Page 26 of Sins of the Orchid
“Hi, Grandma,” I greeted. “Remember Santi?”
She raised her eyebrows, and her gaze narrowed on him. She was a petite woman, but everything about her was so regal that you couldn’t help but act with reverence. Though it didn’t seem to have the same impact on Santi. He eyed her with cold eyes, and I almost swore there was a challenge in his gaze.
“Vaguely,” she retorted. “You are Santiago Russo’s son, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I hope you are less trouble than your father was at your age.”
“Grandma!”
Santi’s lips curved into an almost cruel smile. “I can guarantee you I am more trouble than my father ever was.”
I chuckled, amused at his answer, but immediately stifled it when Grandmother’s gaze snapped to me.
“I knew your father and Amore’s father when they were both your age. They were enemies and here they are today, miracle of all miracles, working together.”
I wasn’t sure what she was hinting at, but I didn’t like it. She has always been against Dad, even when he tried to work with her. There was no need to keep egging him on, and she certainly shouldn’t be insulting the Russos.
“Don’t be rude, Nonna.”
Her eyebrows scrunched in distaste at the title, which I rarely ever used because she hated it. Her eyes, so similar to mine, locked on me, and I held her gaze. Then she smiled, like nothing had happened.
“Excellent,” she said and strode away.
I turned to Santi, who was looking after my grandmother, his brows furrowed in annoyance.
“Sorry about that,” I apologized on her behalf.
His eyes came back to me. “Don’t worry about it.” He didn’t seem worried but the crease between his brows remained. “What was that about?”
I shrugged. “She is like a major diva and sometimes just walks away. Or she was mad because I called herNonna. She hates that.”
“Huh?”
“I know, weird.”
“Kind of like you hate it when I call youkiddo?” A grin flashed on his face, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, kind of like that. You don’t have to be a pain in the ass, Santi, and rub it in.”
He winked, his beautiful lips curved into a half-smile, and then tucked his hands into his pockets. “You are safe now. Have fun on your trip, kiddo. I have to get going.”
I groaned out loud as his eyes danced mischievously. He knew exactly how to get to me.
“I won’t bring you a present back from Italy,” I retorted dryly as he entered the elevator.
Before he was blocked from my view, he flashed me another smile, and I realized that I had seen Santi smile more today than in the last three years.
CHAPTER7
Amore
TWO YEARS LATER
It was always the same when I went to the Russo’s.
It didn’t matter that I was just shy of eighteen and was way too old to be crushing on my best friend’s brother. But despite all my efforts, my fascination with Santi refused to ease. My heart fluttered each time I thought of him, he was the hero of all my dreams. I hadn’t seen him in months and could barely contain my excitement at a chance to have a glimpse of him.
