Page 59 of Forging Caine

Samantha would arrive at any minute, so the two of us could go for lunch and hopefully forget everything that was going to happen. At least for the few hours we had left before Jason would arrive at my condo.

When my feet hit the concrete floor, a little of the weight sitting on my chest released. This office was almost as much home as my parents’ house. From the time we moved to the States when I was fifteen, so long as I lived in Brenton, I worked here at least part-time. Cleaning brushes, sweeping floors, calibrating equipment. Before that, I did the same things at the studio in Roma.

As much as my father encouraged me to follow my passion with architecture restoration, it had always seemed a given I would work for the family company.

“Antonio!” My cousin Frank waved a hand in greeting from his worktable near the front of the room. The last time I’d seen him—my throat tightened—the last time I’d seen him, he was still in the hospital. Memories of his blood on my shirt flooded over me. Of the fear which had clutched my heart while I waited to find out if Samantha had survived the shooting.

I ground my teeth together, holding back the emotions. How dare Parker Johnson have a new lawyer? He deserved to rot in prison for what he did to Frank, Samantha’s friend at the climbing gym, and what he tried to do to the two of us.

We’re all fine and he’s in jail. Remember that.

I walked over to his table and gave him a hug.

Alice, his girlfriend and one of our other conservators, dropped a swab to the side of her work and came for her own hug. “Where’s Sam?”

“She’ll be here soon. We’re heading out for lunch.”

The clacking of stilettos against the floor reminded me how foolish I was to think I’d be able to get in and out quickly. My sister paused in the open space between the lobby and the studio, crossing her arms. “What exactly are you doing here today?”

“I’m here for the portable x-ray machine.”

“Why? I thought you two were leaving for three weeks? Because if you’re staying, then I can speed up a few projects.” Office manager, bookkeeper, professional pain in the ass.

I squeezed Frank’s arm, intentionally not looking at how he’d changed the part in his hair to hide the scar, and approached Sofia. Folding my arms right back at her, I frowned. “You know that letter you gave her on Friday?”

Sofia’s mock disapproval of everything I did faltered. “Yes?”

I dropped my act, as well, and pulled her close to kiss her cheek. Lying was not something I wanted to do, but there was no way I could tell her what was truly going on with Fiori. “Samantha figured out how to line up the onionskin sheets and she wants to do a little digging. I think she’s using it as a delay tactic.”

“Why would she delay going on vacation?”

I shrugged. “Sometimes, I don’t think I’ll ever understand that woman.”

“Good for her.” Sofia smacked my chest faster than I could get out of the way. “You need a woman who’ll keep you on your toes.” She patted the spot she’d hit. “In a good way, of course.”

Sofia had adored Samantha from the moment they met. My big sister had always advised me on how to handle women, rarely giving me advice I wanted to hear, but it was almost always right. Had it not been for Sofia’s meddling, Samantha and I never would’ve gotten together.

I wanted to confess about the engagement. The nervous energy consuming me since the first call from Fiori on Friday night battled with a new energy. An excited one from being this close to my sister and so close to telling her I was getting married.

As though the woman could read my mind, Sofia’s eyes narrowed. “You’re hiding something.”

“Never.” Fortunately, I had something to cover my deceit. “Cristian called me.”

Sofia threw her arms in the air and stomped back to her desk. “That son of a pig. What does he want now?”

Apparently, Papa agreeing to give Zio Giovanni a chance didn’t extend to my sister.

“You know they’re trying to change things? And they’re helping the authorities?”

“You mean they’re telling you they are?”

No, I mean the FBI has told me they are.More lies and secrets. “He said Cesca wants to enroll in a program here this summer, and I was thinking you might have room?”

Sofia’s eyes lit up, and all of her anger, whether real or exaggerated, vanished.

“I was not sure if it would work out with the boys and a teenage girl, but I know she’s normally surrounded by men every day, so maybe—”

“I always wanted a girl.” She leaned a hip against her immense desk and finally smiled. “There’s too much testosterone in my house. I’ll talk to Pietro about it.” Her smile turned wicked. “It’ll be worth it just to take her out of that miserable house with our uncle.”

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