Page 59 of Christmas with the Mafia
He turns his attention to me and says in his husky tone, “Well played, Nico. I must congratulate you on your cunning.”
Regina’s smile dips as she realizes he knows me only too well, and I shrug, tugging her back against me. “I’ll take that as a compliment. What about you? You should start planning your escape because the sword may be pointing in your direction now?”
I relish the light dimming in his eyes as he faces the reality we all know is coming.
“Perhaps I will walk the same road as you. You should tell me your secret.”
“My secret is to always be one step ahead of the game, dear brother, and to plan for every eventuality.”
Regina glances between us with a frown, and as we turn toward the living room, the easy atmosphere has departed as we prepare to face the one man controlling all our destinies, whether we like it or not.
Twenty-Nine
REGINA
Joseph Ravera isas complicated as his brothers, the dark, impossibly handsome looks betraying a heart filled with contempt. There is no brotherly enthusiasm, merely cool indifference, and I pity them for that.
As we head into the living room, my mind switches to the sight before me, and it takes all of my effort not to drop my jaw in astonishment.
Like the smaller living room we visited earlier, this one is impressive but on a much grander scale.
There are several lit trees dotted around the huge space and not one fireplace but two at either end, groaning under the weight of red lit garlands of poinsettias on their mantels.
Huge tapestries hang proudly on gilded white walls, and several chandeliers twinkle overhead. The room is warm and welcoming courtesy of the fires burning brightly, and the couches dotted around the room are more formal, low-slung tables to the side of them, huge ornate rugs at intervals around the room, laid on a porcelain floor.
I am overwhelmed with this house and never really believed people lived like this. I can only imagine how successful you must be to afford such a fine standard of living.
Nico’s parents are already here and stand when we enter the room, along with his brother Julius and the last one I haven’t met yet. He watches me with all the cunning of a predator, and something like apprehension prickles through me as his gaze connects with mine. In fact, seeing them all here together is an experience unlike any other. Nico is surrounded by a dark aura, and his brothers are no exception. His father is the scariest one of all, and I can only imagine how his mother must feel. It’s a little intense, and as we head into the room, her warm smile is most welcome.
She beckons me to join her on the couch by the fire, and as I settle in between her and her husband; I edge more toward her than him. Nico sits opposite with two of his brothers on either side and the other one, Julius, sits in an easy chair, a glass of what appears to be whiskey in his hand.
“Nico, fetch Regina a drink.”
His mom says kindly, and he nods, heading toward a drinks cabinet on the far side of the room. I notice his brother Joseph head over to join him, and they speak in a low murmur as their father stares at his other brothers in silence.
It’s awkward as fuck, and as the flames dance in the fireplace, I cough nervously. “You are so lucky to have a large family who wants to spend time together.”
I catch the amusement in Simeon’s eyes as Sophia says softly, “We are blessed with our family, Regina. Tell us about yours.”
“Do I have to?” I groan and say quickly, “My parents are currently skiing in the Alps. Swiss, that is. They travel most of the year and always have.”
“That must be hard for you all.”
Sophia sounds sympathetic, and I shrug. “It’s no different. When I was growing up, they were never around. I was packed off to boarding school and joined them on the holidays wherever they happened to be.”
“What does your father do for a living?” She sounds interested.
“He doesn’t work; he merely follows Mom around.”
“Interesting.”
Sophia is probably the only one who thinks so, judging by the bored expressions on the faces of Nico’s brothers.
“Mom lives off her inheritance—she always has.”
“Inheritance?”
Nico’s father speaks for the first time, and I turn to him and smile. “My grandparents were extremely rich, courtesy of my grandfather being high up in the stock exchange. He earned a lot of money in a short space of time and invested it wisely. He died fairly young of a heart attack, and my grandmother took the opportunity to marry again. His best friend, actually.”
