saying
you aren’t, you would’ve left at seventeen. That means you would
have some accent, but you sound fully American. So, why don’t you
have one?”
“ I used to get English lessons and I was
fascinated with American television,” I replied, feeling happy I
was able to answer him.
“ W hy are you smiling?” he asked.
“ I only just remembered that. You seem
to trigger a lot of my memories.”
He sat up straight, looking excited. “Then
tell me how you got to America?”
I frowned. “I can’t
remember.”
“ Okay. What about the FBI? Why
did you join them if you were mafioso ?”
“ I didn’t remember being in the mafia;
I don’t even remember my family.”
“ But, you told me you remembered
your brother being handicapped.”
“ I meant as a whole. I remember
my brother vaguely, but not the others. I think it was because he
was with me when I was being drowned.” I covered my mouth, fear now
coursing through me. “Did he survive?”
“ S ì , he did,” Frano said, “but he lost his mind and
had to be put into a mental institute.” He placed a hand behind my
head and pulled me to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
I slipped one of my arms around him. “It’s
not your fault. None of this is your fault, it’s those Donatelli.
They destroy everything they touch.” I let go of him and sat up.
“Like Camila will do. If you marry her, she’ll bring nothing but
pain into your life.”
“ I need what she offers. The
twins have to die along with Matteo. I also need an alliance, and
she’s right, my famiglia is suffering financially. We were on the verge of
bankruptcy prior to taking down the House of Whores. We owe a good
many people. The sales from the House of Whores will only cover our
debts.”
“ I thought you were a
wealthy family.”
“ We pretend to be. My father
made a grave error of judgment a few years back due to his
dementia. We lost millions of dollars because of it.”
“ I understand, but what about my
family? We can ask them for help. I will contact them, tell them
what has happened. If our two families can link together, we can be
strong enough without needing Camila.”
“ Your famiglia left the island seven years ago. I
don’t know if they have money, let alone whether they are still in
the transportation business.”
“ Transportation?”
“ They transported my famiglia’s slaves until my
father had a falling out with yours, which is another reason why
they probably won’t help me.”
“ But, if I
asked.”
“ I hardly see them talking to me
nicely after all the bad blood that has happened between our
families.”
“ That was because of your
father. You are now the Don and with my help we’ll win them over as
allies.”
“ So, you will fight for
me?”
“ Of course.”
He smiled. “Such a faithful
lover.”
I smiled back. “So, I’m your lover
now, not your slave?”
“ S ì , and you will get a room regardless of what
Camila says.”
“ Which means: you’re still going
through with this sham of a wedding.”
“ You said that with such venom.”
His smile widened. “Do I detect some jealousy?”
“ You know you do, you
arrogant ass.”
“ I truly am an arrogant ass.”
Grinning wide, he turned over to show me it, then quickly turned
back. “Now I know you have a fetish for male culo , I better not turn my back on you
again.”
I smacked his
arm , making
him laugh. “I’m not going to stick anything up there.”
“ Because if you do, I’d fuck
your culo until you bleed.”
My eyes widened.
“That’ s a
horrible thing to say.”
“ Just insuring you don’t get
finger happy.”
I held up my fingers and
wriggled them. “Oh, I’m definitely going to get finger happy,
you stronzo .” I reached under his arms and started ticking him, making
him wriggle about laughing.
“ Stop!” he cried out, slipping
down the bed to get away from me. “I’m ticklish.”
I sniggered. “The big bad don is
ticklish. Who knew?”
He