“I’m sure he wants to. But if he’s serious
about letting me do this alone, then he needs to step back. I think he knows that.”
Does he? Are we talking about the same man? Surely she knows that Giovanni is never going to change.
“Well, I hope you have a good flight,” I offer her. What else is left to say other than polite small talk? I stand up awkwardly, but I don’t make any effort to move closer to her. Unfortunately she does. She steps forward until she’s standing in front of me. I tense as she reaches out, her hand clasping mine.
“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head sadly. I swallow, forcing myself to keep eye contact. “I wish you were coming with me.”
“Text me when you get there. And Luce? I’ll always be here for you.”
Biting her lip, she leans up and kisses me, her lips pressing against mine. I take her head in my hands and deepen the kiss, not ready to let her go. Sighing, she pulls away, her eyes closed and her lips parted as soft breaths escape her mouth.
“I’ll speak to you soon,” she whispers. She turns away, walking to the door, leaving me in her wake. I watch her go, and listen for the sound of the front door opening before I leave the room.
Standing a few feet back from the window, I watch the cab pull up. She hugs her father. He says something to her, then kisses her, before loading her suitcases into the trunk of the cab. One last embrace and she’s sliding into the backseat of the cab.
So that’s it. Eight years in my life and now she’s gone.
—
Giovanni walks through the front door. He sees me sitting on the stairs and nods at me. She’s gone. I close my eyes and sigh, lifting myself to my feet. Shoving my hands in my pocket, I try not to show my despair.
“You did the right thing, Pietro, making her go.” His voice is gruff. He reaches out and gently pats me on the back. I want to laugh. He thinks I did this for him. In reality, I did it because her being with me is too dangerous. The more distance I can place between us, the better. For now, at least.
“I did what I needed to do,” I reply, my voice cool.
He shrugs. “That’s why we are so similar, Pietro. We both did what we thought was best for her. Come now, I want to talk to you.”
He walks into his office with me right behind him. I want to be angry with him, but I can’t. He loves her as much as I do, and I know everything he does is with her in mind.
Inside his office, I sit down on one of the chairs facing his desk. He closes the door, then walks over to his oversize leather recliner, sinking into the fabric. His hands at his mouth, he watches me for a moment, his expression intense.
“Today you proved to me that you are willing and able to put your feelings aside for the good of my daughter. I want to reward that behavior.”
“It’s really not necessary—”
He holds his hand up and I stop.
“I want you to work for me. Full-time. You’ll learn the business and who knows? One day all of this might end up being yours.”
I wonder if I’m hearing him correctly. He wants me to learn the business? I’ve been dreaming of this day since I was fifteen and first set foot through that front door. How could he still want this for me after I had a relationship with his daughter? I have no idea what I want anymore, or who to trust. I’m sure he’s hiding something. Maybe staying on his good side is the best way to find out what that is. If he’s going to play me, maybe I need to play him.
“I’m shocked,” I say. It’s all I can manage.
He laughs, rubbing his beard.
“We all give in to temptations, Pietro. It’s how we learn and grow from them that makes us who we are.” He pauses, placing both hands flat down on his desk. “There is one thing, though.”
Ah. A catch. Of course. Why hadn’t I seen this coming?
“I’m listening.”
“You are not to have any contact with Lucia while she is overseas. I think that is a fair request, considering how big this opportunity is, yes?”
When I don’t answer, he continues.
“She needs to focus, Pietro. Having you in her life will only lead to distraction.”