Page 36 of Unrelenting
“Do that.” Lorenzo’s tone is a touch impatient.
The hostess rushes off toward a door at the side of the room while Lorenzo ushers me to a booth situated against the back wall. A seat padded with plush black velvet curves around a large table.
There’s a silver bucket of ice with an unopened bottle of champagne sitting in it along with two glasses. There’s also a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries and a single red rose.
“Did you do this?” I ask as I sit and shuffle around the booth to allow Lorenzo to get in next to me. Despite the mezzanine being packed with people, this space is quite private.
“I wanted to give you an enjoyable night. When you agreed to come, I called ahead and asked them to set up my table for us.”
I can’t contain the huge smile that spreads across my face.
“What’s that smile for?” Lorenzo asks as he pops the cork on the champagne.
“I thought your charm was all just talk to get into women’s panties, but it’s not, is it? You’re actually a romantic.”
I swear Lorenzo blushes. He can’t be a stranger to compliments. Women must fawn over him all the time, but he seems genuinely touched by my comments.
“If I am, it’s because you bring out that side of me.” He pours two glasses of champagne and hands one to me. He raises his glass. “To the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
I raise my glass. “To the most surprising man I’ve ever met.”
Lorenzo hesitates. “Surprising in a good way, I assume.”
I nod and we clink our glasses together. As I sip the cool, crisp champagne, a man approaches the table.
Impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit, he’s tall and broad-shouldered. I recognize him as a customer from my restaurant, but I didn’t realize he was related to Lorenzo.
He takes a seat at the end of the booth.
“Lucia, this is my cousin Benito Palmieri.”
The newcomer nods. “And you need no introduction, Ms. Lazaro. I’ve dined at Gianetta’s many times, even in your grandmother’s day.”
“You’re from Florence?” I ask because Lorenzo and his brother are originally from Rome.
“I am. My father is brother to Lorenzo’s mother. Our family has lived in Florence for several generations.”
Lorenzo clears his throat, unhappy, I think, with his cousin sharing information about the family. “Where’s Damiano?”
Benito shoots an anxious look in my direction.
“You can speak in front of Lucia,” Lorenzo says. “Unless it’s something that might end up in front of a judge.”
Benito shrugs. “Who knows where this will end up.”
“Tell me what happened.” Lorenzo’s tone is impatient.
“There was a little trouble earlier. Damiano had to get Giulia out of here. That kid from Cetona, the one who’s been watching Gabriele’s house, was talking to her. Damiano sent her home and locked the kid in the storeroom. Before we could interrogatethe little shit, Violetta let him loose. Damiano has taken her somewhere quiet to find out what she was thinking.”
Aside from Damiano and Gabriele, I don’t know who any of the other people he mentioned are, but it sounds like a complicated situation.
Lorenzo thanks Benito for the information, effectively dismissing him.
Twisting the stem of his glass back and forth, he stares into space, distracted by his thoughts.
“Do we need to leave?” I ask. “It sounds like there’s a lot going on.”
Lorenzo turns to me and shakes his head.
