Page 57 of Enduring Caine
“Sì, have your priest marry Samantha and I without my parents here.” I rolled my eyes heavenward. That would only ensure Mamma never allowed Papa to speak to Zio Gio again, no matter how much effort he put into reconciliation. “Splendid idea.”
“You’ll have plenty of time together this evening. We’ll have our special dinner, visit the gallery once more, maybe even a tour of the wine cellar. Or the top of the tower? It should be clear tonight and you can see all the way to Sardegna.”
“No, you can’t,” said Cristian, as the red pin toppled on the table. He winked at Leo. “That’s my game.”
Leo frowned and wiped the board. “How are you so calm? Someone almost hit you with a car.”
“You heard Papa.” Cristian set the pins back up and grabbed his cue ball. “The boy’s nothing more than a troublemaker. We’d be better off recruiting him.”
“No more games.” Leo hung his cue in the rack on the wall. “I need to check in with the men. Increase patrols.”
I looked at Zio Gio, who nodded to Leo. Did he think it was necessary? Or was he deferring to his security head’s overabundance of caution?
At least we only had one day left here.
Chapter 25
Samantha
Whydidn’tElliotrealizeVincenzo and I went to school together? He was too sharp to forget I’d gone, but maybe he didn’t know Vin’s background? Of course. He wouldn’t have had access to the TPC’s employment files, especially not for their undercover agents.
Then again… maybe I misread his reaction when I said I’d gone to school with the TPC contact. Was I misremembering it now? Was it just the adrenaline and chaos of the car accident that clouded what I saw?
Or could Antonio be right? Could Vin be lying to me? It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Alright, Samantha.”
I startled. “What?”
Henri stood with a pen poised over his notebook.
Right. We were preparing for dinner.
“Tell me what your favorite meal is.”
Good question. Whatwasmy favorite? “Italian?”
I settled onto a stool at the long marble kitchen island and took in the details of the room. Like the rest of the villa’s main floor, the coffered ceilings were sixteen feet high, made of warm wood. White and blue tiles lined the back splash behind Henri, pairing beautifully with the yellow walls.
The appliances were a mix of old and new worlds. A microwave and stainless double wall oven sat next to a gas stovetop and an open-front brick oven. Marble sinks and enough cabinet space to house every ingredient on the planet.
“Do you cook for all the staff?” I asked.
“Sometimes. The staff village has their own kitchens, so I mostly prepare food for those staying in the villa and any guests.”
Johann stood just inside the door, a reminder that the word ‘guest’ only meant so much here. “Or when we come begging.”
Henri laughed. “But you always help cleanup, which is more than I can say for the rest.”
“I think she’d like your lamb.”
Henri lifted his eyebrows to me in question.
I nodded. “Lamb’s good.”
He directed Johann to the stainless industrial refrigerator behind me. “Can you check how much we have? Shoulder or leg, either will work.”
Johann nodded, humming once the door was open.