Page 67 of Savage Empire
“Red or white?” he asks as we enter a busy kitchen, referring to wine options.
“What are we eating?” I counter.
“Smart girl,” a feminine but mature voice comments, pulling my attention.
“Martha,” Apollo acknowledges. “Your recommendation for the evening?”
“Red,” the older woman replies without missing a beat. “We’re having steak and linguine, white will simply not do.”
Martha. I process her name, her attitude, and her face. This must be the chef and caretaker Yordan has mentioned.
Apollo looks at me for confirmation and I nod. “Red sounds good.”
“You must be Rayna,” Martha says while Apollo begins to retrieve the wine. “Yordan has told me many good things about you. He’s a sweet boy, very good at eating his meals.”
“He’s spoken fondly of you as well,” I admit, almost bashful. While she appears like a kind older woman, something tells me she’s more powerful than she looks. “Thank you for feeding him while he’s here. I’m sure you have enough mouths to feed already.”
“Never enough.” She grins, nodding to Apollo. “Not until this one gives me abambinoof his own to spoil.”
“Under a minute in presence before demanding I reproduce,” Apollo comments dryly, passing me a glass of deep red wine. “A new record, I’m sure.”
I take a small sip of my drink, relishing the rich and sweet but tart taste.
Martha waves him off, making apsshhhsound. “He will make such beautiful children, don’t you think?”
I choke on my next drink, silently choking it down with wide eyes. “Um, sure?”
“Handsome, isn’t he?”
Oh my God.
“Martha,” Apollo says, sounding exhausted by the woman’s antics. He doesn’t seem angry, so I assume he must be used to this.
“What?” she replies innocently. “I always brag about my young ones. Of course I am already boasting about thebambinosyou will make. They will be just as clever and cute as you were.”
“Will they be as stubborn?” I mutter, taking a longer sip.
Surprisingly, Martha giggles loudly. “Oh, most definitely. That kind of bullheadedness is hereditary. He gets it from his father.”
“Such slanderous accusations.”
My spine stiffens at the sound of the deep voice, thick with an Italian accent. I turn slowly, looking over my shoulder to find Apollo’s clone leaning against the doorway. The man is decades older, but otherwise identical. Bright blue eyes, tan skin, dark hair, and sharp features.
Dante Moretti in the flesh.
“Slander,” Martha scoffs. “Dramatic boy.”
My eyes widen, hearing her refer to her Capo as a boy.
Only Dante doesn’t react to the comment as if it’s disrespectful. Instead, he chuckles. “How exhausting it must be, to be surrounded by my stubborn kin, and my stubborn self. However do you cope, Martha?”
“Whiskey,” she snarks, grinning back at him. “Have you met our guest?”
“I haven’t had the honor yet,” he replies, eyes shifting toward me. He detaches himself from the wall and approaches. “Rayna, is it?”
“Y-yes,” I stutter, seeing his hand extend toward mine. I hold my breath as he takes it, lifting our entwined fingers up to kiss the back of my knuckles.
“Lovely to meet the woman who, in such a short time, has captured my Apollo’s interest. Engaged, I hear?”
