Page 22 of Sins of the Son

As we checked the tourists in, I watched familiar faces from the village trudge past with their patched-up baskets and sharpened clippers. Cavalieri villagers still clung to the old ways. During harvest time, even the schools closed for the two to three days it took to bring all the Montepulciano grapes in. While some wineries had switched to more modern machinery for their harvests, the Cavalieris still insisted on hand harvesting. It was the only thing I admired about the family. Tradition still meant something to them. Harvest time wasn’t just about them. It meant extra money for the village as well. From the workers who came to help, to the shops, to the extra tourism. If they switched to wretched machines, the mystique of ancient times would be gone and so would all that extra revenue.

After we had handed out the last of the leather work gloves and I had advised the tourists for the hundredth time to keep hydrated and not underestimate the power of the October Italian sun, I stretched my arms over my head and hazarded a quick glance over at my guard. He was lazing in a chair nearby with a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his beefy fingertips.

The moment he realized we were finished, he stubbed out his cigarette and rose.

Che due coglioni. Just my luck to get the one motivated guard dog.

I wrapped my arm around my middle and moaned loudly as I gestured toward Amara. “I think I’m getting my period!”

Amara wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Oh no, is it bad? You should come inside the villa.”

We both peeked at the guard as we took a few steps. He was following us with intent.

I moaned again. “Dio santo! Yes, I can tell it’s very bloody!”

We peeked again. The guard grimaced and hesitated.

Amara nodded toward him. “You should wait here. She will need some privacy. We’ll just be inside.”

We hastened our steps. As we reached the shaded entrance to the villa, I let out another exaggerated moan for good effect. As we crossed the threshold, we raced over the smooth terracotta tiles to the nearest bathroom. We both went inside, and Amara closed and locked the door. Since the villa was massive and built for entertainment, this was one of the larger guest bathrooms meant for the women. It had an antechamber with three gold sinks set in pink marble, and beyond that, a small lounge containing white, tufted ottomans and two vanity tables with a selection of expensive perfumes, powders, and toiletries. If I weren’t in such a predicament, I would have delighted in shoving at least one or two of the nicer bottles in my pocket.

I turned on the water taps to full blast just in case and then followed Amara into the lounge. We sat close to one another on one of the plush, circular ottomans.

She clasped my hands. “I was worried about you last night. I saw you and Cesare both leave the bonfire early. Did you two finally have it out?”

I hated the furious blush that stained my cheeks, wishing I still had long hair to hide behind. I tapped my foot as I rolled my eyes. “You could say that.”

“Well, I saw him in the fields earlier, so at least you didn’t kill him. That's… something.”

I buried my face in my hands as I bent over to lay my head in my lap. “I had sex with him.”

There was a moment of stunned silence. All I could hear was my own hot breath exhaling over my palms.

Finally, Amara spoke. “I don’t think I heard you correctly. What did you just say?”

I groaned and repeated, “Iah ehh ex it em.” My words muffled against my hands.

Amara slid to her knees in front of me and pulled my hands away from my face. “You had sex with Cesare?”

I nodded.

“Cesare Cavalieri?”

I nodded again.

“The man you swore you’d rather be dipped in honey, rolled in bees, and then tossed over a cliff than spend one moment in his presence? That Cesare Cavalieri?”

I got up and paced the small confines of the bathroom. “This is a disaster.”

“What happened? Did you know it was him when you were doing it? I mean, you know, it was dark….”

I shook my hands out in front of me. “Yes… of course! Fuck!”

Amara stood and caught at my flailing hands. “It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out. Together.”

I ripped my hands away from hers, turned, and paced away before pivoting to face her. “No, Amara. It will not be okay. Nothing is okay. Don’t you see what they are doing? Don’t you see what is happening?”

She frowned. “You’re just upset. I get it. If he’s anything like Barone, sex is a bit overwhelming. You saw me after I had sex with Barone for the first time. I literally ran away!”

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