Page 17 of The Silence Lies

“How are things going with Giovanni?”

She sits back in her chair, her hands intertwined and resting in her lap. “Fine,” she answers warily.

He has been with us a week, and while he hasn’t said one word to either of us, I can tell he’s taking his job seriously. I’m still wary of him, watching him carefully because anyone who enters Serafina’s life is a threat. She seems comfortable enough around him, but I’m still keeping tabs on the guy.

I watch Sera for a little longer, letting the silence fill the void in the room. The more I watch her, the more I get the chance to admire her. She’s always on the go, so this moment of peace allows me to survey her, absorb her. She’s wearing a white sleeveless shirt, a ribbon tied in a bow around her neck. It reminds me of those precious china dolls my grandma told me never to touch.

But fuck do I want to.

She huffs loudly, her chest heaving under the weight of evident stress. I know she wanted a plan yesterday, but her impatience is her downfall. We need to get as many families on our side, not just for protection, but if this shit goes sideways, we need to know that we have alliances. The Verdis have expressed how they feel about Sera’s position. This isn’t really about getting revenge, this is about setting the bar. They need to know who is in charge.

“You know you have to talk to me sooner or later,” I say to a silent Sera.

“No, I don’t.” She barely looks up from the paperwork she’s diverted her attention to.

“Sera,” I sigh, standing up from the couch.

She watches me carefully as I approach. “What?”

“Tell me what’s going on in your head,” I say, turning her chair so she’s facing me. I crouch down, resting one hand on her knee. “The Greco family, Enzo, all of it; you know you can talk to me.”

She pauses for a moment, her gaze dropping to where my hand strokes her leg. It’s meant to be friendly, supportive, but I don’t miss the way her breath hitches slightly when my thumb makes idle motions over her skin.

“Sera…”

“I know, I just…” She frowns, unable to meet my gaze. I don’t need her to tell me how hard she has taken Enzo’s death. It has affected both of us equally, only I know my cousin wouldn’t want us moping around feeling sorry for ourselves. The guy was never one to grieve like Sera is. He’d be celebrating, reminiscing over the good times, over the memories that bonded him to the ones he lost.

I sense it’s more than that for Sera, though. There’s lingering doubt evident on her face. With the way her shoulders hunch over, all her confidence disappears. I reach up, cupping her cheek with my other hand. “What is it?”

Her lips thin and her eyes gloss over, like she’s fighting herself on something. But when I stroke her face, she leans into it and whispers, “I don’t know if I can do this.”

I sigh. I knew this was coming; the final admission to what I could already tell was bothering her. But this is what I am here for, to protect her, to support her. I am the one she can confide in, trust to shed light on situations and offer my advice.

“You want to know what I thought of you when I first met you?”

Sera frowns. “We were like eight. There’s no way you can remember that far back.”

But I can. “I remember when Enzo and I used to climb trees, and he would never let you join us. Always the protector, right?”

She laughs, and it actually sounds lighter the longer I listen to it. Sure, she’s filled with regret and guilt, but I’m here to lift her up. I’ve got to be the one to show her how bad ass she is.

“You were always head-strong, a force to be reckoned with. You pinned the asshole down despite your size and told him under no circumstances was he the boss of you.”

We both laugh, like that memory only happened yesterday. I can still remember it clearly. I can still remember how I felt in that moment, completely in awe of such a tiny person, yet willing to protect her just like Enzo would.

“I knew right then the kind of person you were, what you are now. You are in this role for a reason Donna Bianchi. If anyone can run this Mafia, it’s you.”

She nods, sniffing slightly. She doesn’t move away from me, though. She rubs her cheek against my palm, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “I miss him,” she whispers sadly.

“I know, me too.” I feel those words deeply, because that guy was like a brother to me. “But you still have me, and I know you can do this.”

She leans forward and rests her forehead against mine. It’s not the first time we’ve been this close, but she seems to acknowledge what I already have. The energy between us feels charged, like a battery about to connect to a circuit. It feels like right here is where she wants to be, where she needs to be, and if I’m that comfort for her, then I’m okay with that.

What I’m not expecting is for Sera to tilt her head, or part her soft lips and run them across mine. Before I know what’s happening, our lips finally connect, and it’s like electricity is running through my body, zapping at every fiber and bringing it to life.

Without hesitation, I grip the back of her neck, and pull her closer. There’s nowhere for her to go, though, so it just makes the kiss harder and more urgent.

She runs her hands through my hair, tugging slightly. Her mouth is like heaven, the pearly gates that I’m finally permitted to enter. And my tongue does just that. Stroking it against hers, the kiss seems to grow more demanding. I’m drowning in Donna Bianchi like I’ve always wanted to and I can’t seem to shake the awe coursing through me. She moans, then whimpers, the sound going straight to my cock. But just when we start to fall into a desperate rhythm, she pulls away.

---