Page 84 of Fight Me Little Pearl

“It’s Federico,” he says looking at his phone screen.

“I’ll get it,” I say, jumping up and walking towards the door.

“Don’t.” He is scowling blackly.

It stops my tracks. “Are you going to open the door?”

“No.” Vance stares at me with stone-cold eyes.

“What?” I feel quite confused. “That’s Valentino’s cousin.”

“He does not need to be here. The Boss isn’t here, and he knows it.”

“You guys are all crazy,” I mutter before heading towards the door. Vance is suddenly in front of me, blocking my path. It’s the closest he’s ever come to me since I’ve been with Valentino.

“Don’t open the door.” His words are like an order, and instantly, I balk against it. Around us, the doorbell is still ringing nonstop.

“How are you going to stop me?” I ask, before pushing past him.

I know he won’t touch me, and I’m right. When I reach the door, I pull it open, an apologetic smile on my face. From the first moment I met Federico and his brothers at the airport on my first trip to Venice, we hit it off instantly. We’ve not had a moment to connect since then, and now that Valentino is not here to glare at him, maybe we can be friends.

“Hiya.”

“Francesca,” Federico laughs. “How are you?”

“Come on in,” I invite warmly.

Without Valentino around he seems a little more relaxed and I’m happy about it.

“I’m fine. What about you? Everything alright?” he asks, glancing around him.

“I can’t complain.” He walks into the house and seems slightly taken aback to see Vance’s forbidding and clearly disapproving figure, but he nods politely at him. “Vance.”

“Federico.”

“I’m having grilled cheese on toast and tomato soup. Would you like some?” I ask Federico, walking towards the dining table. I hate eating alone and I’d asked Vance earlier, but he courteously but categorically refused.

“Sure.” Federico follows me to the table and sits across from me.

“Please help yourself.” I gesture to the simple food on the table.

“Hmm… American food,” he mutters under his breath as he gingerly places one slice of toast on his plate. He looks at it as if it could suddenly jump up and bite him.

“Would you prefer some pasta?” I ask, amused.

“No, no, this is good. Um… thank you for making Valentino go to Matteo.”

“I didn’t make him do anything.” From the corner of my eyes, I see Vance drift closer to us. It’s obvious that he doesn’t like Federico and I wonder why. “You know he only does what he wants to do.”

“That may be true,” Federico says, taking a bite of his toast. “But you do have some influence over him.”

“Can I join you too, La Signora Barone?” Vance asks.

I know he’s only doing it to eavesdrop on my conversation with Federico, but I play the game and smile at him. “Sure. Join us.”

He takes a seat two chairs away from me facing Federico and stares pointedly at him, but Federico doesn’t pay him any attention.

“Would you like to go out for a drink later?” Federico says to me. “You must be bored out of your mind alone in this house.”

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