Page 102 of Sins of the Son

I winced as everyone raised their voices and talked over one another.

Barone held up his hand.

The entire room immediately became silent.

Blessedly, perfectly, beautifully silent.

He grasped the metal bar at the end of my bed and stared down at me. His voice was gentle but firm. “Milana, I want you to answer me honestly. Were you pushed?”

I twisted the bedsheet between my fingers as I looked from Cesare’s strained and worried face to Amara’s concerned one, then back to Barone. I didn’t want to worry them, but I also knew this was too serious a matter to lie about. After swallowing past the dryness in my throat, I nodded. “I can’t be certain. I think I might have been. It’s all a bit fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure I remember a dark figure and the feeling of being shoved from behind. But I couldn’t tell you who it was.”

He exchanged a knowing look with Enzo and Cesare.

It was strange how the energy in the room immediately changed. It was like an ominous thundercloud had rolled down from the mountain to settle in over the valley. That was probably a pretty good analogy for what it was like when the Cavalieri gods descended from their mountaintop villa to punish the stupid humans for their behavior. If my head and body didn’t ache so much, I might have found it amusing.

Even Gabriella seemed subdued.

Barone straightened and rolled his shoulders back. “It’s settled then.”

Cesare moved closer to me. He brushed his knuckles over my cheek as he looked down at me with love tinged with worry. “Agreed.”

Enzo nodded as he uncrossed his arms and headed to the door. “I’ll see to the arrangements.”

Gabriella pulled out her mobile as she crossed the room to follow Enzo. “I’ll call Alfonso and let him know what is happening, so he can start preparations.”

Settled?

What the hell is settled?

I frowned as I looked at Amara to see if she understood what the hell was happening.

She met my gaze with equal confusion.

She turned to Barone. “Um, for those of us who aren’t Cavalieris, and who apparently cannot communicate telepathically, can you explain what just happened? What is settled?”

He gave her an indulgent smile as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. He then gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Yet.”

“What?”

“You’re not a Cavalieri… yet.”

Amara rolled her eyes. “Yet.”

“Brava ragazza. I will explain outside. I think Cesare and Milana would like a moment.”

Amara turned to me. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”

Cesare kept his gaze on me. “Thank you, Amara, but she won’t. She has me.”

Amara paused, but then smiled. She allowed Barone to lead her out of the room.

Cesare sat on the edge of the bed and reached over to smooth my hair back from my face.

I clasped his hand in mine. “So all that noise and chaos is what having a real family is like?”

He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. “Think you could get used to it?”

“I think so.”

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