Nonna walks toward us and I stiffen. Not that I am afraid of her, but I am definitely wary of her. Despite the fact that thest time we met, she seemed almost friendly. And of course, I am the Don’s wife now… But she’s the Don’s grandmother, so in that sense, she still has influence over my husband. Still, I know Michael’s too smart to let his grandmother manipte him into anything, but Nonna’s w-a-a-y too astute. It’s why I am not sure what to make of her yet.


    Michael wraps an arm around my waist, still keeping the lower part of his body hidden behind mine.


    “What are you doing?” I hiss. “Why don’t you walk forward and meet her?”


    “Because if I did that, everyone would know just how aroused I still am from kissing my wife.”


    “Oh.” Heat flushes my cheeks.


    “Exactly,” he chuckles and the sound pulls at my nerve endings. My toes curl and I have to nce away. Damn it, I am turned on and his Nonna is watching us with a curious gaze as she approaches us.


    She pauses in front of us, then takes my hand in hers, “Thank you for organizing this dyed Christmas get together.” Her lips tilt in a smile that is-dare I say, quite genuine?


    “Thank you foring, Nonna.” I step forward. Michael removes his hand from around me and I kiss Nonna’s cheek. Her skin is papery thin, and she seems more fragile than when Ist saw her.


    Guess burying a son can do that to you? Michael had decided to bury his father with full honors. I hadn’t been in Sicily to attend it, but I’d heard that the funeral itself had been attended by all the n leaders. Cassandra had mentioned to me that Nonna had been pale-faced and ashen throughout the funeral, but she had managed to stay dry-eyed until the end. Maybe she had shed her tears in private. She seems genuinely pleased to be here though, so that’s something.


    “You don’t think that this was too soon after what happened with Xander do you?”


    She pauses, a considering look on her face, “Perhaps for a more traditional person it might seem that way,” she murmurs. “And it’s not that I don’t mourn him,” she swallows, “but I also know that Xander would not have wanted us to dwell on the past. He was an artist, a dreamer, a visionary, even. He would have wanted us to celebrate his life and look to the future.”


    I peer into her features, take in the intent expression on her face, “You mean it, don’t you?”


    “I never say anything I don’t mean, Karma.” She smiles. “In fact, I am going to follow your example.” Her eyes gleam with that devilish glint that is so familiar. Something I have seen in Michael’s eyes, too.


    “You are?” I frown.


    “Absolutely.” She nces between us, “This family has been through so much, we need a fresh start. A chance to know each other all over again.”


    Oh, hell, do I even want to know where this is going?


    “What are you thinking of, Nonna?” Michael asks.


    “A Christmas getaway.”


    “Christmas is over,” Michael points out, “and we’re already having this dyed Christmas get together to make up for not being able to celebrate Christmas.”


    “It’s not enough.” Her lips firm. “It will take more than a few hours to mend the fractures left behind by your father. It’s time we came together and found a way to heal, don’t you think?”


    Michael blows out a breath, “Are you sure about this?”


    “Are you questioning me, Michael?” she asks in a deceptively soft tone that mirrors the one Michael often uses to get his way.


    Michael stiffens, then a reluctant chuckle rumbles up his chest. “You are one hell of a woman, Nonna.” He reaches around me to take her hand, “If it will make you happy…”


    “It will.” The older woman nods her head as a smile forms on her face. “Now that you are married,” she nces between us, “it’s time for me to focus on getting the rest of your brothers hitched, too.”


    Michael groans, “I’m d I am no longer in the line of fire.”


    “You were smart enough to snap up your soulmate when you met her. Now, I need to make sure your brothers follow your lead. Also,” that same wicked gleam reappears in her eyes, “I’m hoping that spending a few days in each other’spany will help us strengthen our familial ties… If we don’t kill each other first, that is.”


    I chuckle, Michaelughs, and Nonna’s face lights up with a proper smile. “Now, where’s my drink?”


    As if summoned, Cassandra walks toward us with a tray of proso flutes. I take a ss and hand it to Nonna. She epts it, sniffs it, then raises her eyebrows at me. “Is this-?”


    I nod, “It’s your favorite.”


    I take a ss for myself, then smile my thanks at Cassandra. She turns, then stops when Adrian walks onto the terrace. She seems to steel herself, then walks past him. He turns and his gaze tracks her until she disappears from sight. He turns, catches me staring and a small smile tugs at his lips. He walks over to the bar just as Luca steps onto the terrace. He nces around and his gaze collides with Michael’s. The tension in the air ratchets up. I nce over my shoulder to find Michael scowling.


    “Be nice, Don,” I murmur.


    He blows out a breath. “It’s going to take some getting used to, but family is family after all, eh?” He walks past me and meets Luca half-way on the terrace. The two men murmur in low voices, then Michael jerks his chin. “Get us some Macan,” he calls out to Massimo, who’s behind the bar. Massimo raises his thumb in a ‘will do’ gesture, then goes back to pouring.


    “Good to see Michael making an effort,” I remark.


    Nonna turns to me, “You’re good for him.”


    “Oh?” I meet her gaze, “Are you being sarcastic?”


    “Do I look like I am being sarcastic?” She tilts her head. Her faded blue eyes twinkle, and again, I see so much of Michael in her that I can’t stop the smile that curves my lips.


    “No,” I chuckle, “that sounds like a realpliment.”


    “It is.” Nonna raises her ss, and so do I. We clink, and I take a sip. Notes of cherry and vani pop on my pte as the crisp taste of the Proso slides down my throat.


    “Mmm,” I lick my lips, “that’s so good.”


    “My husband used to get me a bottle for every celebration.” She stares at her flute with a soft look in her eyes. “Roberto was a typical Mafioso, as macho as theye, but he always remembered what I liked.”


    “He loved you?”


    “He did,” she raises her ss to her lips, “in his own way.” She nces past me and frowns. “Who is that with Christian?”


    I turn to find Christian walking into the family gathering, Aurora’s arm tucked into his, his hand on hers. Either in a soothing gesture… or in one meant to control her, maybe?


    He pauses a little way inside of the entrance. When Cassandra walks over with a full tray of Proso, he picks up a flute and hands it to Aurora, who epts it. She’s also wearing a beautiful silk dress that clings to her curves and flows to below her knees. On her feet are six-inch heels which are very different from the sensible wedges I normally see her in. She seems… different… Like a mafioso’s woman. She nces at me, then away.


    Huh? What’s happening here?


    Aurora downs the proso in one go. She ces the ss back on Cassandra’s tray, reaches for another, but Christian wraps his fingers around her wrist and stops her. He leans in, whispers something in her ear as Cassandra walks away.


    Aurora shoots him a nce full of hatred; Christian chuckles.


    What the hell? What’s happening between these two?


    Christian straightens, then he turns and walks toward us.


    “Christian Roberto Domenico Sovrano,” Nonna narrows her gaze on him, “just the person I am looking for.”


    Christian frowns, “I am?” Hees to a stop in front of us, Aurora in tow.


    Nonna’s eyes gleam, “I am an old woman, Christian, I don’t know how long I have left on this earth.”


    “Nonna, please,” Christian holds up his hand, “you are going to outlive us all and you know it. So why don’t youe to the point, hmm? What’s on your mind?”


    “What’s on my mind is that I am worried about you Christian.”


    “You are?”


    She nods, “It’s high time you got married and settled down.”


    “Michael just got married,” Christian points out.


    “And now I can’t wait for you to settle down.”


    “What about Massimo?” Christian scowls, “he’s older than me. Shouldn’t he get married before I do.”


    “Massimo didn’t lose his twin, you did.”


    Christian pales, “Nonna, what are you trying to say?”


    Nonna narrows her gaze on him, “Since before you were born you had Xander by your side. Now he’s gone and you are on your own.”


    Christian’s jaw tics, “your point being?” He finally says through gritted teeth.


    “I don’t want you to be alone. In fact I have someone who would make you the perfect wife, I-”


    Christian holds up his hand, “Let me stop you right there, Nonna.”


    Nonna scowls, “Let meplete what I am going to say.”N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    “I know what you are going to say, and I am a step ahead of you.” His lips curl.


    Uh-oh! I am not sure I like the expression on his face. He seems too confident, too sure of himself. He releases his hold on Aurora only to wrap his arm around her and pull her close.


    “Nonna,” He tilts his head, before he locks his gaze with Michael’s. “Don Sovrano,” his smile widens, “meet the woman who is going to be my wife.”