm your bodyguard, Frankie. Many would try to hurt you to get at Carlo. I won't treat you like a child if you don't give me reason to, but lunch at home is safer and easier for me to protect you both. Next time, I'll make arrangements so we can go wherever you ladies wish, okay?"
Sighing, I know arguing is useless on this front. "Fine. You called me Frankie."
"Did I? I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vicini."
I roll my eyes at him, and he smirks.
***
Hours later, Aurora and I are on the sofa, looking at her wedding photos. "Faro, you look grumpy even in these," I comment. "Your dress was gorgeous."
"Thanks. There are generally only two occasions when my husband is not grumpy," Aurora says, snickering.
"Do tell," I pry, gleefully.
"You've both had enough to drink," my bodyguard grumbles.
Aurora lifts an eyebrow and purposefully pours us more wine. "I'll pay for that later," she admits when Faro steps out onto the terrace, cursing.
My good humor stutters, thinking of my father. "He doesn't hurt you, does he?"
"Never. He saved me, remember?"
Relieved, I nod. Over chicken scallopini, tiramisu and a lovely crisp white wine, Aurora and I have spent the afternoon bonding over terrible fathers and past trauma. Not the happiest of childhoods but we survived them and found ourselves married to very protective men.
"I'm glad we did this," I tell her sincerely when she passes back my drink.
"Me, too," she agrees, and we clink glasses.
When my husband arrives at last, Aurora is snoozing peacefully, her shoulder resting against mine while my head bobs. "Francesca?"
I press my finger to my lips and make an exaggerated shushing noise. Thankfully, Aurora keeps snoozing.
"Your wife is a bad influence," Faro tells him, stepping back inside.
"Watch it, Warden. Snitches get stitches." Both men's jaws drop, and it's suddenly the funniest thing ever to me.
"See what I mean?" Faro huffs as I'm giggling like a loon.
"Your wife is older than mine," Carlo argues, obviously more amused than anything.
Even Faro doesn't seem angry when he lifts Aurora off the sofa and tells me he'll see me tomorrow. "Can your wife come over to play again soon?" I cheekily ask as Carlo sits down and pulls me into his lap.
"Like I'd ever tell Rory no," Faro mutters.
My head is spinning from the wine, but I can feel Carlo's chest vibrating with suppressed laughter as they leave.
***
“This is more like it," Bianca Vicini declares, her fingers sinking into the tray of lotion a few days later. At fourteen, she reminds me a great deal of Sofia back then, and a momentary wistfulness strikes me.
"Tell me you didn't have fun earlier," I challenge.
"Oh, I did. Mother, I think we should get one of those box gardens at home… for Giulia."
Fiorella starts tapping on her phone at her oldest daughter's suggestion, always happy to buy, buy, buy. She had a manicure yesterday, but I'm pleased she agreed to join us.
Anna nudges Giulia's foot where she sits beside her. "How long until something blooms?" she asks so that Giulia can read her lips since their hands are occupied.
Giulia shoots me a wide grin before replying to her sister, and I sigh happily to myself. The afternoon of gardening and manicures feels like step in the right direction. Much as I love Caterina and Gia, I’ll need to form bonds here.
How's that going to help you escape?
I scowl at the thought as the jingling bell above the door catches my attention, and I see my husband walking in. "What are you doing here?" I ask, surprised.
He murmurs something to Faro who's seated next to a Vicini household guard by the windows before striding over. "I heard this was a good place to get a manicure." He signs the words for Giulia, making all three of his little sisters laugh, and my heart does a flippity-flop in my chest.
"Carlo, you must be busy," Fiorella says, but I note the way she quickly rises from her seat and touches his cheek when he kisses her hand. Even if they're unconventional in a couple of glaring ways, there is affection in this family.
Taking a seat beside me, he glances at the nail polish I've chosen. "Blood red? I approve." He reaches into his pocket. "You left these on the terrace." He passes me my rings.
"Oh goodness! I didn't mean to! I took them off while we were digging in the dirt and… You didn't have to go to the trouble of bringing them here," I say, slipping them on.
He stares at my hand with something like satisfaction blazing in his eyes before he drops a quick kiss on my lips. "It was no trouble, but I'm interrupting girl time. I'll be working in my office when you get home. I hope you'll interrupt me there." I smirk, recalling that night on his desk.
He bids his sisters and mother goodbye and leaves. "That was strange," I murmur to Aurora who's sitting on the other side of me.
"Not so strange for a man in love."
I jerk back in surprise, and the manicurist purses her lips. "Sorry." I lean toward Aurora, whispering, "We're not… He wanted me, and he's used to getting his way. But he was going to marry my cousin. He just forced me to marry him because she ran away."
Aurora shakes her head. "Marriages in our circles rarely start with love, but love is a curious thing that can grow in unexpected places."
"You remind me of a very romantic friend of mine," I comment, thinking of Cat. Aurora shrugs, smiling to herself. Glancing at Faro, I ponder their relationship and her words. Despite his gruff demeanor, Faro loves his wife.
But Carlo in love with me? I should know better than to hope for such things. Didn't my own father prove how far you can trust a man?