Page 10 of Poison and Wine
Leo grinned at Rafe. “But rumor has it he’s been in talks about your future bride.”
“I have at least another two years of freedom, thank God,”
“Well, if impending matrimony isn’t the news, what is it?” I asked.
“We’re coming to see you,” Gianni replied with a grin.
“Really?”
Rafe nodded. “We’re going to be in Milan next week for business, and we thought we’d fly over to Palermo on the way home.”
“Oh my God, guys! This truly makes my birthday.”
Rafe winked. “We knew it would, kiddo.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re so humble.”
“What about tonight? Got big plans?” Leo teased.
“Totally. The sisters are taking me for drinks and dancing.” Waggling my brows, I whispered, “Rumor is Sister Lucia and Sister Antonia might even take off their habits.”
My brothers chuckled. “Still our smart-mouth baby sister, I see,” Gianni replied.
“Yes, in more ways than one since that’s Sister Caterina now.”
Their smiles faded. Even after the last two and a half years, they still couldn’t grasp my choice. More than anything, they didn’t want me thousands of miles away. “Remind me again. How long is it until you take your Perpetual Vows and become a full-fledged nun?” Leo asked.
The boys held out hope that as long as I hadn’t taken my final vows, I could leave the order and return back to them. I didn’t know how to get it through to them that I would never be coming back. Not as long as I still faced an arranged marriage from my father. “Three years.”
“That soon?” Gianni asked with a wince.
“Yes.”
Rafe’s jaw clenched. “You wouldn’t have to go through with final vows if Father was dead.”
“Considering he’s only sixty-five and in relatively good health, I don’t see that happening anytime soon,” I replied.
Leo’s dark eyes glittered with malice. “Accidents happen every day, especially to men in our line of work.”
At Rafe’s slow nod of approval, I shook my head. “I won’t let you have that on your consciences.”
“Let us worry about that,” Gianni said.
As I stared into their earnest faces, there was a small part of me that wanted to take them up on their offer. While I was content in the order, it wasn’t what I’d envisioned for my life. But at the same time, I’d made my choice, and I couldn’t let my brothers kill our father just so that I could have my way.
“It’s a mortal sin just talking about it, least of all doing it,” I whispered.
Rafe sighed. “We would do anything for you, Kitty Cat.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I know you would, and I love you all so very much for that.”
“And we love you,” Gianni said.
Leo smiled at me. “Dry your tears, Kitty Cat. We wouldn’t have you crying on your birthday for anything in the world.”
I laughed as I wiped my cheeks. “Don’t worry. They’re happy tears, I promise. Especially since I get to see you in a few weeks.”
“Be thinking of where you’d like to go or what you’d like to see,” Rafe suggested.