Page 66 of Capone
His mother’s smile slightly dropped before she hugged me in greeting. I wanted to know what caused that reaction, but I let it go for the time being. I had bigger fish to fry tonight. I didn’t need to add anything else to my list of troubles.
My father and the man who stood next to him walked over to us. Their expressions were unreadable. I could feel the tension rolling off Luca. The closer the other man got, the clearer all the answers I needed were.
This was his father. He looked like an older version of Luca with his salt-and-pepper hair and beard.
“Dad.” Luca greeted him with a head nod.
“Son.”
It was so awkward. They addressed each other like complete strangers. I knew how Luca felt about his father, so I knew this interaction wouldn’t be unicorns and rainbows.
My head was spinning. I was still trying to figure out how our families knew one another, and apparently, so was Luca.
“Mom, you never did say how you know Giovanna’s family,” he said as he turned away from his father.
“Well, uhh…” she trailed off, looking away nervously.
“You were promised to their youngest son, Matteo,” my father spoke up.
“Nico!” my mother scolded.
“What?” he asked in a tone like he was confused as to why she was reprimanding him.
This night was becoming more and more mortifying by the second. This had to be some kind of joke. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it all.
I left home because I didn’t want to marry a man my father had picked out for me, just to end up with his older brother. Yeah. My brain was officially fried, and I just wanted to go home.
Before this conversation could go any further, the chef entered the room, letting us know dinner was served. I was thankful for the interruption. I could tell by the look in Luca’s eyes that he was about to snap at my father.
Once we were seated for dinner, the tension in the room grew. Everyone ate silently, never looking up from their plates. I felt bad for my mom. She looked so sad, and that’s the last thing I wanted.
This is why I didn’t want to come. I knew this night would be a disaster.
“So, what is it that you do for a living?” my father asked Luca, breaking the silence in the room.
Luca cleared his throat. “I work at a security firm as head of security.”
Luca’s father scoffed, shaking his head in disgust. The notion didn’t go unnoticed by Luca, but he chose to ignore it. I knew he was trying with all his might not to disrupt my mother’s dinner, and I was grateful. But I also knew our fathers didn’t have too many more times to poke him before he would finally let them have it.
“How much does something like that pay?”
“Nico!” my mother hissed.
“I’m just trying to get to know the man,” my father professed.
My mom opened her mouth, but Luca beat her to it. “It’s fine, Ms. Gia.” Luca looked my father square in the eyes, his face void of emotion. “It pays more than enough.”
“You come from a very privileged lifestyle, though. Surely the pay isn’t what you’re used to.”
At this point, Gabi was the only one eating. She was the only child here and completely oblivious to the drama brewing at this table.
“It’s not, but it’s worth it. I get a great deal of joy walking out my door, knowing I don’t have to look over my shoulder.”
Just like that, he wiped the smug look right off both of our fathers’ faces.
“Pony,” Gabi called him, pulling at the sleeve of his shirt. Luca took his eyes off my father to look down at Gabi, who was seated between us. “More, please,” she said, pointing to the meatballs in the middle of the table.
“You got it, Lil Bit.” He winked, causing her to giggle. The mood in the room slightly lifted as everyone watched them interact. Just like me, they saw the bond that Gabi and Luca had with one another.
