Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
“I suggested that we could vacation at the Great Lakes together this July.”
My chest tightened. “And?” I tried to keep my expression neutral, even if it was useless. Val knew that Ines’ refusal to talk to me bothered me deeply.
Val touched my chest. “She agreed. But she suggested the Mione’s family lodge in Barron County.”
“Good.”
“Yeah.”
As usual, Val’s warm smile set me at ease like few things in this world could.
Pietro, Ines, Samuel, and Sofia had arrived two days ago in the Mione vacation home and had already settled in. Pietro’s Range Rover parked in front of the two-floor timber lodge. I hadn’t seen Ines in seven months, and I couldn’t deny that I felt a hint of apprehension about our first encounter. Leonas and Anna jumped out of the Mercedes the moment we stopped; Anna to dash toward the house and Leonas down to the jetty leading into the lake. Val laughed then awkwardly pushed herself out of the seat, cradling her belly and tilting her head up to meet the sun. I pressed my palm into her lower back, then gave our bodyguards a curt nod. They could settle into the guard house nearby.
“Leonas! Say hi first,” Val called. Leonas dragged himself away from the water with obvious reluctance and ran back to us. He stormed past us and through the front door which Anna had left open. “Just witnessing his energy gives me backlash,” Val said with a laugh. “I hope Beatrice is a calm kid. We’re not getting any younger.”
Hearing Val say our unborn daughter’s name filled me with calm and joy. It had from the first moment we’d decided on it.
She who makes happy was the meaning of the name. It couldn’t have been more fitting. She came into our life when everything was in shambles and we seemed to have come to an impasse and showed us that the future still held many wonders and opportunities.
“You’re young,” I said, stroking her back.
Val gave me an amused look. Then her expression became tight as we entered the lodge and followed the voices into the vast living area with the floor-to-ceiling windows sandwiching a fireplace between them and with a majestic view over the lake. It was too warm outside for a fire though.
Anna and Sofia huddled together on the sofa, talking animatedly, and Leonas showed his new Swiss knife to Samuel. Pietro had his arm wrapped around Ines. My sister had lost weight. Her eyes met mine.
She peered up at Pietro who rubbed her upper arm in encouragement. Ines walked over to us. She smiled at Val and touched her belly. “My God, you’re already so big.”
“I know!” Val said then pulled Ines into an embrace.
I went over to Pietro and shook his hand then Samuel’s. “She’s forgiven you,” he said quietly.
I glanced back at Val and Ines. “Because of the wedding?”
The wedding between Remo Falcone and Serafina a couple of months ago had been the scandal of the year.
“She had already forgiven you before that, but the Cavallaro pride kept her from admitting it,” Pietro said.
Ines looked my way and for a moment neither of us moved. In the past it had always been Ines who’d made the first move, getting over her pride more easily than I did, but this time I walked over to her. Val stepped back and greeted Pietro and Samuel.
“Ines,” I said quietly. “I’m glad you agreed for our families to spend our vacation together.”
Ines rolled her eyes. “Don’t sound so official, as if we’re distant acquaintances.”
“In the last few months we were hardly more than distant acquaintances,” I said.
She nodded. “I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m still mad at the situation, but not at you.”
I didn’t say anything. Ines stepped closer and hugged me. “I saw the photos. Fina looked so happy in them. I don’t understand. I never will.”
I touched her back. “Me neither.”
Samuel had taken a couple of photos while he’d attended the wedding. It had been a risky move, one he’d insisted on making. He’d been certain Remo’s feelings-whatever nature they were-would protect him, and they had. Samuel had returned unscathed and with interesting insights into the dynamics of the Falcone clan.
He’d stayed true to his word and not gone behind my back, even if I could guess how difficult it must have been for him to admit Fina had contacted him. Maybe he would have kept it a secret if Remo hadn’t reached out to him as well.
It was a mystery to me what went on in his twisted brain, and I didn’t waste time on it anymore. While war with the Famiglia and Camorra was still going strong, we all resorted to obligatory attacks on our delivery trucks or outposts-for the time being. It was a respite that wouldn’t last forever.
We all had something to lose. Wives, children.
Ines pulled back. “I’m happy for you and Val. I can’t wait to hold my niece in my arms.” She smiled bravely. “And what do I hear about you having political ambitions.”
“Not me. I’m not good at schmoozing others.”
“You prefer to give orders and have them obeyed.”
I tilted my head. “But we’re making efforts to establish bonds with the political elite.”
“It’s just another shark tank, isn’t it? Intrigue is their form of public torture.”
I smiled because Ines hit the nail on the head as usual.
“Dad, can Samuel show me how to shoot a crossbow?”