“Today I’m the hero who saves the day.”
I shook my head. “Are you really sure about this? I doubt the Clarks will be very happy if another wedding bursts into flames because a Cavallaro decides, he doesn’t want the bond.”
“Sis, I have one advantage over you.”
I made a doubtful face.
“I’m not in love with someone else, and I won’t ever be. This heart is as cold as ice.”
“You are full of shit.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “But thanks for throwing yourself in front of the bus for me.”
Leonas shrugged. “For you and for the Outfit. It’s better if I’m the one caught in a bond with Outsiders. That way I can control how it goes.”
I shook my head with a smile. Leonas was already planning ahead, for when he had more of a say in the Outfit, though Dad had already given him more and more responsibilities. The conservatives were gaining momentum, especially among the young Made Men and Leonas had good standing among them. Many never wanted a bond with Outsiders, nothing that extended over bribing them, which was why many didn’t condemn me for choosing not to marry Clifford. It was like Leonas had said. I would have had to leave the Outfit in parts to become part of Clifford’s world. The same wouldn’t happen now that Leonas would marry Charlotte. She would have to submit to our world and rules, or be swallowed whole by it.
The sound of an engine carried into the living room where I sat with Bea, waiting for Santino to arrive.
Bea’s face lit up. “Is that Santino?”
I nodded, feeling overjoyed. I had only caught glimpses of him in the last two weeks since his release from the hospital. Mom and Dad had demanded we keep our distance while they handle the Clarks and the first waves of the scandal die down. It had been hard not to talk to him or see him, especially now that we no longer had to hide, at least from our families. The public was still unaware of our relationship, though that would probably change tonight. Dad too knew that nobody would believe it if we told them that Santino and I had found our love after the failed wedding, and luckily he wanted to handle the matter offensively.
I pushed to my feet, grinning, and hurried into the lobby. The bell rang and I was about to open the door when Dad’s voice rang out, “Let me.”
I turned. He strode toward me with a stern look.
“Dad, is this really necessary? Why couldn’t Santino come in through the guardhouse entrance and pick me up like he did in the past?”
“Because this time he doesn’t pick you up as your bodyguard. He’s here to pick you up for a date, and that requires him waiting at the door and greeting your parents.”
“You won’t send a chaperone along, right?”
Dad didn’t say anything as he walked past me.
“We spent three years alone in Paris,” I reminded him.
Dad opened the door and greeted Santino with a stern expression. Mom headed for us as well.
“Not you, too, Mom, please.”
She touched my shoulder as she passed. “We have certain rules, and even if you and Santino did a detour around them for a while, this’ll change now.”
I rolled my eyes. I was twenty-two, and had practically dated Santino three and a half years. It was too late to protect my virtue. And nobody in the Outfit would believe Santino and I had only just started seeing each other. They would put two and two together as soon as we appeared in public and link my broken engagement to Santino.
Mom and Dad barred my view of the entryway and Santino. I approached them to make sure they didn’t give him a too hard time. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw Mom accepting a gorgeous flower bouquet from Santino who gave her a charming smile before he handed Dad a bottle of what looked like a very fine bottle of Barolo. I stifled a smile. Mom finally stepped back so I could take her place. She rubbed my back with a knowing smile.
My eyes met Santino’s and he quickly scanned my outfit. It was a dress I’d worn in Saint Tropez. I’d had to modify my outfit for the colder fall weather in Chicago though, and added a cropped blazer and over-knee boots.
“Saint Tropez,” Santino said without hesitation, then threw a glance at my dad, who raised one eyebrow.
“Remembering gives you bonus points, but where are my flowers?” I asked with a teasing smile.
Dad shook his head with a small smile before he bestowed another warning look on Santino.
“I knew you’d ask,” Santino said and bent down to pick up another beautiful bouquet of flowers, roses and another beautiful flower with many small petals that I didn’t know in reds and oranges. I took the flowers from him, resisting the urge to kiss him. I didn’t want Dad to see it.