Novel-novel oleh Redwing

Arianna POV: We stopped for lunch at a little bistro, much like back in America they were heavily involved in helping businesses in their town. The owner came out and greeted Giovanni and Luca, snapping his fingers to get us a better table and the finest wine they had. I rolled my eyes as Gio winked and pulled out my chair for me, he knew damn well it wasn’t his connections that made me interested in him. Once again, the blonde from the store flashed into my mind. Did he, though? She was fawning over him so intently, praising him a cooing his name. I had never been a woman to constantly stroke her man's ego. I shook my head, removing the thought from my mind. No, I won’t do this. He’s taken me home to his family, he’s showing me the place he grew up. I won’t begin second-guessing now, not when we’ve faced demons together. As if reading my mind, he held my hand as if it was second nature, kissing it before answering a question Luca had asked him. He explained to me his favorites on

Arianna POV: “Let me take you out today to show you the town.” he grinned as we went downstairs to breakfast. I nodded happily at the thought of running around town with him, seeing everywhere he grew up. The places that he hung around as a child with Luca and his brother. I wanted to see the town that helped him grow into who he is, all the little memories dotted around shops and cafes. “Gio?” his mother called. “You going out?” she pouted for a moment before walking into the kitchen and then handing him a list. “Get me this, please.” She kissed the top of his head and patting his shoulder She patted the empty seat next to Giovanni for me to sit in, “Come on dear, I’ve got fresh fruit and pastries,” she gestured to the pile of breads on the table. “Mama, who is going to eat all of this?” he asked, going over the list. She scoffed and turned to him. “You and Luca have emptied my pantry before. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re capable of get me my food,” SHe scolded him, wav

Giovanni POV: I felt horrible the way she was sitting back in her chair, absentmindedly smiling as she looked around the room. My mother guided her up to my old room for me while we sat there finishing the meal. She followed a long like a child dead to the world around her. I thought once she knew we were going somewhere safe she’d relax, but it seemed meeting my family was very important to her. I tried not to grin at the thought that she cared that much for me. My mood soured though as I watched her leave and then turned to my father, he stared at me with a discerning look. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew that would only antagonize him. I was sure he’d tell me what was wrong with her soon enough, and I would ignore all of it. If he knew anything he would know there was no turning back for me, I had damned myself in his name to avenge my brother, now that an angel has swopped in to save me he is upset. “She's beautiful,” He commented. I didn’t say a word in response, waitin

Arianna POV: His father rose from his seat and set down his paper, I could see what his mother meant; they were similar. He had the same wide shoulders and strong jaw Giovanni had and the same nose, but Giovanni’s eyes were his mother's. If I wanted to see what he looked like thirty years later, it was at the other end of the table, salt and pepper hair, some wrinkles here and there, but still strong. The two men stood at opposite ends of the room like monoliths, refusing to bow to the other. One wanting the respect he’d earned, the other the respect he’d deserved, I sighed softly to myself. It wasn’t just looks that they were identical on; I stepped down the stairs and past Giovanni. “SIgnore Risci, thank you for welcoming me into you, especially given the circumstances,” I walked over holding out my hand. His father cocked his head to the side as he considered me for a moment, taking my hand and kissing it. “Oh, I see why my son has overlooked your past.” He looked at Giovanni,

Arianna POV: I didn’t find a wink of sleep the whole flight, my mind racing with the possibilities. I had never met the parents before, let alone a whole family. Even if I had I knew in my bones it wouldn’t be the same as it was now, my heart would flutter, my mind wouldn’t race, my palms wouldn’t be slick. Luca and Giovanni were both asleep, heads slunk to the side in the same manner. I wondered if Giovanni’s brother had done the same. I wondered if he looked more like his father or his mother, who he acted more like. I wondered if his family would begrudge me mine or if they understood my past. I was even more on edge by the time we got off the plane as I was sure I looked a mess, from the bitter cold of an east coast winter we stepped into the cool warmth of the mediterranean. I felt as if I dragged in the sludge and sleet with me, my eyes looking more akin to a racoons and less human. The one bright spot waited for me as we stepped down from our flight. “Arianna!” Becca excla

Arianna POV: It didn’t feel real; it felt like some wild fantasy I had found myself in. I watched on the news as they carted him out of our house and into the cop cars, a dark expression casting over his face. Then at the arraignment, I sat in the back so he couldn’t see me, like I was five hiding behind my mother's leg, but still. The judge set no bail, for fear he’d run off, the power of a federal judge and not one of the county guys, that we all knew my father had in his pocket. He was being held without bail until his trial. The judge seemed to be unbiased; still, I warned myself I told myself not to think it, but I felt like we had a chance of putting him away. I felt as if I thought it, it would flitter away and vanish. He had never been caught before, my father had been on trial a total of six times, and not once had they been able to put him in jail. He had the best lawyers, he had donated to the judge's campaigns, and he knew their families. Not once did they even come clos