Fragile Longing

“Sam,” I began hesitantly.

Wariness entered his blue eyes.

“Do you still talk to Fina?”

His face closed off, but I grabbed his hand before he could walk away.

“Please, Sam. I need to talk to her before my wedding. I need closure before I can start this new phase in life.”

Samuel looked away from me. “You really think that’ll make things better? I found that it only complicates things.”

“So, you’re still in contact with her?” As far as I knew, he hadn’t seen her since he’d attended her wedding in Las Vegas five years ago.

“We should go downstairs. Mom and Dad are already waiting.”

My fingers tightened around his wrist. “Sam, please. As an early wedding present to me.”

Sam sighed. “I haven’t talked to her in months. And you know very well that whenever I did, Dante was aware of it. I won’t betray the Outfit for Serafina, not when she’s part of the Camorra now.”

“Maybe you can give her my cellphone number so she can call me if she wants? It’s not like I could tell her anything of importance. I don’t know anything about business.”

Samuel looked at me for a long time. “If someone finds out, it could cause a stir. Danilo will be majorly pissed. Not that our parents or Dante will be much happier.”

“They won’t find out.”

“I’ll give her your number. Now, we should really head down.”

I squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

Samuel cupped my face and kissed the top of my head. He held out his arm and I set my hand on his skin, then let him lead me down the stairs. The soft buzz of conversation drifted up. The foyer was already filled with our family and arriving guests. Anna and Leonas stood dutifully beside their parents to welcome the guests while Bea hovered a few steps behind them, looking bored out of her mind. Mom and Dad were at the forefront of the welcoming party with the Cavallaros right behind them. It was tradition for the Capo family to welcome the guests as well.

My eyes drifted to the back of the foyer where Danilo and Emma appeared, probably because they’d used the wheelchair-accessible back entrance.

Danilo didn’t notice me at first. His attention was on my parents and Dante’s family as he went to greet them. The smile Anna gave him bordered on impolite, then she sent me a warning look. Her worry was unfounded. Even if I’d failed at my self-set plans before, I wouldn’t fall into the trap of my past behavior today.

Samuel touched my back lightly and I jumped. I’d forgotten about his presence. He quirked one eyebrow quizzically. I needed to get a grip. No one could find out what had happened. Samuel had already been out of his mind with worry and anger because he thought I’d tried to attend the party. If he knew what had really happened, he’d lose it—and most likely try to kill Danilo.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded. But then Emma noticed me and grinned. Of course, Danilo followed his sister’s gaze. I braced myself for the inevitable. His eyes met mine and flared with emotion. Surprise? Shock? His gaze roamed my body as if it were a revelation before he schooled his expression back to its usual cool mask.

A flicker of triumph filled me. His shock was like a balm for my anxiety. Still, I felt a hint of wariness, and my palms became sweaty. Even now that he looked like the perfect gentleman again, I couldn’t forget his demeanor from that night.

Anna was practically x-raying me with her eyes from across the foyer, and I found strength in her gaze. I’d promised her I’d be strong, and more importantly, I’d promised it to myself. This time I wouldn’t crack.Over the years, there had been several long periods of time when I didn’t see Sofia. I’d barely thought about her once we went our separate ways. This time, everything was different, though. Since I’d dropped off Sofia at their lodge after our encounter at the party, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

It was mostly worry for her wellbeing but not only that. For the first time, I saw her as more than a girl who took her sister’s place. She was a young woman with curves that had attracted me. There was no denying it.

Guilt, again, had been a very prominent companion when I replayed what had happened. When I’d met Pietro and Samuel seven days after the party in Chicago for Leonas’s initiation, I’d briefly considered telling them. Until the wedding, Sofia was theirs to protect. Even if I hadn’t known it was her, I’d broken my vow, the codex upheld by generations. What I’d done was inexcusable.

As I saw Sofia come down the stairs, looking absolutely mind-blowing in a tight, yet elegant dress, I wished I could turn back time. I’d spent so much time regretting the past and what was lost that I hadn’t focused on what fate had given me.