Chapter 39 SISTERS REUNITED

Chapter 39 SISTERS REUNITED
Adeline's POV

"Annabelle," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "This is a surprise."

"I know! I should have called first, but I wanted it to be spontaneous." She looked around the table, taking in all the faces. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all," Russio said smoothly. "We were just finishing up. Please, stay. Have some dessert. Tell us about yourself."

"Oh, I don't want to impose—"

"You're not imposing. You're Adeline's sister. That makes you family." His smile was war and charming.

Annabelle beamed. "Thank you. That's so kind."

A staff member brought her dessert and wine.
Kayden leaned close to me. "How did she get past security?" he whispered.

"I don't know," I whispered back.
But I could guess. Maybe Russio had known she was coming and had let her through, to prove a point. To remind me he could reach her anytime he wanted.

"So, Annabelle," Russio continued. "What brings you by tonight?"

"I just missed my sister. We haven't seen each other much since the wedding. I wanted to surprise her. And meet everyone."

"Well, you certainly succeeded in surprising us." He gestured around the table. "This is the Gravano family. All loyal to each other."

"And this must be Kayden!" Annabelle turned to him. "I've seen the photos, but you're even more handsome in person. My sister is so lucky."

"Thank you," Kayden said. "It's nice to finally meet you. Adeline talks about you all the time."

"All good things, I hope."

"Always."

The doorbell rang again.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
"Popular night," one of the cousins muttered.

Marco went to check. This time he looked surprised when he returned.

"Boss, there's another visitor. Says he's with Annabelle."

Annabelle lit up. "Oh! That's Grey. My boyfriend. I asked him to drop me off but he insisted on coming in. I hope that's okay?"

My stomach dropped.
Grey. The boyfriend she'd mentioned at the café weeks ago. The one I'd had a bad feeling about even then.

"Of course," Russio said. "Bring him in."
Marco left and returned a moment later with Grey.

He was tall, well-dressed and handsome in a polished, calculated way. He had dark hair, sharp features, and wore an expensive suit.

And there was something about him. Something that made every instinct I had scream danger.

"Sorry to crash," Grey said, smiling apologetically. "I told Annabelle I'd just drop her off, but she insisted I come in and meet everyone."

"Not at all," Russio stood. Extended his hand. "I'm Russio Gravano. Adeline's father-in-law."

"Grey Falvetti. Pleasure to meet you, sir."

They shook hands, and I saw it. The way they looked at each other…not like strangers, like they were assessing, calculating.

"Falvetti," Russio said thoughtfully.

"Italian?"

"My grandfather was. I'm mostly American now."

"And what do you do, Grey?"

"Finance. Investment consulting. Nothing as exciting as what you do, I'm sure."

"Oh, I don't know. Finance can be quite exciting. All those numbers. All that risk."

Annabelle pulled Grey to sit next to her. "Grey and I have been dating for a few months now. He's amazing. So supportive."

Grey smiled at her, warm and genuine-looking. His hand found hers, but something about it felt rehearsed…performed even.

"How did you two meet?" Kayden asked.

"At a coffee shop near campus," Annabelle said. "I spilled my latte all over his laptop. I felt so bad. He was so sweet about it. Insisted on buying me another drink. And we just... clicked."

"Lucky accident," Grey said, his eyes on Annabelle, his gaze was affectionate and attentive.

But I caught him glancing around the room, raking in faces, positions, the exits, like he was memorizing everything.

"Very lucky," Russio said. "Tell me, Grey, have we met before? You look familiar."

"I don't think so, sir. I would remember meeting you."

"Hmm. Perhaps I'm mistaken." But Russio didn't look convinced. His eyes lingered on Gre, studying him.

"Grey's been so good to me," Annabelle continued, oblivious to the tension. "He's always there when I need him. Takes me to nice places. Treats me like I matter."

"You do matter," Grey said, squeezing her hand. "Very much."

The way he said it. The way he looked at her. It was perfect. Too perfect.
Like he'd practiced in a mirror.

Kayden leaned close to me. "Do you trust him?"

"Not even a little."

"Good. Neither do I."

"Well," Russio said, "since you're both here, please stay. Have some wine. Tell us more about yourselves."

"We don't want to intrude—" Grey started.

"You're not. Are they, Adeline?"
All eyes turned to me.

"Of course not," I said, forcing a smile. "Belle's boyfriend is always welcome."

But I watched Grey carefully. The way he sat, relaxed but alert. The way he held his wine glass, he had an expensive taste, he obviously knew what he was drinking. The way his eyes kept scanning when he thought no one was looking.

This man was not what he claimed to be.
"So, Grey," Marco said. "Finance. What kind of clients do you work with?"

"Mostly private investors. High net worth individuals looking to diversify."

"Ever work with families like ours?"

"I've worked with various business families, yes. Real estate. Import-export. That sort of thing."

"Import-export." Marco grinned. "That's a polite way of putting it."

"I try to be diplomatic."

The conversation continued. Grey saying all the right things, sounding charming and polished, playing the perfect boyfriend.

Annabelle ate it up. Smiled at him like he hung the moon and I felt sick watching it.

Because this wasn't real. Whatever Grey was doing, whoever he really was, this performance for my sister wasn't genuine.

"Adeline," Grey said suddenly, turning to me. "Annabelle talks about you constantly. You're her hero."

"Does she?"

"All the time. How you raised her, lrotected her, sacrificed everything for her." His smile was warm. "She's lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her."

"Family is important. I admire that." He looked around the table. "This family seems very close. Very loyal."

"We are," Russio said. "Loyalty is everything to us.

"As it should be."

Something passed between them. A look. Brief but significant.

They knew each other. I was certain of it.
Kayden's hand found mine under the table and he squeezed twice. Our signal that he was thinking the same thing.

After another fifteen minutes of small talk, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Belle, can we talk? Just for a minute?"

"Oh, sure!" She stood. "Be right back, Grey."

"Take your time." He smiled at her. Then at me. "Nice to finally meet you, Adeline."

"You too."

I led Annabelle to the library and closed the door.
"Belle, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"I wanted to surprise you! And I wanted you to finally meet Grey. You've been so busy, we haven't had a chance to all get together."

"I know, but this really isn't a good time—"

"Why not? Everyone seems nice. Your father-in-law is so welcoming. And Grey really wanted to meet your new family."

"Did he? Or did you want him to meet them?"

"Both, I guess." She smiled. "What do you think of him? He's great, right?"

"Belle, how much do you really know about Grey?"

"What do you mean? I know him. We've been dating for months."

"But what about his backgroun, his family….where he's from."

"He grew up in Connecticut. Went to Yale. Works in finance. What else do I need to know?"

"Have you met his family?"

"Not yet. They're in Europe. But we will eventually."

"And his friends?"

"Some. Why are you interrogating him? I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I am. I just want to make sure he's treating you right. That he's who he says he is."

"Addy, you're being paranoid. Grey is amazing. He's nothing like the guys I usually date. He's mature and responsible. He actually cares about me."

"That's what worries me. It's too perfect…too fast."

"So because I finally found someone good, you're suspicious? That's not fair."

"It's not about being fair. It's about being careful."

"I am careful. But I'm also allowed to be happy, to trust someone." She crossed her arms. "You married a guy you barely knew. A mafia heir. And you're worried about my boyfriend who works in finance?"

She had a point. But she didn't understand the difference.

I'd married Kayden knowing the dangers and prepared for them, trained for them.

She was walking into something blind, naive and vulnerable.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," I said. "That you won't rush into anything."

"We're not rushing. We're just happy." She hugged me. "Stop worrying so much. Everything's fine."

There was a knock on the door.

Kayden entered. "Sorry to interrupt. But Grey says you need to head out soon. Something about an early class tomorrow?"

"Oh, right! I totally forgot." Annabelle pulled back. "I'll come visit again soon. Maybe we can do dinner? Just the four of us?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Love you, sis."

"Love you too. Be safe."

She left.
Kayden closed the door.

"Well?" I asked.

"Marco's already running a background check quietly. We'll know more by morning."

"There's something wrong with him. The way he looked at Russio. The way Russio looked at him."

"I noticed. Like they were communicating without words."

"Do you think they know each other?"

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." He moved to the window. Watched as Grey and Annabelle got into a car and drove away. "There's something else."

"What?"

"I know him from somewhere. I've seen his face before. I just can't remember where."

My blood ran cold. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. It's driving me crazy. Like a memory just out of reach." He turned to me. "If he's been around our family before, if he has history with us, and now he's dating your sister..."

"Then this isn't a coincidence."

"No. It's not."
We stood there, watching the taillights disappear.

"We need to find out who he really is," I said. "Before he hurts her."

"We will. I promise."

But as we returned to the dining room, I saw Russio watching us with a small smile on his face, like he knew something we didn't.

Like this had all been part of some larger plan and my sister was a pawn in it.