conceded and begrudgingly went over to my grandmother’s side.
“Wow,” she said. “He can obtain your daughter’s obedience with just a stare? Marco, don’t you usually have to nearly threaten Sienna with her life for her to even pay attention to you?”
“Don’t you think you’re enjoying yourself a bit too much?” my papa asked, his pride hurt, and he looked clearly irritated. He was starting to look less and less dangerous even with the gun in his hand.
She laughed softly. “I am enjoying myself immensely. Now, let the young man talk.”
We all turned to Angelo.
He wore the same stoic, and fearless expression he usually wore. “My father or my brother do not need your secrets. They are very successful on their own, perhaps even more successful than you. I am not a plant. I didn’t come here to steal your secrets. It was one of your associates who connected us, and as strange as it sounds, I came to work for you because you had a pool I could use in the middle of the night and plenty of time to perfect my fighting skills.”
“So why did you hide the fact that you are a Messana?”
“I changed my name because I did not want to be connected to that name. I wanted to make my own way in the world. When I became a champion fighter. I didn’t want anyone to say my opponents threw the fights and let me win because of who I was. Even now, I would have preferred to have won Sienna’s hand on my own merit not because of whose son I was, but now that you know, you will understand I am more than capable of taking care of Sienna. I have a vast fortune put away in offshore banks for me and I can, at a moment’s notice, call upon an army of protection for your daughter. In fact, just knowing who I am will instantly keep your daughter safe. I will give my life for her.”
Nonna clapped. “Nicely said, young man. You’re great for my Sienna. I approve of you, but you better not make the mistake of hurting her, I don’t give a rat’s ass whose son you are, I will put out the order to send you to the grave myself.”
My eyes widened with shock. I had never heard Nonna speak like that.
Angelo’s response was to bow his head. “Her skin is my skin,” he said simply.
Nonna rose to her feet. “Anyway, I have some chamomile tea waiting for me, so I better get to it.” She went over to my father. Her hand reached out and touched his face.
I had never seen her act so loving in public before.
My father still held the gun, limply, all the fight gone out of him.
“Once you stop being angry, you will realize that this arrangement is a dream come true. I couldn’t have hoped for a better future for this family or Sienna.” Then she turned around and exited the room.
Angelo spoke. “I am deeply sorry you had to find out about me and Sienna this way. If I could turn back the clock that is the only thing I would change. I would come into your study and tell you everything and make my intentions clear. I promise to cherish her to the best of my ability and to remain loyal to you to the day I die.”
My father fell back heavily into his seat. Suddenly, he looked old, frail and alone. “I’m tired. Go now, both of you, but come for dinner later and we’ll talk some more.”
I felt almost sorry for him as I ran to my father’s side and knelt next to him. “Papa?”
He looked at me and seemed to search my eyes.
“I love him with all my heart, papa.”
He nodded slowly. “Yes, yes, I can see that.”
“I love you, Papa.”
“Hmmm … yes. Go now.”
I placed a light kiss on his cheek. His skin felt a little cold and I felt a sight frisson of alarm. “Are you okay, Papa?”
“Yes, I’m just a little tired.” He smiled. “Looks like I was wrong, little one.”
“It’s the price of being human,” I consoled.
“Quite.” He paused. The words seemed to get stuck in his throat, but he got them out, “I’m sorry.”
I threw my arms around him in a big bear hug. “Oh, Papa. You never need to say sorry to me ever. I owe everything to you. I know you were just trying to do the best you could for me.