Chapter 67
Arianna POV:
His father rose from his seat and set down his paper, I could see what his mother meant; they were similar. He had the same wide shoulders and strong jaw Giovanni had and the same nose, but Giovanni’s eyes were his mother's. If I wanted to see what he looked like thirty years later, it was at the other end of the table, salt and pepper hair, some wrinkles here and there, but still strong.
The two men stood at opposite ends of the room like monoliths, refusing to bow to the other. One wanting the respect he’d earned, the other the respect he’d deserved, I sighed softly to myself. It wasn’t just looks that they were identical on; I stepped down the stairs and past Giovanni.
“SIgnore Risci, thank you for welcoming me into you, especially given the circumstances,” I walked over holding out my hand.
His father cocked his head to the side as he considered me for a moment, taking my hand and kissing it. “Oh, I see why my son has overlooked your past.” He looked at Giovanni, who clenched his jaw. “A beauty like yours doesn’t go unnoticed.”
I turned to Gio, blushing, and looked at him, telling him to come over to us. I saw him think to himself that he might be stubborn and stay where he was, but instead, he came over to me.
“As gorgeous as she is, it’s her will that keeps me enticed, father,” He explained, placing his hands on my hips and looking down at me with affirmation. My blush turned real, and my placidness crumbled under his compliment.
“Are you hungry?” Agnese asked, holding her son's chin. “Of course you are,” She answered for him, going into the kitchen and bringing out a plate full of fish; the aunts followed suit, bringing out bread, cheese, meats, salad, and pasta. The table quickly was laden with a feast, and the seats stacked up quickly.
I sat beside Gio and Luca with Becca across from me. I took whatever was passed my way, determined not to make a bad impression.
“Did you feed this girl?” Agnese kissed the top of my head as she put two more rolls on her son's plate.
“Of course,” Luca scoffed, and his mother whacked his head. “Don’t talk back.” A curse muttered underneath his breath earned him another smack.
“So,” His father spoke again, pulling my attention. “Arianna, tell me, how does your father feel about you being with my son? Given he’s determined to take both my boys from me.”
“Matteo,” Agense growled, shoving her spoon back into the bowl with force.
I wanted to say nothing, but if I did, Giovanni would say everything. “He hates the idea,” I confirmed for him. “Though to be honest, after he tried to pressur e me to be complacent in his schemes, I didn’t speak to him much.”
Matteo took a long sip from his drink. “Ah,” he exclaimed in understanding.
“He did have my mother killed after all,” I reminded him.
Agnese’s look could have turned him to stone, but Matteo didn’t falter; he simply gave me a nod. “It’s shocking how a man so cruel could have a child so levelheaded.”
“Well, that comes from my mother; she was kind and firm. She never let the harshness of life escape me, but she reminded me to still treat everybody with respect. You never know what horrors life has thrown their way,” I told him, quietly explaining my position. Giovanni smirked but covered it up with a scratch to his eye.
Again no response besides anod, Instead, Agnese grinned and dug into her fish. “See, the girl has some manners,” She snipped at her husband before taking a bite of food on her fork.
By some miracle, or fear of his wife’s wrath, Matteo left me alone for the rest of dinner. I listened in on the conversations around me. The children were laughing and pulling tricks on each other, the elder cousins of Giovanni’s scolding their offspring.
It was funny I wouldn’t imagine Giovanni to be the oldest, but in reality, he was one of the youngest. The two sisters of Agense, Viola and Chiara. Giovanni’s mother was the youngest, the Viola who was Becca’s mother, and Chiara Luca’s mother.
They all laughed and giggled around each other it semed becca’s sisters were the cause for most of the children at the end of the table, as her mother harassed her about finding a man herslef and having children. Luca’s mom joining in on the band wagon rending her son he was alone too.
Eventually, I heard Giovanni and his father start talking business. Though he did smuggle illegal trade into the U.S, most of his business was legitimate. He was in import export, owning many shipping vessels. I looked around; you wouldn’t think it from the way they acted, but they were very rich.
The kids squealed as they played over their food, and a pang in my chest struck me. I had never had a family this large, people everywhere. Mothers doting on their children, grandmas making food day in and day out, fathers counseling their sons. Don’t get me wrong, the small home my mother and I had made for each other, the only support we had being each other, I wouldn’t trade that for the world, but seeing this…
It made me want something similar in the future. I turned over, looking at Giovanni, wondering what he would be like with a small child in his arms. I felt like he’d be a good father, loving fiercely, puddy in the hands of a little girl.
A chill replaced the warmth as reality waved its hands in my face. That wouldn’t happen; we were still in the thick of this fight, and try as I might, I knew it wasn’t over without some blood.
“Arianna?” Agense asked, looking at me with perry. “You poor dear, you’re probably exhausted.” She stood beckoning for me to follow her. “Come, let's get you to bed.”
I would have protested, but the moment she mentioned a bed, my eyelids turned to lead, and I felt as if I was floating as I followed her. She patted my hand, leading me down the hallway and up a spiral staircase to a room.
“He’s such a rotten little boy sometimes, driving you all over not telling you where, with everything you’ve been through.” She pulled out some pajas for me before patting my cheek with a kiss. “Sleep, girl,” SHe ordered.
I wanted to fight, but the exhaustion was pulling me toward the bed with every breath. I put the pajamas on that were fr too large for me before falling onto the comfy mattress with a huff and drifting off to sleep.