Of Blood and Bone Read Online Free PDF Page A

quickly takes it away.   “I know just what you need,” she winks.  “Our special of the day is just what the doctor ordered for you, bella.  You need some meat on your bones.”
    She doesn’t give me a chance to argue, instead she is gone before I even know it.  And I love how everyone refers to women as ‘bella’ here.  Beautiful.   It is endearing.
    Marianne is back within a minute with a glass of red wine and a basket of fragrant bread. 
    “Eat, eat,” she waves her hands.  And then she promptly sits down in the empty seat across from me.  “You don’t mind, do you?” she raises an eyebrow.
    “Of course not,” I answer.  “Please sit.”
    She smiles, because she knows as well as I do that she was planning to sit regardless of what I said.  She watches as I make short work of a breadstick and half of my glass of wine. She looks satisfied by that and only then does she try to engage me in conversation, asking where I’m from, why I’m here, and what my plans are.  I answer her and she is visibly impressed. 
    “A psychiatrist?” she repeats.  “You must be a smart girl.  Beautiful and smart.  Your parents must be proud.”
    Someone from the kitchen brings out a steaming bowl of fettuccine and the smells make my mouth instantly water.  Yes, I will be spending quite a few evenings here.  I already know it. 
    Marianne watches me eat, a small smile on her face.
    “Do you know a Luca Minaldi?” I ask curiously in between bites. She looks instantly intrigued. 
    “Why do you ask?” she inquires.
    I shake my head.  “Just curious.  I met him last night.  He was out jogging and heard me screaming about a spider.”  I tell her about the incident and she laughs. 
    “Yes, those are nasty little creatures,” she agrees.  “And I’m from here.  I’ve never gotten used to them.  It surprises me, however, that Luca Minaldi would approach you.  He tends to stay to himself.”
    And that intrigues me.  
    “What do you mean?” I ask.  Marianne shrugs.
    “You’d think someone in his standing would come to all of the important social functions, but he seldom does.  His family has been here in Valletta for generations.  They own Minaldi Shipping and their ships can be seen all over the world.  Yet, he doesn’t seem to be much of a people person.  It’s too bad, really.  With his looks and money, he truly is Malta’s most eligible bachelor.”
    “He’s single?”
    I ask the question before I even think about it.  Shit.
    Marianne smiles.  “Yes, my dear.  He’s single.  He would have to come out and meet people in order to become married and he doesn’t do much of that.   He lives outside of town on the coast on an estate called Chessarae.  It’s a beautiful property, really.  Although he never hosts any functions there anymore.  Not since his mother is no longer well.  She used to be quite the socialite.  But no more… not since Nicolas died.”
    “Nicolas was Luca’s father?” I take a guess.  She nods. 
    “Yes.  Nicolas died some years ago.  Melina became a recluse of sorts after that. She stays on the property now.  No one has seen her in a year or two.”
    “She lives with Luca?” I ask.  For some reason, this surprises me.  He seemed so self-sufficient.  Power practically emanates from his pores, not the kind of person you would think lives with his mother.
    Marianne smiles again. 
    “Eva, you are no longer in America.  Things are done differently here.  Families often live together because family is very important to us. When all is said and gone, family is what will remain.  And besides, Chessarae is so large that there is room for five families to live there comfortably.  But as it was, for years, it was just the three Minaldi boys and their parents.  But then Nicolas died, and Christoph and Damien moved away, working in other Minaldi Shipping locations.   Luca is the only one still at the house.”
    “Does he also work for the