Page 18 of Enduring Caine
“You should tell Cesca some stories about all the places you’ve lived. I think she’d appreciate that.”
“She’s kinda cute. I like her.”
“Her older sister was away at boarding school while I was here, so I didn’t know her well. But my Zia Giulia—I’m surprised she didn’t stay. She’s much like my mother. Smothering.”
“Probably for the best, then.” I leaned over the edge, unable to see anyone else outside, other than a guard patrol on the ground. “You never told me this was a fortress.”
He placed a finger to his lips, reminding me of the eyes and ears he warned me about. “It’s a very safe place.”
“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”
“Have you ever noticed—” Antonio’s head rested against the wall, rolling toward me like he was talking to me from a rather hard pillow. “—how often you touch the necklace you swore you didn’t want?”
My hand froze, unconsciously wrapped around the diamond pendant he’d given me for Christmas. His mother’s necklace, that she and his father wanted me to have. I pulled it up to see it reflecting the silvery light of the moon. I turned my hand over to admire the trinity ring on my left hand, with its bands of black ceramic, white gold, and a white gold channel of diamonds.
I don’t want stuff, I’d said to him over and over again. Yet still he bought me things. “They’re not just stuff.”
He smiled, a peaceful look on his face, despite the insanity of our predicament. “No, they’re not.”
I held tight to the necklace and that smile. “I love you.”
“Good,” he said with a smirk, his eyes fluttering closed.
“Jerk.” I did my best to scowl at him, but let out a chuckle—he wasn’t looking at me anyway. For months, he’d told me he loved me, while all I’d say in response was ‘good.’ Now he liked to say it in return.
“Do you want to tell me what happened at dinner? Why you ran out in such a hurry?”
I settled on the railing closest to him, mirroring his posture. Vincenzo hadn’t spoken to either of us while he escorted us up to my room, but he obviously hadn’t told Antonio the truth about our history on Antonio’s way back to the dining room. To Antonio, it would have seemed like he was focused on his job as a bodyguard. There was no reason to suspect more.
“Do you remember my ex from my time in Amelia? I told you about him before I left Naples in September, just after you gave me the ring.”
His eyes flashed open and he sucked in a quick breath. “He’s not…”
I nodded slowly. “He is.”
Antonio stood, his features falling into shadow. He had an enormous jealous streak, so part of me hadn’t wanted to tell him. But we promised honesty, so there it was. He leaned forward on his railing and whispered, “Do you want me to punch him out for you? Have him fired?”
I whispered back, “How about tar and feathers?”
“This is a good idea.” He sat again, far calmer than I’d expected. “How dare he treat the love of my life that way?”
Warmth spread through me at the sound of those words. He’d told me he loved me within a month of meeting me. I’d taken longer, the scars of my past weighing heavily on me. Vincenzo had been a powerful scar that took a lot of getting over. But Antonio and I had clawed our way to each other, and here we were. “No jealous reaction?”
He waved that silly hand of his. “Pfft. He’s part of your history that made you the amazing woman you are today. I should thank him for being blind to how wonderful you are.”
I let out a yawn, which was cut off by a shiver. “Back to my earlier question. What’s going on tomorrow after we go for breakfast?”
“My uncle is taking me somewhere. I don’t know the details, but it’s why I’m here.”
“Takingyou?”
“Sì, unfortunately you can’t come.”
I zipped up the collar of the jacket. “Probably for the best. I’m having a difficult time controlling my temper around these men.”
“No one noticed.” Antonio’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter.
Another yawn prevented me from insulting him again.