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Aria lets out a laugh. "It's all right, Luca. She's like a Muggle. She's not part of our world."
I have no clue why he's concerned about whether or not I'm in their world or not, but I smile. "Welcome to my shop. Are you browsing or are you looking for something specific?"
"I don't suppose you have any books on learning Italian? My brother sent me abroad, and I went everywhere except Italy. My parents and Niko speak it fluently, but I’m terrible at it." She pats her companion on the shoulder. "Non è così giusto, Luca?”
“Si.” His expression is amused.
I study them for a moment, still not quite sure what the relationship is between the two of them. There are moments when he looks at her like more than just a bodyguard. But then it's almost as if he schools himself and his expression is unreadable.
I don’t know any Italian, so I don’t know what she said. But I don’t need to know to be able to help her. "I don't have a very large foreign language section, but I do have a book or two on learning Italian."
I set my tea on the counter and show them to the small section of foreign language learning books. They occupy themselves, looking at the books, and I leave them, going back to the counter.
Every now and then, I glance over at them huddled in the corner. His hand is on her lower back as he leans forward and whispers something to her. She lets out a delighted laugh.
As if he knows I'm watching, his gaze turns toward me. Embarrassed at being caught, I turn away, but not before I notice that he's removed his hand and taken a step away from Aria. Now I suspect there is something going on between them, but it appears it's supposed to be a secret. I know Niko is highly protective of his sister, but I also believe Luca is very powerful in Italy. I don't know how the Mafia works, but in my mind, if he is a Mafia king and she's a Mafia Princess, it seems like that's the sort of relationship Niko would want for his sister.
But she's right, I am not a part of their world and I don't want to be. I've seen too much of the grief and devastation that is par for the course in that life. I press my hand over my belly, reminding myself that it's a good thing that Liam will never know about this baby.
I also recognize that the swell of my belly is now noticeable. Although I'm not sure Aria took notice, I go behind the counter to make sure she doesn't see that I’m pregnant because I'm still not ready for Elena or Lucy to know. I love them as my friends, but it's become apparent to me that I'm going to have to avoid them as much as I can in the future, not so much to keep the baby secret because I know that I can't. Every time I'm around them, I'm reminded of the world they live in and how easily it can encroach into mine. My baby and I can't be at risk like that.
Aria and Luca browse around the shop, picking up a few more books before they come to checkout.
"This is such a great shop, Kate." Aria sets her stack of books on the counter.
"Thank you. Were you able to find what you need?"
"Yes, I'd like to get these two Italian books. And then I picked up a couple of little books before Niccolo and Angelica."
I start ringing the books up. "How does it feel to be an aunt?"
"Awesome. I'll be honest, I never thought Niko would get married, much less have babies. Elena has totally changed him."
"Not totally," Luca says, and there's a hint of bitterness in his tone.
Aria shrugs but maintains a smile. I wonder what it is about her that she exudes effervescence and positivity. It's not like she doesn't know the things her brother has done. Perhaps it's just part of her DNA makeup that the glass is always half full. It's an attitude that I think I once had in life but over the last year has been chipped away at. I'm determined now, especially for the baby’s sake, to find it again.
I put the books in the bag and run Aria's credit card. I wonder whether she's on some sort of allowance or if she works. If she works, is it for her brother or does she have a job out in the regular world?
"Are you still interested in opening your own business?" I ask. It's wrong of me to push her away from a life with her family. At the same time, she should be able to live the life of her choosing, not one dictated by her older brother or a social constraint imposed by the world she lives in.
"I think it would be fun."
"You think a lot of things would be fun," Luca says, his eyes shining down on her in a rare expression of affection.
She laughs. "That is true. The world seems like one big, great adventure, and almost everything I learn about it sounds like fun."
"Well, you should enjoy all the adventures you want." It's the closest I can come to telling her not to follow the rules of her brother or Luca, but to do her own thing.
"I'll do my best."
"Are you staying here in New Jersey?" I can't imagine they’d have driven from Manhattan just to come to my little store unless it’s some covert mission where they were sent by Lucy and Donovan to check on me.
"We've been staying with Lucy and Donovan. They've all been having some big criminal organization summit." She rolls her eyes.
Luca’s eyes narrow at her as if to tell her not to share so much news. I have to bite my tongue to keep from asking if Liam is part of the summit. I know he's good friends with Niko and Donovan, but he doesn't work for them or with them or whatever he did before. He’s part of the Bratva, which Google explained to me was organized crime like the Mafia, but separate from the Mafia.
"Well, I hope you're enjoying your visit."
