of the love of the right man for her.
“Tell me about your husband, Vittorio.”
Her eyes dance as she laughs happily. “He was a bastard. A ruthless bastard who drove me to distraction in every way possible. I could be angry with him one minute to the point of driving a dagger through his heart and then forgiving him in an instant when he smiled and lit the flame inside my soul. He was everything to me, Sophia, and when he died, it was as if a part of my soul died with him.”
I almost don’t want to know but say sadly, “How did he die?”
“Cancer.”
I wasn’t expecting that and she shrugs. “He was the lucky one. Nature extinguished his flame when it could have been much worse. All the money in the world doesn’t buy your health and if mother nature decides your time is up, there is no bargaining with her.”
“I’m sorry.”
I smile with sympathy and she shakes her head. “Don’t be, we had many happy years and he was aging fast. It was his time and at least he had Georgio to hand the business to. You see, Sophia, Georgio was like Lucian. He thrived on this life. He married Maria because he wanted her and when a Romano man wants something, they take it without having to work too hard to get it. But Georgio lacked the love in his heart that his father had. He didn’t treat Maria the same way I was treated and lacked the patience to understand she was struggling. He started to look outside the home for entertainment and became cold and cruel. It was too much for such a beautiful creature who craved the light and she overdosed one night when he was away.”
“How old was Lorenzo?”
I can’t imagine the pain he must have gone through and she sighs. “He was ten years old. The boys are close in age and had each other at least but I’m not sure if they have ever really come to terms with her death and each deal with it in their own way. Lorenzo blamed the life we live for destroying her, which is why he felt the need to run. Lucian is like his father and god help any woman he marries because I can see history repeating itself there. Romeo chooses to forget inside every woman he meets and Dante has a sadness to him that only increased when he lost the second woman he loved, which makes him more deadly than the lot of them. So, you see, Sophia, they are all struggling and the only thing that has remained constant in their lives is the family business. This is what keeps them going and so don’t take it personally when you think on the reason you are here.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because it’s something you need to know. I’m guessing you are scared, hurt and confused and rightly so. Don’t get me wrong, these men will break your family to protect their own which is why you need to put your faith in Lorenzo because he is the only one who can save you.”
She looks up at the clock on the wall and stands quickly. “Look at the time, I have rambled on too long. I will have one of the maids show you back to your room so you can dress for dinner. We eat as a family and there is never business brought to the table. Take the time to understand those boys and look behind their cold eyes and ruthless attitude. They are just the same as your brothers and if anyone knows what lies behind the blackest heart, it’s a woman that’s lived this life.”
Almost as soon as the last word leaves her lips, a maid different to the one before appears and I wonder if there is some sort of hidden summoning device I don’t know about. The maid curtseys as if she is in the presence of a queen and Elena says kindly, “Emma, please show Miss. Moretti to her room and help her if necessary. Dinner will be served in one hour.”
She then turns to me and I see a flash of steel enter her eyes as she says firmly, “Think on what I have said, my dear. It was said with good reason and only a fool would disregard it. Don’t be a fool because I’m counting on you to be better than that.”
I nod and whisper my thanks before following