Page 69 of Wicked

For teaching me how to drive cars and tractors, to ride horses, to work hard, box with gloves, and to use a sword.

Without that kind of education, I would never have had the skills or guts to build an empire.

My empire!

My always strong and stoic spirit feels heavy as I think of my grandfather, and I am new to the dark heavy energy.

For lack of a better way to put it, I feel my tribe reducing, and it feels wrong. So wrong.

I drive to my grandmother’s villa around the Tuscan Bay, and after a long hug, I let out some pent-up energy. “Come in, Dante,” she says, sensing my state. “Come in.”

I duck under the old-fashioned door, and I enter the small three-hundred-year-old sea villa. We have an expresso while we discuss old times, and the woman is gentle and wise, like my grandfather.

I feel the closest to Nonna out of anyone else in the world, excluding Nico and Lorenzo. Even if I’ve never told her, I suspect she knows I’ve made a small fortune. It’s something we keep to ourselves.

After some small talk, she leans back. “So, what is it, Dante?”

“The castle sale,” I say slowly before pausing. “And I found a box of things Nonno put in my chest. This was in it.” I hand the envelope to her, and she reads it.

After, we stand and hug. “He was a good man,” she says. I nod, not trusting myself to speak. “It’s hard to let go,” she adds.

I pace as she sits, and I realize I like it here. Her cute villa has always been full of amazing things and gentle family energy. She can afford a larger home, but she likes its ocean views.

It gets me thinking about when to settle down and if I could ever do it. And with whom.

We talk about women my parents are trying to set me up with, and I make it clear I’m not interested. My grandmother smiles, and without saying anything, she winks. “You know, that American is a nice girl.”

“What?” I ask, distracted.

“Raven, correct?” I nod distracted. “She’s also fun. I like her energy, Dante, and she may be a little, well… us.”

I watch her and listen.

“Like you, your grandfather, and me. You know he is right. We’re… how should I put it? Not so good at conforming and playing along, ticking all the boxes. That is maybe why you selected a career in the arts, in fashion. Now, conforming is the easy path in society, but what makes it hard for people like us, Dante, is finding someone to share our life with. Someone who gets that. Someone from a similar… tribe.”

I nod, and it’s strange. I’d just used the word tribe myself, and I’d never used it before, ever.

My grandmother explains it’s important to find someone who is of the same mold or mindset. She then asks me if I think I need a slightly colorful freethinker to match my soul, spirit, and character.

I consider her wisdom and words, and my mind processes fast. Her words make sense, but I’ll likely be the last to ever settle down. I’m too fixed in my ways, and I’m likely just a grumpy lone wolf.

I’m distracted and thinking about a life with someone when my grandmother asks a question.

“Sorry?”

“So, how is Raven?” my grandmother asks, bringing me back.

“Fine,” I say. “Fine.”

I feel her eyes on me, but before it gets awkward, my phone vibrates. Reluctantly, I take it, and I see it is Thomas.

My CEO duties call for me, and being responsible for several hundred staff has its downside. “Scusi,” I say, raising a finger. “My in-house attorney and number two.”

Three minutes later, I ring off and think fast about the phone call’s details.

The only fashion designer in Italy I want to sign to design for us is back in Italy, and she’s in Milan tonight.

The gifted woman often travels like me, and our team have been trying to arrange a meeting with her for months. I can race up to Milan, but only if I leave soon.

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