Page 122 of Secrets of the Brother
My stomach twisted as I braced for whatever humiliating thing Amara said next.
Amara crossed the room to me.
I tucked my feet up and she sat on the end of the settee. She leaned her head back and looked at me. She wrinkled her nose. “You won’t take offense if I say your mother is a real piece of work?”
I slumped back against the armrest as I rolled my eyes. “I used to think I was adopted.”
“Are you sure you’re not?”
“What did she want?”
I had turned off my mobile and avoided all communication with my parents since the night of the engagement party.
I wasn’t resigned to cutting them completely out of my life, but I did agree with Enzo that something wasn’t right about their behavior regarding Renata’s death. I hadn’t even told him outright about my mother burning my passport and birth certificate. It was enough he knew they were trying to marry me off to Nevio Zettici. It was just for the best if I avoided them until things calmed down a bit.
“She was demanding to see you. Claiming we were keeping you hostage and as a mother she had a right to see her daughter.”
My arm paused as I lifted my teacup halfway to my mouth. I looked at Amara and cocked an eyebrow. “She didn’t.”
Amara nodded. “Laid it on real thick. She may have missed her calling. That woman belongs on the stage.”
I grimaced. “Sorry.”
She shrugged. “Don’t be. You’re not the only one with embarrassing family connections. Trust me.”
Before we could say anything more, Barone Cavalieri burst into the room.
His brow was lowered as he stormed straight to Amara, like a bull toward a red flag.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her to her feet. He tore off his work gloves and placed his hand under her chin as he stared intently into her eyes. “Are you okay, dolcezza?”
Despite the imposing man’s fierce demeanor that would have scared the crap out of anyone else, Amara smiled warmly, rose on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m fine. Just a little drama. She’s gone.”
“She should have never made it this far onto the grounds. There’s going to be hell to pay when I find out who let her through the main gate.”
He looked over at me. “Bianca, are you okay?”
I raised up both palms and rushed to assure him. “I’m fine! I didn’t even know she was here.”
He nodded. “That will be small comfort to Enzo when he finds out. He rode out on horseback to inspect a downed fence in the north field. He should be back shortly.”
I raised my eyebrows. “We could always not tell him?”
Barone laughed. “Nice try.”
He kissed Amara on the forehead and left.
Amara slumped back onto the settee. She gave me a conciliatory look. “You get used to it.”
“The insanely over-the-top protective intensity?”
“Yeah, that.”
“At least I know where Enzo gets it from.”
Amara pulled the sketch pad from my lap. “This is really good.”
“Thank you.”
