Page 88 of Seeking Vengeance

Could I start over with Stella, placing her boarding school days in the rearview to live like a normal person?

“Tell me about yourself, Layla?” Lorenzo pats my hand as we step outside, the rush of waves crashing in the distance. “How did you meet my Matthew?”

I open my mouth, then pause, cautious at what to offer that won’t incriminate me. “We met in Denver.”

Lorenzo’s fingers twitch on my arm. “Matthew has been to Denver?”

“Stop plying her for information,zio.” Matthew continues to stride ahead, passing dining customers to enter a private cordoned off part of the seated area, making himself at home amongst the empty tables. “If you have questions for me, you know who to ask.”

“He’s always been touchy,” Lorenzo murmurs near my ear, his accent thick. “I don’t know how you put up with him.”

I grin as we reach a table in the far corner next to a waist-high hedge blocking us from the public bike track that’s busy with people exercising.

“Are more people joining us?” I take in the sea of emptiness around us, all the nearby tables bearing reserved signs just like ours.

“No,bella.”Lorenzo jerks his chin at the two men who came with him, sending a silent message that has them taking sentry positions at the farthest corners of the cordoned area.

Not business partners. Bodyguards.

“It’s for privacy,” the older man continues. “I can’t have everyone learning my secrets.”

Even though his comment is tongue-in-cheek, I’m tempted to ask what type of secrets could warrant reserving such a large area of the restaurant.

“Vecchio mio,” Bishop calls behind us, his stride long as he approaches to engulf Lorenzo in a hug with clapped backs and foreign greetings.

The two of them reunite like father and son, and for the first time, the man I’ve grown to despise doesn’t seem entirely feral thanks to a generous smile and sincere affection.

“Sit.” Lorenzo breaks the embrace and waves a hand toward the table. “Take the chair opposite me, Bella. Bishop and Matthew can protect us from the prying eyes of the world by sitting on the outside.”

I’m certain he’s more intent on keeping his prying eyes on me, but I comply, happy to have his attention.

“The room isn’t ready.” Bishop slides a plastic suite card across the table. “They said to give them half an hour.”

Matthew pockets the offering and we all take our allotted seats, Bishop and Matthew against the hedge, while I settle in front of Lorenzo, who clicks his finger in the air, gaining the attention of a waitress who hustles over.

Coffee is ordered. Cake and bagels and croissants, too.

Once the waitress is gone, Lorenzo sits back in his chair, his warm eyes fixed on me. “Tell me about yourself,cara mia. Spare no details. I want to know everything.”

“Lorenzo,” Matthew warns. “Don’t push.”

“I’m not pushing. Merely getting to know the woman of your heart,figlio.”

“It’s okay,” I lie, wishing I knew how to defuse this conversation respectfully. I don’t want to offend Lorenzo by staying silent. I also don’t want Matthew to think I’m willing to open up to a stranger when I’ve spent the duration of our relationship hiding. “I guess the thing that defines me most is that I’m a single mother.” I pause, hoping the usually disparaged label will end my time in the spotlight. “My daughter is eleven going on twenty-three.”

The older man laughs. “They’re all the same at that age.”

“You have children?” I latch on to the information, hoping to divert the conversation from me.

“Many. Some by birth. Others by fate.” He glances to Matthew and Bishop.

“You must be very proud.”

“I am. Now tell me more.” He flares his eyes with exaggerated excitement. “I want to know everything. I’m in awe of the way you’ve ensnared such a stubborn bachelor.”

“Zio,” Matthew growls. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”

“Se la metto a disagio, sicuramente me lo può dire.” Lorenzo frowns. “Isn’t that right, Layla?”

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