In the meantime, I have to review the files for the governesses that Amelia had vetted for an interview. After the disaster with the first governess who'd gone as far as to call Venezia mentally impaired for her lack of formal education, I'd decided to vet each candidate myself. There are ten in total that seem to have the qualifications. Of course, on paper even the last one had looked spectacular, but her attitude towards Venezia had been abysmal. I cross-reference their availability with my schedule and decide to see them starting next week. By then, I should be done with most of the urgent things within the famiglia.
Once I've allotted a time for each candidate, I give the list back to Amelia.
"You won't stay for lunch?" She asks when she sees me heading for the door.
"I have a meeting. Tell Venezia I'll see her at dinner." Amelia grunts, but it's obvious she's none too pleased with that. I can't exactly blame her, since I have not been entirely too present in the house ever since I'd moved in. My interactions with Venezia had been limited. Amelia had been adamant to remind me every single time how neglected the girl had been and how much she needs some attention. Her suggestions haven't fallen on deaf ears, but right now time is of essence for me too. I have to solidify my position in the famiglia, and that requires meetings upon meetings. When I get some time by myself, I have to review business plans and strategies. It doesn't exactly leave too much time to spend with Venezia.
I'd promised myself I'd deal with that, though.
I get in my car and start the ignition. Enzo's house is not too far off. I look at my watch and see I can take my time.
I can't help but think back to my friend, Adrian. I'd tried to get some updates from Vlad, since I know he still talks to Bianca, but so far he hasn't been too forthcoming. Whenever I ask, he just tells me he has not woken up yet. Even when he recovers, I don't know what I can say to him. I take full accountability for my part in betraying his trust, and I don't see how he'd ever be able to forgive me for something like that. But I still want to explain my side of the story; be honest for the first time in my life with someone.
I shake myself from my musings and park my car, having already reached my destination. Inside, a maid takes me to Enzo's office.
"Enzo." I greet him and he just nods. His expression is grim.
"It seems we meet sooner than expected Marcello." He adds drily and offers me a drink. I decline, and he just pours one for himself. Bringing it to his desk, he lights a cigarette and takes a drag.
"The situation has changed, slightly." He starts.
"How so?" It's definitely something that has upset him, judging by the lines on his face.
"You remember the Guerras?"
"Yes." I reply. Guerra is another powerful family in the city, and one that has not been a team player, historically. Their feud with the DeVille family is the stuff of legends. In fact, their dispute makes the conflict between Agosti and Lastra to seem like a mere squabble.
"Let's just say that something's come up that exacerbated our differences with the Guerra family."
"I didn't know you were on bad terms with Guerra. I know they've never had any tight connections with the other families, but their only clash has always been with DeVille."
Enzo grimaces.
"I was supposed to marry Gianna Guerra. The contract was all but signed." Enzo confesses.
"And you did not." I add.
"I did not. And they took offence to that. They've boycotted our businesses since then."
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask, curious to see where this all leads. I'd never dealt with the Guerras, and I know Valentino had no issues with them.
"Because someone is in trouble with them. Someone who needs protection."
"Speak freely." So it comes down to this. It probably has to do with my future marriage.
"The woman in question killed the capo's nephew. And somehow the family got wind of it. I don't know how, but I was sent this." Enzo explains and pushes a letter towards me. I skim the contents and it's enough to get an idea of what's at play. They want revenge, and they don't care that it's a woman. In fact, it might even be worse because it's a woman. They probably can't accept that a member of the opposite sex dared to kill a Guerra man. I scoff at the contents of the letter.
"Why did she kill him?" I don't really care why she killed him. I can already guess what Enzo's going to ask. Marry her and offer her my protection against the Guerras.
He looks uncomfortable. He takes one swig of his glass before answering.
"He was molesting her daughter." Interesting. No one could blame her for doing what's only fair to someone that vile.
"Then I'd say it was deserving."
"Indeed. But that's not all." Enzo recounts how someone had purposefully defiled the corpse and exhibited it in the center of the Sacre Coeur convent.
"And your sister helped her." He adds and I have to blink twice. Did I hear that right? My sister helped bury a priest?
"You're kidding."
"No. As a matter of fact, I would have called you regardless of our arrangement. I'm not sure how safe Sacre Coeur is for her now. If someone can get inside and do something like that..." Enzo shakes his head.
"I'll take care of it." I reply. It seems I need to schedule a meeting with Assisi again, and soon.
"Now back to our agreement. Given the situation at hand, I'd like you to marry her and give her the protection of your name. I can't have her or her daughter in danger."
"I agree." I nod. It's even better than I imagined. Since she has a child, I imagine she's not some starry-eyed teenager, and thus I'll be able to get along with her better. I need a mature person to understand that I have rules and boundaries, and while we will be married, it will not be a proper marriage.
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that."
"Who is this woman you're talking about?" I ask, not really carrying at this point. Still, it's better to at least have a name.
"My sister, Catalina." The moment he says her name, I freeze. No... It's not possible.
"Your sister?" I croak. I take a deep breath and try to compose myself, not wanting to give anything away. "And she agrees?"
"Yes. She knows she is in danger, and she would do anything for her daughter." Catalina... and she has a child. I feel a tiny stab in my heart at the thought.
"I'll agree, on one condition. I'd like to meet with her first, to see if she is willing." I say, my pulse speeding just at the thought of being in the same room as her.
Enzo considers this for a second, watching me intently.
"As you like." He gets up to leave. But before he does, he adds one last thing. "If this weren't so important, I would have never given her to you."
The moment he's out of the office, I try to breathe deeply. In and out. Catalina... the girl I'd wanted to marry more than a decade ago. Just as the image of her face as I'd last seen her crosses my mind, someone knocks at the door.
"Hello." She is nervous as she enters the room. She seems different, and yet so similar. It's like the years have not passed at all. Her hair is still the same mass of raven tresses. Her face is pale and strewn with freckles. She looks young, innocent... untouched. And those eyes. I've never seen a more expressive pair of eyes. And there is no hint of recognition in them.