Chapter Twenty-One

Carlos and his men show up at the mansion just as it's getting dark.

I sent out cars to fetch them from the airstrip, and instructed my drivers to shower them with champagne and good service. I wanted them in a good mood when they arrived, and from the laughter I can hear at the door, the plan worked perfectly.

Tonight has to go well. It's essential to the overall success of this deal. Our customers are already looking forward to buying more of the good stuff, and if we don't deliver, we'll lose them to other families—like the goddamn Morellis.

"Ah, Baldini! Your house is bigger than your attitude!" Carlos' voice booms through the front entrance of the house, and I go to shake his hand.

"Welcome, to my humble abode. Thank you for coming out. I hope to show you all just how wonderful the States can be." I greet the ladies behind Carlos, and the rest of his men.

Enzo and Grazia come through as well, greeting the whole party and showing everyone their rooms. Enzo hasn't brought his family with him, and I take that as a sign he won't be staying long, which is fine with me.

Grazia asks the wives if they'd like to see the garden, and I smile at her as a thank-you. We're still barely talking, but my siblings know how important this deal is, and in our house, business comes before any sort of argument.

I haven't seen Emelia yet, not since we spoke in my office, and I'm hoping that my words haven't sent her running back home. As angry as I am with her, I'm also well aware that I need her to be here for this deal.

"Gentlemen, will you follow me?" I lead the way to my office. It's best to get this out of the way as soon as we can, then I can be sure that nothing will ruin it.

The men all follow me, admiring my grandmother's decorating skills. How could they not, the red, gold, and woods in this mansion highlight classic Italian elegance. They make a few jokes about the family portraits that show me as a child, and I laugh with them.

I'm glad they've arrived in good moods. I probably pushed my luck with how I insisted that they come to me instead of me going there again, but it looks like it's all ended up just fine.

We enter the office and Carlos whistles, looking around at the limited-edition books lining the walls, the rare antique furniture matching my desk, and the high-tech computers that my brother and I added to the room.

This is one of our most-used rooms, so we've made sure that it's a comfortable place to spend our time. And the opulence comes in handy when we're impressing business associates—just like now.

The office is really mine; Enzo has his own at his home, and at his club. But when he"s here at the family mansion he finds solace in the space too.

When I told him that the Mexicans were coming here, he was impressed that I managed to sway them to do so. But he was adamant that he'd be here so that we could show up as a family, and together ensure that they have a good time.

"Luca, where is that lovely lady of yours?" Carlos asks, and I know he means Emelia. I wonder the exact same thing, but then there's a soft knock on the door and Emelia peeks her head around the door.

"Sorry I'm late, mi amor." She smiles at me. Even when we had been close and what most people would call "together", she had never called me "mi amor ". In fact, we never used any pet names for each other. It was something I found to be juvenile. So I can tell she's laying it on thick for these men.

"I was just freshening up and I thought I could hear familiar voices." She comes in and greets the men one by one, and I see them yet again eyeing her body, her dress showing off almost every delicious piece of her flesh.

I feel a rush of jealousy as I watch them watch her. Reminding myself that she's not really my woman, and there's no need to be jealous, I smile at the men as they each wink at me.

Emelia comes to stand next to me at my desk once she's done her welcome rounds through the room. I smile to let her know she's doing fine, and then lean in and kiss her lightly on the lips.

"Lovely for you to join us," I say to her, wrapping my arm around her waist to convince the men that this was as real as it gets.

"Right, Carlos, should we get the boring part out of the way so that we can celebrate?" I turn my attention to the men, bringing out the papers with all of the details. I notice half of them drooling over Emelia and I find myself gripping her a little tighter than I need to.

I promised to show the Mexicans exactly where we'd be keeping the drugs, and where they would be distributed, as well as providing the names and faces of my men on the streets.

We go through all of the details and I answer questions while Emelia pours each of the men a glass of whiskey—another step on my list that I gave her. I'm happy that she's decided to stick to the script and not fight me anymore on that.

As the negotiations with the associates come to an end, I lead Emelia and the men down the hall to the dining room, where I've arranged for a lavish spread set for a feast that rivals the opulence of any royal banquet.

Grazia has brought the wives to meet us in the room, and Enzo is already helping each lady into their seats. This is a family effort tonight.

The room is adorned with intricate decorations, and the table is a grand spectacle, which demands attention. We hardly ever have such fancy dinners in this room, besides Christmas. It's usually just lowkey family dinners for us, but I made sure that all the stops were pulled out for this evening.

This is the kind of event that Nonna would be proud of, although she might not approve of the private chef and team of waiters I've hired. She was more of a do-it yourself kind of lady when it came to the food. The Mexicans all look very impressed, though, and that was the main aim of tonight's game.

I pull out a chair for Emelia, and she smiles at me as she sits down. So far, we both seem to be doing just fine at sticking to the plan, but deep in my mind I worry that she might mistake any of my moves for genuine feelings.

The Mexicans settle into their seats, and the atmosphere shifts, transitioning from the cold, calculated discussions to a more relaxed, jovial mood. These men enjoy their lavish dinners, and they all like to drink.

Their wives are so excited to be on a trip out of their home country that this is a celebration for them, too. I've instructed the waiters to make sure that they never leave a glass empty for longer than a moment. My time in Mexico taught me that this was how you kept these guys happy, and I want them to be very, very happy.

I take a sip of my wine. "I hope the food meets your expectations," I say, a smile playing on my lips. They all nod appreciatively, Carlos especially, and any tension that might have been at the table when the meal started has completely dissipated. Emelia, by my side, plays her role flawlessly.

"Luca, my friend, you"ve outdone yourself," Pedro remarks, raising his glass in a toast. I reciprocate the gesture and everyone at the table follows suit, the crystal glasses clinking in a harmonious note. "It"s not often we find hosts as accommodating as you."

I chuckle, my eyes meeting Emelia"s green gaze for a brief moment. "It"s all about creating an atmosphere of trust, my friend. It ensures a smooth partnership, don"t you agree?"

The conversation flows, the topics broad, from friendly banter to serious discussion about the new shipment and how well it has been received. I keep a watchful eye on Emelia, and any conversation she might be having with those at the table.

Things are going well, though, and I see smiles on all of the important faces. I catch Grazia glancing over at Emelia every now and then, and I get death stares from her every time I touch Emelia, but I have explained to her that this is an important night, and she keeps her opinions to herself.

As the plates are cleared, I guide the conversation to a more casual tone. "Let"s not allow business to overshadow the pleasures of the evening," I suggest, gesturing to the waiter to pour another round of whiskey. All of the men nod in agreement, downing their drinks happily, the atmosphere loose and chatty.

As the night wears on, each of the men and their wives bid their goodnights. I wait until it's just Carlos and his wife left, and then escort Emelia up the stairs and away from Carlos" eyes.

Once I know we're out of sight, I let go of her, but continue to walk beside her. I stop outside her room, for a moment wanting to join her, but I can't let my own weakness ruin everything I've put together in the last few weeks.

There's too much at stake, and I have too much to figure out, if I really need someone to fuck, there are plenty of girls that I can find in my brother's club. Emelia brings too much baggage to the situation.

"Buona notte, Emelia," I say. She returns the sentiment, and as the door clicks shut, I"m left alone with my thoughts again.

I go to my own room, happy with the way tonight has gone, but still tortured by the way things are with Emelia. I still have Nonna's ring packed away in my cupboard, clean and shiny, just waiting to be put to use.

Seeing Emelia with the Mexicans tonight reminded me of why I had been so sure just a few days ago that she'd make the perfect wife. She is so good at reading a room and ensuring that everyone around her is having a good time.

Plus, the way she directs the conversation to keep things light and cheerful is a skill that comes in handy when you're dealing with crime lords who have had too much whiskey.

If only she had been more honest, if only it didn't feel like she used my dead grandmother as an excuse to get close to me. If only I didn't have this nagging feeling that she had known she would get pregnant, and had used it as a way to tie me down.

I close my eyes, needing this day to end and tomorrow to come and be done as soon as possible. Having Emelia in the room right next to me, while pretending that she is the love of my life, is confusing my feelings.