Page 15 of No Escape

I paced the room, nervously twisting my engagement ring around my finger. The band was an antique gold setting with two entwining hands that met at a circle of white diamonds. A gorgeous blue diamond nestled in the center of the circle, winking and sparkling whenever it caught the light. It had belonged to Slash’s beloved nonna, and she’d gifted it to him to give to me. Nonna and I had an interesting history that involved odorous perfume, a haughty cat, and the best food I’d ever eaten in my life. Somehow, despite language and geographic boundaries, we’d become pretty good friends. Her ring was the perfect one for me—small and unpretentious, but still beautiful and unique. I rarely wore jewelry, but I loved that ring more than I could say.

After Slash left the bathroom to get dressed, I went in to put on makeup, just enough to find the sweet spot where my comfort equaled the minimum of socially acceptable expectations. I brushed my thick brown hair until it shone and left it long. I realized it hadn’t been cut in a while, and it was longer than I’d had it in ages. Given all that had been going on in my life lately, there hadn’t been an opportunity to get it cut. Plus, haircuts were not at the top of my list of favorite things to do. I didn’t like being touched or handled by strangers, so I had to get myself mentally prepared every time. It was exhausting.

I came out of the bathroom just as Slash was putting on his suit jacket. He straightened his tie and turned toward me, holding out his arms. “What do you think?”

He looked handsome and smelled even better, so I walked up to him, winding my arms around his waist. “You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met, but don’t let that go to your head.” My words muffled against his chest.

He hugged me and chuckled, the sound rumbling in my ear. “And you’re the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever known,” he murmured, stroking my hair. “Despite your concerns, I’m looking forward to introducing you to my parents.”

“I guess there’s no backing out now…right?” I looked up, half hoping he would have some magic excuse that would provide me with an escape. Unfortunately, he didn’t.

He glanced at his smart watch, then kissed the top of my head. “It’s showtime. Are you ready?”

“Emotionally, no. Intellectually, maybe. But it’s one of those things I have to get through, right?”

“Si.” He put his fingers in my hair and lowered his mouth to mine, murmuring, “But you’ve got this.” His lips were soft and sank into mine, touching, tasting as if it weren’t enough. After a minute, he pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. He was breathing fast, and so was I, for that matter.

“I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he said. “It’s magic.”

“It’s biology,” I corrected him.

“Not all of it.” His brown eyes lit with amusement as he kissed me one more time, his mouth lingering near mine. “We’d better go or we’ll never leave this room.”

I was totally okay with that scenario, but it had to be done. I left his embrace and picked up my purse, trying to steady my nerves. “Guess I’m prepared as I can be. I’ve got you, my spreadsheet, and the app on my phone to get me through this. Let’s do it.”

Slash smiled and held out his elbow. I slipped my arm through his with a deep breath. “I just hope everything goes right for once. Is that too much to ask?”

* * *

We knocked on both of our parents’ doors before heading downstairs, just in case we caught them before they’d left for dinner. Neither couple answered.

“Are we late?” I asked, clutching my sweater tighter as we walked down the sconce-lighted hallway.

“We’re not,” Slash said calmly. “It’s not quite seven. It’s likely that everyone went down a little early to enjoy a cocktail or two. I figured you needed the extra downtime and early cocktails was something you wouldn’t want to do.”

“You’re right, as always.”

We walked down the curving marble stairs instead of using the elevator. Lorenzo waited in the foyer. He’d changed out of his gray trench coat and looked quite dapper in a black suit and red bow tie. “Good evening,” he said. “I hope your accommodations are adequate and you had sufficient time to rest and recharge.”

“The room is beautiful,” I said. “And we haven’t even used the fireplace…yet.”

“We’re quite comfortable,” Slash agreed. “Mille grazie.”

Lorenzo stretched out a hand to the right. “The dining room is that way. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are being served right now.”

Slash patted my hand as we walked in the direction he had pointed. “Courage,” he murmured.

As we got closer, the murmur of voices and laughter wafted down the hallway. Slash paused just outside the doorway so we could get a glimpse inside the glittering dining room before entering.

I had to blink twice because everything was so bright. A huge crystal chandelier hung over an enormous rectangular table set with gleaming dishes and silverware. Dozens of red and white candles formed a line down the middle of the table, causing the glassware and settings to sparkle wildly. Classical Christmas music played softly from artfully hidden speakers, and a roaring fire blazed in a huge white marble fireplace over which rested an exquisitely carved mantel. Above the mantel hung a gigantic portrait of a handsome man with long dark hair, a full beard, and dark, piercing eyes. It was everything I’d imagined an Italian castle dining room would look like—not that I’d thought a lot about it.

“That’s Zachetti in the portrait, I presume,” Slash said.

Whoever he was, he looked kind of intense. “I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.”

Slash didn’t have a chance to respond, because his younger brother, Giorgio, the groom of the upcoming wedding, spotted us.

“Romeo,” he shouted before he bounded over to Slash, giving him a hug complete with heavy backslapping and cheek kissing. Slash had many names and aliases, but his family called him Romeo.

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