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When we sit down at last with steadying drinks in our hands, Alessio asks Esther, “Will you stay, take charge of the family business?”
“Me?” She sounds shocked. “Not at any price. No, I’m going back to Italy in the next day or so. I’m missing the food too much.”
And that’s not all, I suspect. While I was there with her, I had a hunch that that Esther’s island life gives her a few more comforts and joys than she confessed to me.
She says, “I do love this house. I always did. But I can’t sleep here tonight. The memories are too loud and raw.” Esther says, “I’ll check into a hotel and I’ll see you all here for breakfast.” She’s taking out her phone as she says, “Wait, you lost your housekeeper. Maybe you should join me for breakfast at the hotel.”
“Bruno and I can make breakfast, Mom. We’re really quite grown up.”
Bruno nods enthusiastically. “Alessio is a demented rag doll in the kitchen, but that’s okay. We’ll fix his eggs.”
Alessio sounds weary, but he says, “I’ll make you French toast like you never had. You’ll think you died and went to heaven.”
“Well, alright then. If you’re sure? I’ll see you here at,” Esther looks across all our faces. Twice. A smile is lighting up behind her eyes. “Shall we say ten?”
The men nod, but Esther says, “Come on, don’t put yourselves through it. You know how fussy I am about my food. Come and have breakfast in the hotel. I’ll get a room at the the Delano Plaza.”
We all walk with her to the door. As she opens it, she turns to Carlo, “Did you find the thing alright?”
He smiles and pats his pocket. “Right where you said it would be.”
She smiles and lets out a sigh. “Thank heaven Giuseppe never found that.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
“Lessie,” Carlo says, “I don’t know how you feel about losing your father…” but Bruno cuts him off and lays a big paw on Alessio’s shoulder. My oldest prince, the most senior, looks into Bruno’s eyes with a nod of appreciation. His eyes are almost watery.
Bruno keeps his hand and his eye on Alessio. He says quietly, “Don’t try to do sensitive, Carlo. Especially if you’re not feeling it. You’ll manhandle it and fuck it up. Perception, intuition, deduction and strategy. Those are your things.”
Alessio’s voice is clearing already. “You read feelings really well, Carlo. But it’s like you’re reading a map of a foreign territory.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I keep my voice gentle. “Carlo handles my feelings pretty well.”
“We’re all interested in your feelings, Princess,” Bruno says. “You’re our common interest.”
Carlo looks in my eyes, “You’re the power source that’s got us all lit up.”
“Is that right?”
Looking from one to the next and back, the hungry, smoldering glow in their eyes makes my breath catch and thicken. I chew my lip. Alessio with all the power. Bruno, built out of strength and sensual passion. Carlo’s dark knowledge and wisdom.
Three rough, hard, ruthless mafia guys. Men of power. My princes.
And here I am, crowded between them.
We’re all eyeing each other. My heart is in my mouth and I can feel a moment coming.
We’re all thinking the same things. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life. I never wanted anything more, either.
They’re all looking at me. I look back at them. I’m remembering the shape, thickness, length, curve and taste of each of them. Not the most appropriate thoughts, possibly, all things considered. But as they say, The heart wants what the heart wants.
My heart hammers. No doubt about that. And it can see what it wants. All three of them.
Carlo puts it into words. “All four of us. Nobody else in this big house.”A sinful glint lights his eye. “All alone, together at last. What shall we find to do?”
“Shall we start in order of seniority?” Alessio asks, “Or merit?”
Bruno looks at Alessio and shakes his head. Then he looks at me. “We want you on our team, principessa.”
