I agreed, and we left together. We talked as we walked, but in the back of my mind, I’d put together what Corvo hadn’t said but had implied.

He was going to have a talk with Roma about what I wanted her for, which he’d said. He was going to plant a seed of doubt inside of her head, which I inferred.

He was going to try to turn my better half against me.

Chapter30

Roma

“Piazza della Signoria,” Elsa said in awe, looking around. “I think the piazzas are some of my favorite places to be in Italy.”

“Wait.” Lexi adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “I thought Lolita said this was Palazzo Vecchio?”

Elsa explained it was also known as Palazzo Vecchio, and in true Elsa style, she dove into the deep history of it. It was one of the most important squares in Florence, she said. She went on about the Uffizi Gallery and how it had been designed for Cosimo I de' Medici, who had been the Grand Duke of Tuscany in the 1500s.

We visited the impressive statues, Elsa giving us the history on each one.

She told us all about the excavated ruins underneath the palazzo, which revealed a lot about the Roman and Bronze eras, even a theater.

She animatedly went on about the bonfires of the vanities, where art, books, music, sculptures, etc. were burned for being sinful. There was a plaque for the man who instigated it, who received the same fate.

I knew all this already, but Elsa became alive for the past. It had been a long time since I’d seen her let go this much and enjoy life without being reminded of her responsibilities back home.

It was kind of odd because I had no idea where it came from. The sudden change. It made me wonder if something with her situation had changed, and she hadn’t told me. I held out for it, even made subtle comments, but she didn’t seem to be in a sharing mood unless it had to do with the history of the piazza.

We went to the Gucci Museum next and then decided on lunch. We chose a place with al fresco dining, and right as we sat, Babbo walked up. He greeted everyone and asked if he could speak to me alone.

I had no idea what about, and it put me on edge. But Felice hadn’t been in contact with me since we arrived in Italy. And none of my sisters saw Felice on the plane. So, it couldn’t have been about that.

Unless…he was about to ask me for a date to announce my engagement to Jack? Lo was getting married in just three days. Maybe he wanted to hash out the date now and announce it after her wedding, while we were in Italy. We had a lot of family here.

He offered me his arm and I took it. We strolled along the piazza, the conversation easy. When we stopped in front of a bakery, my stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten since earlier, I’d done a lot of walking, and I was anxious. I knew he hadn’t asked me to take a walk with him to find out if I was having fun. I always had fun in Italy.

“Roma,” he said, his accent heavier since we’d arrived. “We need to speak about Felice Maggio.”

“What about him?”

“He is a handsome man, but he is not a good man. He has wanted me dead since I did not take care of his father. Tommaso has stopped him all these years.”

“Why didn’t you? Take care of his father?”

“Tommaso ordered me not to.”

“Why?” I breathed.

“I do not like to concern you with these things, but I feel you need to know the truth. Salvatore Maggio, John’s father, was having an affair with another man’s wife. This is not allowed by their laws. Tommaso found out right before Salvatore had the heart attack. Put yourself in Tommaso’s shoes.”

“But you’re a doctor,” I said. “Why would it matter what Tommaso orders you to do?”

“I worked for them from time to time. This means, we do not always do what we want, but what we’re told to do.”

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying, you are engaged to Jack Maggio. Do not only forget about John. Run from him. I am not sure what he has told you, but his intentions are not true. He’s out to hurt me through you. He will use you to get back at Alfonso and Jack as well. There is bad blood there. It is a dangerous game, my darling girl. You will only get hurt.”

I had no idea how to respond to that. I remembered Corinna’s face when she found out who my father was. I remembered how satisfied Nonna Silvia sounded when she told Felice to hit Alfonso and Jack where it hurt, their pride. I also remembered Felice saying whatever went on between him and my father was between them.

“You don’t know him,” I whispered. “He’s not—”