Page 61 of Mafia King: Matteo
The waitress clears the dishes and disappears without a word.
I hope Federico is friendly.
“Is everyone afraid of you?”
“No. Why?”
“You have a presence about you that speaks more than words.”
“It may be that I’ve had to handle myself from an early age.”
“Do you have a big family back home?” He’s from Sicily, and most of his family will probably still reside there.
“Yes, and you’ll love them. I’m the oldest. Then there are my younger brothers, Niccoló, Renalto, and Pietro. The baby is my sister, Bianca. My mother died at her birth.”
“I’m so sorry. That had to be tough.”
“It was. It made me tough. I don’t know what I would do today if things were different. My father built and ran this empire. I imagine I had no choice but to follow in the family business. I learned quickly.”
“Of course, you were all over my dad’s dirty deal. I don’t think anyone gets the better of you.”
“Touché.” His perfect lips curl into a shallow smile. Far be it from him to let anyone know he’s happy.
“Me? I don’t know about that. I’m not savvy with games or politics. I love to decorate. It makes me happy. I like being creative.”
Our food arrives, and it smells divine. He ordered Fra Diavolo for me and Fettuccini Alfredo with seafood for himself.
“The extra plates are for us to share if you like,” he floats the invitation to me.
“Of course, I can’t eat all of this. This place is amazing.” I put some of my pasta on a plate and slid it toward him.
“It is. I hope you’ll conclude it’s the best Italian food you’ve ever eaten. I will have to take you to Sicily one day. The pasta here is homemade. My grandmother back home still makes it fresh daily.”
I wondered how he knew I’d never been anywhere foreign except London, and I reminded myself that he knew everything about me. He probably knows what my favorite color of underwear is. I wonder if anything escapes his intense and intriguing mind.
He slides a plate of his food to me. We dip Italian bread in olive oil. I nibble at the bread before I twirl pasta on my fork.
“How old is your sister?” I ask.
“She’s twenty and going to college in Switzerland.”
“Do you like having a large family?”
“I can’t imagine my life without them. We’re very close. So, our wedding will encompass many invites and all the main players, councilmen, and congressmen.”
“We can’t elope?”
“Don’t you want a big wedding?”
“Most women dream of it, but I’m fine with something small.”
“I will indulge you when I can, but this is a show of power and the merging of two houses. I need to meet Alexsei Sidovo and make sure there are no hard feelings. I didn’t come to him first. He might feel slighted that I didn’t. I’ll tell him that we fell in love at first sight and that I didn’t want to wait.”
“To cover for my dad,” I murmur.
“Yes, I have more to share with you, but not publicly. The walls have ears.”
“Right.”
