Page 124 of Secrets of the Brother
Caught off guard, I shook my head. “What? No. I’m leaving because I figuredyouwere mad atme. Why would I be mad at you?”
She bit her lip. “I told Cesare what you said about Enzo, and he told Enzo. I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep something like that from him.”
I played with the spiral wire on my sketch pad. “You were right to tell him.”
She put her hand to her chest. “That’s a relief. Amara will warn you. I tend to speak my mind. You’ll get used to it.”
I frowned and averted my gaze.
She caught the look. “You are going to stay, right?”
“I don’t know. This feels kind of awkward. Enzo told me what…happened…between you…I mean…what my sister….”
How do you tell someone you’re sorry your dead sister tried to kill them?
She leaned in close. “Remember all those nasty stories about my mother in school?”
I nodded. The kids we went to school with had always been really cruel to Milana about her mother.
She continued. “I know we weren’t super close, but we were friends. You were always so nice to me. And you never judged me because of something my family did.”
I held my hand to my chest. “I would never do that.”
She winked. “Neither would I.”
The knots in my stomach eased.
She threw a hand over my shoulder. “Besides, we’re the same size so I’m planning on us becoming besties so I can borrow some of these clothes,” she said as she gestured toward all the boxes and garment bags.
“These are for me?”
She nodded. “Enzo sent for them from Rome yesterday.”
Gabriella gestured for us to approach. “Come on, dears. We have lots to unpack and decide on. Thank you, Alfonso.”
Alfonso tipped his hat and quietly left.
Gabriella started untying the ribbons on the top boxes. She cast me a sardonic look. “Since you owe me a silk blouse and skirt, I get first pick.”
My cheeks flamed. Apparently, she had already learned about the damage to the outfit I borrowed yesterday.
Amara leaned in close. “Welcome to the club. I think we each owe clothes to Aunt Gabriella.”
There were boxes and bags from all the major Italian fashion houses.
I responded, “Of course, Gabriella. Anything you want.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I’ve seen your tits, darling. I think you can call me Aunt Gabriella.”
I opened and closed my mouth several times, having no idea how to respond as my cheeks flamed hotter.
Milana laughed. “Look at her face! Don’t worry, Bianca. Aunt Gabriella seeing you naked is part of the club initiation!”
Gabriella unzipped a garment bag and pulled out several dresses. “Oh no! This won’t do at all.” She unzipped another bag and pulled out four more dresses and shook her head, making atsk tsk tsksound. “These are even worse!”
I had no idea what she was talking about, each seemed more stunning than the last.
She held up a black Valentinococktail dress. “Does the man think you are entering a convent?”
