Chapter 33

Camila

I lifted the mug of hot coffee to my lips as Contessa pulled the egg casserole from the oven, filling the kitchen with a delicious aroma. Ariadna Gia suckled at Cat’s breast covered by a light blanket as Mama and Mia gathered around the kitchen table.

“I’m going to miss having you all around,” Cat said, taking a drink of her herbal tea.

Mia looked at her watch. “I’ll feel better once Aléjandro is here.”

Mama’s eyes shone as she watched her granddaughter eat. “I’ll be back.” She turned to me. “Both of my girls living together.” She tilted her head. “It makes me both happy and sad.”

“I’m happy, Mama. I really am.” My thoughts centered on the man who was now my husband. Even though things had been busy since we returned to Kansas City, he’d spent any available time with me. Other than a few late nights at Emerald Club, he managed to make it home before I fell asleep. Having Mama and Mia in town, Cat and I have stayed content spending our time with them.

My only time away from the apartments was my doctor’s appointment. Apparently, the name Luciano went a long way in Kansas City. Catalina’s doctor’s answering announcement said that she had a three-month wait to take new patients. A call from my sister, and I was seen that afternoon. Now as soon as I had a period, I was set with my first three months’ prescriptions.

“When is Jano arriving?” Cat asked. “And do you know when you’ll be headed back to San Diego?”

Contessa brought the casserole to the table. “Is there anything else I can get anyone?”

“You can have a seat,” Cat said, “and sit with us. This smells fantastic.”

“Oh, I have things to do, and I don’t want to interrupt family.”

“You’re family.”

Contessa smiled. “Let me know when Ariadna is ready for a diaper change and nap.”

Cat looked down, tugged on the blanket and exposed her daughter’s small head covered in soft dark hair. “She’ll be tired after this.” My sister looked up. “Mama, can you dish me a piece of that casserole?”

As Mama dished out pieces, Mia shook her head. “I’m going to stick with fruit.”

Cat smiled. “I remember those mornings. What time is Jano arriving?” she asked again.

“He texted around eight Kansas City time to say he was getting an early start.”

“What do you all say to going out for lunch? We could go to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.”

“Oh,” Mia exclaimed. “I’d like that.”

Mama furrowed her forehead. “Will Dario approve?”

“We’ll take Armando and Giovanni. Ariadna will stay here with Contessa. As long as we have the bodyguards, Dario doesn’t mind.”

I sat forward, my smile growing. “Oh, I love that idea, too. We’ve hardly been outside, and I’ve heard so much about autumn in Missouri.”

“You should see Arianna’s place this time of year.”

My elation morphed. “Yeah, my mother-in-law.” With her home in the Ozarks. “Dante said she’s upset that she wasn’t invited to our wedding. He promised her when things quieted down, he’d take me to her.”

Cat pressed her lips together. “Our mother-in-law can be—”

“A bitch,” Mia volunteered. “But she’ll get over it. Mom likes to make a statement.” Mia smiled in my direction. “I talked to her when I spent the night and explained why the wedding was so rushed. Once she’s done with her temper tantrum, she’ll be all gushy.”

Cat laughed. “I couldn’t have said it better myself. In the long run, she’ll have a better response than Papá.”

Mama rolled her eyes.

“Okay,” I said, bending my knee and sitting on my leg. “Lunch.”

Everyone nodded.

Two hours later, I stepped into my closet, wrapped in a towel. While I’d thrown together a few suitcases of clothes, each time I started to dress, I thought of something else I didn’t have. Despite Mia’s declaration that we could be more than trophy wives, the idea of shopping was appealing. I’d meant to ask Dante if he’d gotten an answer from Miguel. It would be familiar to have him as my bodyguard, but at the same time, I was afraid he would still see me as the little girl he’d protected all my life.

Catalina had adapted to new bodyguards from the famiglia. I could too.

As I was deciding on what to wear, I turned, looking out the window. Missouri weather was new to me. Southern California was much more predictable. I checked my phone for the temperature and forecast.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I saw a text message from an unknown number. The message was written in Spanish.

“Hola Camila, escuché sobre tus emocionantes noticias. Espero que el Patrόn no te haya obligado a casarte con un Italiano. Cat me dio tu numero. Llámame si Podemos ayudarte. Te deseo lo mejor.”

Pursing my lips, I shook my head as my mind filled with questions.

Who was this from?

Who did Cat give my number to?

Why did they assume I was forced to marry Dante?

Closing the text message, I chose not to respond. As Dante would say, it was a conversation for another day. Quickly, I checked my weather app. The forecast was for sunny and mid-seventies.

By 11:15, I was dressed and back up to Cat’s apartment. Everyone was brimming with excitement at the prospect of going out into the world. The elevator filled with chatter as Armando took us down to the garage where Giovanni waited with a large three-row SUV.

The doors were extra thick, letting me know they were bulletproof. 

“Oh,” Mia said. “I can’t sit in the very back.”

“I can,” I volunteered.

With the two guards in the front, Cat, Mia, and Mama sat in the middle and I climbed into the very back. Cat shared what she liked about the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. It was where we’d gone on my first visit to Kansas City. I remembered to ask my sister about the text message, but the thought was forgotten as everyone talked about the exhibits they wanted to see.

While Cat went on about their Monet exhibit, I remembered a jewelry exhibit from before. “Is the jewelry exhibit still there?”

“Oh, it is.” My sister absolutely beamed when she could discuss art. It had always been her passion. “And for a few more months, there’s an exhibit of male nudes from the 1800’s.”

“Have they changed since then?”

“I’m not that old,” Mama said.

I was happy to be by myself in the back seat, as my mind went to my recent lessons on male anatomy. I doubted anything at the museum could rival the gorgeous male specimen now at my fingertips. While I was a bit embarrassed about my naiveté at first, Dante had eased my inhibitions. That didn’t mean he wasn’t amused by some of my comments. I’d seen the gleam in his eyes.

Last night, after he’d reminded me that I enjoyed our intimacy and he pulled me to his shoulder, I ran my fingers over his chest, memorizing every peak and valley and twirling my fingers in his chest hair. I was truly fascinated with the access he granted me to explore. I peppered kisses as I followed a lower trail of hair down to the penis that had been inside me.

“Camila.”

“What?” I shook my head. “Sorry, I was daydreaming.”

“I was telling Mama about the Rozzelle Court Restaurant. Do you remember it?”

“Of course, it’s like a 15^th-century Italian courtyard.”

We all decided we’d eat lunch and then explore the exhibits. Armando and Giovanni stayed close and vigilant as we gathered our food and sat around a table for four.

“You know,” Mama said. “We could host a reception for you and Dante. I’d prefer in California, but this place is beautiful.”

I stabbed a piece of fruit. “We don’t need a reception. We’re married.”

“I know, but you missed out on so much.”

I looked around the table. “I know you all had big weddings.”

Mia held up two fingers. “I had two.”

“I don’t need one.” I covered my mother’s hand. “I appreciate that you want to do that for us. You better talk to Papá.” She shook her head. “But really, Dante and I are good. Mia and Jano know how to host a wedding with a bang.”

“Oh.” Groans came from around the table.

As we discussed which exhibit to see first, I peered around and whispered to Cat. “Where’s the bathroom?”

She lifted her napkin. “I can go with you.”

“It’s okay. Just point me in the right direction.”

“It’s over there. Take Giovanni with you.”

“Dario’s paranoia is wearing off on you.” I stood. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go see the male nudes without me.” I shook my head at Armando and Giovanni and mouthed, “I’m good.” After all, it was just the bathroom.

It was as I exited the stall that I felt the sting in my neck.

Before I could react, the world went black.