Page 65 of Capone
“Giovanna,” my sisters shrieked, wrapping me in a hug.
It had been about six months since we’d seen each other. I always kept in touch with my siblings, but with us living in different states, we didn’t get to see each other often. Most times, we did end up missing holidays with one another. Derek always wanted to spend those days with his family, and I didn’t care to be around my father.
Sometimes I regretted distancing myself the way that I had. My siblings and I were always close. With my sisters finally being adults and living on their own, I was sure we would probably start our own holiday traditions.
My sisters were much like me in not wanting to be the reason our parents split. Unbeknownst to my mother, the reason my sisters both moved out at the fresh age of eighteen was because of my father. They didn’t want to be forced out like I was for not obeying him.
When Alessia was fifteen, she heard our father talking in his study with a business partner of his. He was trying to marry her off as well. Alessia saved every bit of her allowance and got a jobwhen she turned sixteen. She saved for two years straight and moved out as soon as she turned eighteen.
My mother tried talking her out of it, but Alessia fed her a story about wanting to explore being an adult without living under her parents’ roof. My father, on the other hand, was livid. He never said anything about the arrangement though. That would reveal his real reasons for being upset. He knew he couldn’t control Alessia if she was funding her own life.
Alessia enrolled in online classes while working as a secretary. The pay was decent enough, and she didn’t have to worry about a forced engagement.
As soon as Emelia turned eighteen, she followed in our footsteps. She never mentioned Dad trying to marry her off, but I guess she just wanted to be long gone before he did. Alessia helped Emelia earn a position at her place of employment, and they now shared a two-bedroom apartment.
“Oh my God, I missed you two so much,” I cried, wrapping my little sisters in my arms. We stood there embracing one another for a few minutes before pulling apart. I introduced them to Luca and watched as both of them stared at him with stars in their eyes.
I knew Luca was a looker. My man was smoking hot. Even a nun couldn’t deny that. When Alessia flat-out asked him if he had a brother and if he was single. We all laughed.
Emelia reached for Gabi, but she pulled away, practically molding herself to Luca. “Really, Gabi? That’s how you’re going to do me?” Emelia asked with her mouth hung open.
“Hi, Auntie Lia,” Gabi said, but still hadn’t made a move to go to her.
Alessia laughed, stepping forward. “Don’t be salty, sis. We both know I’m the favorite Auntie.” Again, Gabi turned away when Alessia reached for her. The smile on her face dropped,and she faced Luca with her hands on her hips. “What did you do to our niece? She’s never denied coming to me.”
Before Luca could answer, my mom appeared in the doorway. “Surely my precious Gabi isn’t going to deny Grandma as well?”
“Grandma!” Gabi cheered, flinging herself at my mother. I was sure my mother held a spot right next to Luca as Gabi’s favorite person. My mother spoiled Gabi rotten every chance she got.
My mother rained kisses all over Gabi’s face. “Oh, I missed you so much, sweet pea.” Gabi’s loud giggles made us all smile. The thought of what awaited me beyond this doorway was momentarily forgotten.
After my mom was done showering Gabi with kisses, she pulled me into a one-arm hug and then did the same with Luca. “Well, come on in. I’m ready to finally show my grandbaby off.”
Capone chuckled as we followed my mother into the living room. It looked exactly like it did the night I left, minus the birthday decorations everywhere. I could feel eyes on me with each step I took, but with Luca holding my hand in a firm grip, I kept striding.
I saw my father across the room, talking to another man. He turned his attention away from the man and focused on me. I watched as his brows dipped into a deep frown as he looked between Luca and me. The man next to him had an expression matching my father's.
Luca followed my gaze and halted his steps. I looked up at him to see him staring at the man next to my father like he had seen a ghost. Before I could question him, a woman cried out.
“Luca?!” she screamed as she scrambled across the room, throwing herself at him and wrapping him in her arms. “What are you doing here?” she asked as tears ran down her face.
I was so confused about who this woman was.
“I’m here visiting my girlfriend’s family. What are you doing here, Mom?”
Well, that answers that.
The world couldn’t be this small. What were the chances that our families knew each other? And now I was wondering just how they knew each other.
“I said he looked familiar,” my mom interjected, as if something dawned on her.
“Wait, when did you meet my son?” Luca’s mother asked mine.
“A few weeks ago. When I saw him, I couldn’t place where I had seen him before. All the pictures you showed me of him were of him when he was a teenager. He looks a lot different now,” my mom explained.
Luca’s mother smiled through her tears. “I can’t argue with that. My baby is all grown up,” she cooed, caressing his cheek.
“Mooom,” he groaned, causing her to giggle and pull away. He turned to me with a smile before facing his mother again. “Mom, this is my girlfriend, Giovanna. Giovanna, this is my mother, Francesca.”
