Page 60 of Unrelenting
I take her hand. “Lucia, you’re mine. Anything that affects you is my problem and I will fix it.”
She opens her mouth, probably to utter some bullshit objection, but she’s interrupted when my phone rings. I take it from my pocket and check the screen.
It’s my mother’s housekeeper. My heart lurches. Agnesca only calls if there’s a problem.
“Sorry,gattina,” I tell Lucia. “I have to take this.”
Walking away from her, I swipe the screen to answer the call. “Agnesca? Is everything okay?”
“There’s nothing to worry about, Signore Lorenzo.” She always begins the conversation this way in case I assume the worst. My mother is frail, and every time Agnesca calls, I feel a certain anxiety. “Beatrice has had a minor accident.”
My stomach drops. Ever since my mother was beaten unconscious by my father fifteen years ago, I’m terrified of something happening to her. “What happened?”
“She got up in the middle of the night and tried to make herself some warm milk. There was a small fire.”
“Fuck! Is she okay?”
“Yes, but she gave herself a real fright and is a little upset today. I have everything under control but I know you like to be kept informed.”
“Have you told my brothers?”
“No, I don’t like to disturb them.”
What she means is that Damiano and Gabriele both frighten her. Though she’s no wilting flower, Agnesca shies away from dealing with them. For some reason she considers me the soft option. I suppose I am less abrupt than Damiano and more easy-going than Gabriele.
“I thought you would call them if you think it’s necessary.”
“I’ll come down and see her first.” Once I have a fuller picture of how she’s doing, I can call my brothers.
“Oh, Signore Lorenzo, that would be wonderful. A visit from you will really cheer her up. It’s been so long.”
I don’t detect a rebuke in her tone but if there was one I’d deserve it. My last visit to my mother was over a month ago.
“What should I bring?” My mother cycles through several hobbies and I like to take a gift every time I visit.
“Yarn would be good.”
That makes me smile. “Crochet again?”
Agnesca laughs. “She’s making these little teddy bears. Everyone on staff has at least five of them.”
“Okay, yarn it is.” I’ll message one of the men I have guarding her property and tell him to have some waiting for me when I get there. “I’ll be there for lunch around…” Checking my watch I realize it’s still early. “One o’clock.”
I end the call and quickly message my friend Marco who oversees my mother’s security to let him know I’m coming. I alsoask him to buy some yarn and a box of the marzipan fruits I know Agnesca likes. Then I turn to Lucia.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
“Yes, just some family business I need to attend to.” It occurs to me my mother would love to meet Lucia. I’ve never brought a woman to see her before. None of them have been good enough until now. “How would you like to take a brief trip with me?”
Lucia cocks her head to one side. “Where to?”
“Rome.” The villa where my mother lives is actually fifteen miles outside of the city, but that doesn’t matter right now. “You can get someone to cover for you at the restaurant, can’t you?”
“We’re closed tonight.”
“Great, so you’ll come.”
She looks hesitant. “I won’t be in your way?”
