Page 46 of Redemption
Silently, I thank the powers that be for gifting me with such a woman. The only one who ever tempted me enough to face the risks of tying myself to her forever.
The night we were married, beneath the stained glass, is one of the best memories I’ve ever had. I will never forget Keira’s beauty, bravery, and dignity in that moment when she agreed to become the wife of the most terrifying man she’d ever met. She truly is a queen among women.
Every day, I work to become worthy of her. Someday, perhaps I’ll succeed. But I haven’t yet.
My thoughts are interrupted by Marco’s movements as he removes his suit jacket and folds back the cuffs of his shirt before he reaches for his silverware.
For the first time since I saw him, I see something that doesn’t look like I’m staring into a mirror.
Bold black inked lines peek out, and I recognize cherry blossoms wrapping around both of his wrists. Taken aback by the discovery, I stare, open-mouthed, at my brother.
“If we were already in Italy, I would say you could catch flies that way, brother,” he says good-naturedly at my reaction before I can suppress it.
“You’re tattooed.” I state the obvious.
He grins. “Quite.”
No way. No fucking way.
His grin is contagious.
There’s no way my proper, well-mannered brother, who was raised in the lap of luxury, has …
My thought trails off as I remember him saying our father wished he could make his decisions for him.
No fucking way. You’ve got to be kidding.
Just like earlier today, I realize that my brother is full of surprises. And I like him all the better for it.
“I’ve seen those kinds of tattoos on men in suits before. But they were always Japanese gangsters,” I say, unable to keep the amazement out of my tone.
Marco smiles, and I read a bit of enjoyment on his features. “Rest assured, I’m not Yakuza. But … I do share their affinity for a beautiful body suit.”
“No fucking way.” Normally, I wouldn’t curse with Aurora in my arms, but I’m too stunned at the moment to school my language.
His grin widens. “Does it make me sound American to say, Yes way?”
“How? Where? No wonder our father wanted to make your life choices for you. How does he explain the heir to his empire having a body suit?”
“It is a long story, but we have a long flight ahead of us, so we have time, I suppose. The how is with great patience, although quite painfully at times. The where is Japan. I spent several years there during my wandering phase that commenced when I turned eighteen and left Italy and our parents behind. And our father doesn’t address it. I wear a suit anywhere I go with him, although he has never asked me to do so. I do it out of respect.”
My mind is running to keep up with his revelations. I want to know everything about this man who shares my face and my DNA.
“Tell me your story. I would love to hear it.”
He turns pasta on his fork and savors a bite before he begins to speak. “I was raised in almost complete and total seclusion from the world. After our parents lost you, they were not willing to take a chance that they could lose me as well. I never saw the outside world. Only our family’s properties and estate.”
Thinking about how I felt after getting Aurora back, I reply, “I completely understand their reasoning.”
He takes another bite and swallows before replying, “I’m sure you do, but although I didn’t know it was unusual as a child—because it was all I knew—I began to chafe at the restrictions as a teenager.”
“You wanted to see the world?” I ask, finally taking a bite of my own food. The tomato basil of the pasta sauce is the first delicious flavor I savor.
He nods, cutting into a piece of chicken. “I read so much about these places that my parents would not allow me to go.” He glances up to meet my gaze. “I was spoiled with Lago Maggiore, the Dolomites, and the estate in Tuscany, but I wanted to see everywhere. Everything. I did not share my parents’ fear or know the terror they must have felt. Something you clearly understand about them that I never could because I haven’t had that experience.”
“They were willing to do anything to keep you safe.”
He dips his chin in agreement. “And they did. But it drove a wedge between us by the time I was eighteen. I didn’t care that they didn’t want me to go. On the day of my eighteenth birthday, I left. They couldn’t keep me captive in a gilded cage any longer. I wanted freedom more than I wanted anything else.” He pauses, turning his neck to stare out the window. “I’m astonished they didn’t lock me up to keep me from going.”
