Page 26 of Impenitent Claim

The crunch of leaves warned me that I wasn’t alone. It was the time Gio and Iactuallyagreed on. With a sigh, I closed my Kindle. Looking over the grass, brilliantly lit by daylight, I couldn’t help smiling as little Giovani wandered toward me. He was kicking the leaves on purpose. He might have grumbled terribly about going pumpkin picking with me, but in the end, my brother gave in to my pestering.

“Only you would sit outside, freezing your ass off, and think this is fun.” Gio scowled at me.

Rubbing my hands, I tugged my thin cotton gloves onto stiff fingers. I hadn’t realized it was this cold with such bright sunshine warming my back. “It’s hard to enjoy the outdoors in winter. I have to soak up every drop of the remaining sunlight.”

Gio squatted and helped me gather my things into the wicker basket. “You skipped adulthood and turned into a granny. Is that knitting?”

I tugged the yarn and needles away. “I’m not in my granny era. My clothes are too cute for that.”

Gio rolled his eyes, and I smacked his shoulder.

“Ah, don’t touch me!” Gio laughed, making the sign of the cross. “I don’t want to catch your curse.”

Huffing out a breathless laugh, I left my basket and darted after my little brother. My trendy ankle boots were not only adorable, but they were also practical for ambling around the broken earth of the pumpkin patch. There was a slight nip in the air, proof that autumn was in full swing. The chill wasinvigorating, making our cheeks rosy and our breath visible in little puffs of mist. But despite the coolness, a deep sense of warmth and contentment pulsed through me. My brother’s presence was a comforting constant, and our shared laughter proved how rare events like this actually were.

This boy was my everything.

Gio whipped around, running backward as he pointed a finger at me. “Maledetta, maledetta!”

“I’m not cursed,” I wailed, missing his arm.

“First the caterer’s kitchen burns down,” Gio began, ticking the items off on his fingers. “Then the bakery was found rat infested. Then the florist’s shop had a leaky pipe that flooded the building—the whole building, Izzy. The DJ disappeared. Gone. Poof! The officiant died in his bed. As if that wasn’t bad enough,” Gio raised his voice, “the fucking venue burned down.”

“Watch your mouth.” This time, I landed a solid smack on his arm.

He grinned like the lunatic he was. “They say you’re cursed and shouldn’t be getting married. The women of the famiglia are beside themselves.”

They were. What they didn’t know, what they could never know, was that I rejoiced in the destruction. While Alonzo was a perfectly nice boy, my dearest wish was being granted. My secret, forbidden wish. The wedding was falling apart through no fault of my own.

Maybe Gio and I can survive this nightmare.

Hiding the shudder that ran down my spine, I raised my hands in surrender. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Tell that to le donne.” His eyebrows wiggled with impish delight.

The women of the famiglia were a bunch of silly hens. They squawked and jabbered over every little thing.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” I snapped.

When Gio began reciting passages of the liturgy to chase away the bad spirits, I launched myself at him. The force of the movement sent us both to the ground, sprawling on top of a plant and narrowly missing taking out the twin pumpkins.

Lying on the ground, panting and laughing, I found I could breathe—actually breathe—for the first time in weeks. The fresh scents filled my lungs and soothed my soul. The earth and decaying leaves mingled with the faint, sweet aroma of ripening pumpkins. The crisp fall day was no match for the brilliant burst of sunlight trickling through the trees.

“I have something for you.” Gio reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. “Non e vero, ma ci credo.”It’s not true, but I believe it.

“You brat,” I hissed, but he could hear the love behind the jab. Inside the box was a piece of red coral on a gold chain. It looked like a chili pepper, but it wasn’t. This was a horn amulet believed in the Old World to ward off evil—a cornicello.

“Better wear it,” he whispered conspiratorially. “It’s almost like your wedding is being haunted. Can’t have anything happening to the bride.”

I pulled the cotton gloves off my fingers, refusing to notice how they shook as I reached to clasp the chain around my neck. It was the perfect day. The sun’s rays filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground and making the leaves glisten with a rich palette of reds, oranges, and yellows. But I couldn’t dispel the gloom that crept around the edges, threatening to spoil everything.

“Thank you, Gio, it’s beautiful,” I breathed. “So! What’s new with you?”

“Not much.”

“Gio,” I protested.

My baby brother pushed to his feet. I couldn’t help but admire the agility. I was fit, but I was never that lithe. I scrambled tostand with much less elegance, dusting the dirt and decay from my skirt. Luckily, my tights weren’t torn.

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