Novels by Redwing

Arianna POV: We spent the day playing games, the children laughing and giggling as they ran around on board. Chess games are being played, and books being read. Becca and I talked about what happened after she left. She still hadn’t forgiven Gio and Luca for sending her home while she was unconscious from healing. Having met her mother, though, I knew she understood they didn’t have much of a choice. The sun started setting, and we sadly made our way back towards the coast. Red-cheeked and satisfied from a day onboard, we all settled into the cars again. My mind went back to what Agnes’s told me about Giovanni, and as he held my hand passing through his hometown town I couldn’t help but wonder what type of man he would have been. Would we have met? Would he be softer? Would he still care for the blonde-haired bombshells that dotted his past? Would he be happier? I couldn’t help my mind from thinking of him smiling brightly as he drove some pretty thing up the Riviera, not a care i

Arianna POV:The next day, we headed out onto the boat piling on with baskets overflowing with blankets and pillows, wine bottles, meats and cheeses, and bread. I stopped onto the boat with Gio helping me aboard, and he began to show me around. “This is the top deck where we spend most of our time,” He explained. Comfy seats and benches lined the top of the ship, large enough for the whole family to sit and eat and relax together. “My mother wanted it so that no one felt left out,” He grinned. His mother began by fluffing out all of the blankets and coats, and her sisters went downstairs to unload all the food. Becca and Luca joined their cousins in readying the ship. Once again, I was struck with how much this family spent time together and how happily they moved around with each other. His father boarded the ship and entered the captain seat, not speaking or looking at anyone, sitting down with a canister of coffee and a newspaper or two. They all had their roles, but they loved

Arianna POV: We stopped for lunch at a little bistro, much like back in America they were heavily involved in helping businesses in their town. The owner came out and greeted Giovanni and Luca, snapping his fingers to get us a better table and the finest wine they had. I rolled my eyes as Gio winked and pulled out my chair for me, he knew damn well it wasn’t his connections that made me interested in him. Once again, the blonde from the store flashed into my mind. Did he, though? She was fawning over him so intently, praising him a cooing his name. I had never been a woman to constantly stroke her man's ego. I shook my head, removing the thought from my mind. No, I won’t do this. He’s taken me home to his family, he’s showing me the place he grew up. I won’t begin second-guessing now, not when we’ve faced demons together. As if reading my mind, he held my hand as if it was second nature, kissing it before answering a question Luca had asked him. He explained to me his favorites on

Arianna POV: “Let me take you out today to show you the town.” he grinned as we went downstairs to breakfast. I nodded happily at the thought of running around town with him, seeing everywhere he grew up. The places that he hung around as a child with Luca and his brother. I wanted to see the town that helped him grow into who he is, all the little memories dotted around shops and cafes. “Gio?” his mother called. “You going out?” she pouted for a moment before walking into the kitchen and then handing him a list. “Get me this, please.” She kissed the top of his head and patting his shoulder She patted the empty seat next to Giovanni for me to sit in, “Come on dear, I’ve got fresh fruit and pastries,” she gestured to the pile of breads on the table. “Mama, who is going to eat all of this?” he asked, going over the list. She scoffed and turned to him. “You and Luca have emptied my pantry before. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re capable of get me my food,” SHe scolded him, wav

Giovanni POV: I felt horrible the way she was sitting back in her chair, absentmindedly smiling as she looked around the room. My mother guided her up to my old room for me while we sat there finishing the meal. She followed a long like a child dead to the world around her. I thought once she knew we were going somewhere safe she’d relax, but it seemed meeting my family was very important to her. I tried not to grin at the thought that she cared that much for me. My mood soured though as I watched her leave and then turned to my father, he stared at me with a discerning look. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew that would only antagonize him. I was sure he’d tell me what was wrong with her soon enough, and I would ignore all of it. If he knew anything he would know there was no turning back for me, I had damned myself in his name to avenge my brother, now that an angel has swopped in to save me he is upset. “She's beautiful,” He commented. I didn’t say a word in response, waitin

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,