Page 15 of The One
Christ, this girl is shy.
Or perhaps this is Antonio’s doing, having raised his daughters to be deferential around men in power. I wouldn’t put it past him. Men like him and Renaldo expect nothing less.
“Of course, Signor De Marco,” she finally replies, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink.
Her voice is so soft, it takes me by surprise.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard this girl speak.
For a fleeting moment, my heartbeat seems to slow and stutter, like when a radio broadcast is disrupted by a passing interference before finding its own wavelength again.
Weird.
“Are you a nervous flyer?” I ask, shaking off the strange sensation.
Mariella shrugs, still avoiding my gaze.
“I don’t know,” she says quietly.
How can she not know? And then it dawns on me.
“Is this your first time flying?”
She nods. I’m taken aback. I can’t imagine being confined to this island. As much as I love it, the world beyond has so much to offer.
“Mariella,” I say softly, “you don’t have to be nervous. You’ll be perfectly safe. The aircraft gets thoroughly checked over before every takeoff.”
Ever since Molinaro blew up one of our planes, a plane I was meant to be on, we go the extra mile to ensure that will never happen again.
Mariella is still not looking at me, and it’s off-putting. I’m used to confident women.
But my annoyance fades as quickly as it came, replaced by understanding.
She must still be embarrassed by what happened today. Projectile vomiting on the priest during your own wedding? That would be humiliating for anyone, traumatic, even. Enough to make her faint.
Something heavy and unfamiliar settles in my gut. I can’t quite place it, but it makes me shift my weight, as if that might shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
A car pulling up behind me saves me from analyzing it further. Expecting it to be Romeo, I’m surprised to see my brother.
My brows furrow. Why is he here?
What’s happened now?
I walk toward the black SUV and tell Mariella over my shoulder, “Go on up and find a seat. Enjoy your first flight.”
I greet Tiero, slapping him on the back. I didn’t expect to see him again until my return.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Tiero straightens his jacket, adjusting his cufflinks.
“I’m flying to Rome with you. I called but you were occupied.”
“That I was.” I grin at him. I would have been balls-deep in Valentina.
Tiero cracks a small smile. “Feeling better?”
“Much. I can recommend it. It eases tension.”
