“You’ll be out before dinner or I will have you removed.” I walked into the hall and closed the door behind me.
Evelyn met me at the bottom of the stairs. Judging from her expression, she’d heard at least some of the argument. Hell, they’d probably heard it in Palermo.
“Not now, Ma, please.”
“Yes now, and you don’t speak to your mother in that tone.” She motioned to the sofa.
I considered leaving the villa and returning to the States, but it’d do no good. They’d likely follow me. Here, at least, I had my brothers to help run interference. I sank into the couch. “Sorry. It’s been a rough day.”
“So I heard. She’s right, you know. You’ve been acting like an ass since the girl arrived.”
“There’s nothing going on between me and Shanna.”
Evelyn pinched the back of my arm hard enough to bruise. “What was that for?”
“I saw you two slip away the night of the gala. I see the way she looks at you. Either you’re stupid or blind or both. I raised you better than this. You have a good Sicilian girl, a good Catholic girl, who loves you. What do you do? Go off with the little tart and break Nicolina’s heart.” Evelyn did the sign of the cross and walked into the kitchen. “You are driving your mother to drink.”
“Ma, come on. Nicolina and I would kill each other if we were married.”
She held up a bottle of whiskey to make sure I saw what she’d poured. “That is passion. It means lots of babies.”
“It’s not passion, and I don’t want babies.”
Evelyn knocked back the whiskey and refilled her glass. “No man wants babies until they come, and then he loves them. Look at your brother Joe.” As soon as she said his name, she crossed herself, kissed her fingers, and held them to heaven. “Look at Gabriel and that sweet angel Ella. Do you think he regrets being her father?”
“I bet he regrets screwing her crazy mother.” I dodged the shot glass. “What is it with women throwing shit at me today?”
“Cursing at your mother? You better go to confession.” She hung her head and started to cry.
I’d seen this routine before. Like Nico, Evelyn could call up tears when needed and wield them like weapons. I hoisted myself up and walked to her. She held out her hands and shook her head, but I drew her close and kissed her brow. “I’m sorry.”
“Your father is dying. He just wants to see you boys married and happy.”
“I know, Ma. I know.”