Chapter 18 Leticia
LETICIA
HOME ALONE
“And you’re sure you don’t want to come with us?” My younger cousin Sarena pouts as she looks between me and the dangerous man who is her fiancé, a member of the bratva. No, the heir to the bratva.
“I’m sure. I’m doing Christmas with the Cavanaghs. I won’t be alone in this big empty house for Christmas.” I shoo them both toward the elevator.
The last of the family who hasn’t cleared out to the Italian Alps, Sarena and Nikolai, stopped by, not knowing the full truth, and tried to convince me to change my mind and go with them to Italy.
No one would dream of telling Sarena that Dad has given me orders to gather intelligence.
Even if they had told her, she wouldn’t believe it. In part, I’m not sure I do either.
“Well, call if you change your mind. I’ll send the jet.” Nikolai offers me a soft smile as he squeezes Sarena around the waist before hoisting her up on his shoulder and taking her into the elevator.
She bangs on his back, giggling. “Put me down, you brute!”
I give them one last wave as the door slides closed.
It’s been a whole morning of reassuring Sarena that ‘I’m fine’ and ‘No, really I want to spend Christmas with the Cavanaghs’ and to Nikolai confirming that ‘Of course I’m not afraid of staying here alone’ and ‘I have three security guards and a whole security team guarding the building, how many more men do you think I need to make me safe?’
Their love and thoughtfulness are in the right place. But truthfully, I’m looking forward to two and a half weeks of freedom.
Last night with Royal on the phone, I experienced something . . . indescribable, and I’m not ready to get over my taste of what life might be like, if I were someone else.
My phone vibrates in my apron pocket. I put on my apron without even thinking about it this morning. I don’t need it and should probably take it off, but it’s a habit, one that brings me a bit of comfort.
It’s Royal.
Royal:
Good morning, gorgeous. I hope you got some good sleep. Are you taking care of yourself? Food? Water?
A smile spreads across my face, and my cheeks heat. I can’t believe we did that last night. That heat starts traveling down my neck and lower. Much lower.
Leticia:
Good morning. Gorgeous, huh? You say that like we’ve exchanged more than a couple photos and that I didn’t look like a gremlin in mine.
I slept SO GOOD. Thank you for asking. No food and water yet, saving my appetite for lunch with Toni in a little bit.
Royal’s response is practically immediate.
Royal:
Please. At least get some water for me, okay?
The amount of care is unexpected but not unappreciated. I slowly make my way to the kitchen. After getting a glass, I snap a picture of the cup filling up before I send it to him.
Leticia:
Alright, only because you asked so nicely.
I down the glass of water in a few large swallows. When I finish, there isn’t a message waiting for me. My heart deflates.
Even though Royal said last night was all about me, a nagging thought persists. He’s been with others before and will probably have others after me. While this was a life-changing experience for me . . . he probably only did it to be nice.
The little voice inside me whispers, He’s probably already moved on.
Up in my room, I’ve showered, gotten dressed, and blow-dried my hair into large and tight curls. It’s more glamorous than my daily look, but by the time I get to La Fatal Piedra, the curls will soften and the look will be less high society and more casual. The right amount for a girl’s day out.
I can’t get what happened last night out of my head. I want to talk to someone about it. It feels like someone should be able to tell me why I feel so . . . different. But it’s not like I can tell anyone. Even Antonella isn’t safe to talk to because she’s now Royal’s sister-in-law.
Once again, it’s suffocating not having any friends.
Maybe I should just talk to Royal. We’re friends. He’s done this before. But it’s not like I can talk to him about what I’m feeling for him. We can never be more than friends.
On my way down the stairs, I check my phone, knowing I should have at least some messages from Toni about lunch today. But my entire insides flip when I see Royal’s name in the notification bar.
Royal:
I heard you’re shopping for Christmas presents with my favorite niece today. I’d love to exchange gifts with you this year.
I wait for another message to come in. Something that would point back or reaffirm that we’d be exchanging the gifts as friends. I’m not sure why I expected it, but it doesn’t come.
Maybe it’s because he doesn’t just see you as a friend. That thought is delusional. I know it is. An arranged marriage awaits me on the horizon, and Royal is waiting for his soul mate. Those two things don’t go together.
What do I send back?
Leticia:
Okay, but I’m warning you, I’m a really terrible gift giver. Toni is the one who always seems to know exactly what to buy someone. With me, you’re likely to get three socks and a paper clip shaped like an airplane.
Royal:
Don’t worry, I’m bad at gifts too. I’m normally more of an acts-of-service type person. I thought it might be fun to try. Zero pressure for good gifts. Just something from the heart.
I could really use a paperclip shaped like an airplane too.
From the heart? I swoon. My hand goes to my chest.
“Miss D’Medici, are you alright?”
I jump, startled by the familiar voice as it echoes through the entryway over to where I’ve come to a stop at the bottom of the staircase.
I look over and standing inside the elevator, one hand barring open the door, is one of my usual drivers.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. Sorry. The car is waiting for you in the garage if you’re ready to go?” He shuffles a little like he’s moving out of the way for me to join him in the enclosed space.
“Oh.” I lock my phone screen, hiding away the evidence of my emotional response. “Yes, let me grab my coat.”
The ride to La Fatal Piedra isn’t long, but it sure feels like it. The longer I’m in the car, the more anxious I become. My palms are a little sweaty, and I think about talking to Toni. My curiosity and awakening, if that’s what you’d want to call last night, are the only things I can think about.
I don’t have to give Toni any specifics. I could just ask her questions about her, it’s not like we haven’t talked a little about this sort of thing before. Maybe it wasn’t in such specific terms, but I’ve always lived vicariously through her. That’s all I’ll chalk my questions up to being.
That is . . . if there is any alone time for us to be had. It’s not like I can have this conversation in front of a child.
I close my eyes and hold my breath, making a wish. Please let me get some alone time with Antonella.
“Here we are, Miss D’Medici,” the driver says as I’m midway through the third time saying my wish.
Snapping my eyes open, I push a smile across my face. “Thank you. I’ll call when I’m ready for a ride home. I’ll be with Antonella all day.”
I expected an argument, but the driver nods and climbs out of the vehicle to come around and open my door.
The cold wind whips off the lake down the side streets and bustles my coat in one long gust. It chills me, taking the heat of embarrassment right off my skin and freezing my face.
At least I can use the cold to brush off any pink in my cheeks when talking to Toni.
Through the door and into the foyer, I see Toni sitting at a table in the front section of the restaurant.
Odd that we’re not in the section reserved for family. I look toward the back of the restaurant. It’s nearly empty, and the usual family tables are available, but I don’t long for dark corners. Even with what I want to talk about.
Strolling over to her table, I shrug off my coat. “Wait, where’s my new niece?”
Toni is quick to flag me to sit down, quieting me with her low volume. “She’s coming. I may have lied to get out of the house a little early so I could pick up a few gifts she wouldn’t see. Declan is bringing her in a little bit. Besides, it gives us a little time to catch up.”
“It’s weird sitting up front and not being squirreled away to the back room with the family.
I like it.” I sling my purse and coat over the back of the chair, where Toni’s purchases and purse are resting.
Looking outside, I steel my nerves and take the first line I thought of out on the ride here.
I fan myself with my hand and give her a scandalized grin.
“Oh my god. That means we can finally talk about how hot Valor is.”
“Yes, he is very hot.” She rolls her eyes, but I see a smile poking through.
“Leticia. I haven’t seen you in forever!” Cesare, a cousin my age who used to tease me in elementary school, strolls over to the table. He smiles at me and makes a pained face, slackening his jaw. “I thought you were avoiding good food. Get you the usual?”
“Rude, but yes, my lover, please bring the usual.” I giggle, teasing him right back with the ridiculous joke from the last family reunion.
“Isn’t he like our fifth cousin?” Toni, perplexed, looks between me and him with narrowed eyes.
Shaking my head, I explain only half of the long story that is the inside joke, but mostly I answer her question so I can move forward with what I do want to know. “Not by blood. His mom married my mom’s cousin. She had him before they met.”
“Well, okay then.” She raises her glass and draws a sip of water.
Cesare is quick to come with my glass of wine and leave again.
Toni breaks the silence. “It’s still so weird you’re twenty-three.”