The Secret One

by Cardello, Ruth

  Dominic didn’t answer at first, but when he did, it was in a guttural tone. “Yes, but it’s a demon I give a very short leash.”

  She lowered her hand. “You look just like Sebastian. He fights his dark side too.”

  Oh no.

  Does she know?

  Has she always known?

  Not now, Nona.

  Continuing in English, I quickly interjected, “My brother lost his wife and unborn child seven years ago. It was a tough time for our family.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Dominic said.

  “He’s doing better now. He’s remarried, with an adorable little girl and a second child on the way.” I touched Nona’s arm to bring her attention to me. “We’d lost Sebastian for a while, remember, Nona? He was so sad and so angry. But we stuck by him because he’s family and we all have our demons to fight. Dominic is my cousin. Gian’s brother. Your grandchild. Papa’s grandchild. He will always be welcome in my home. Will you make him welcome in yours?”

  Gian came to stand beside me. He addressed his comment to both Nona and Dominic. “He’ll always be welcome in mine.”

  Mauricio put his arm around Wren. “Ours as well.”

  Nona took a moment to answer. No one moved as we all hung on her next words. “Are you hungry?”

  Dominic blinked quickly a few times, the only sign that she might have surprised him. “Always.”

  “Then why are we standing in the hallway? You want all the food to get cold so you can say I’m not the best cook in Montalcino?” Nona mumbled something more in Italian and turned to make her way back to the kitchen.

  I let out a relieved breath and gave Dominic a pat on the back. He didn’t seem to like it, but if he was going to stick around, he’d have to loosen up a little. “Dom, you haven’t met my fiancée yet. McKenna, this is my cousin Dominic.”

  She stepped forward with a huge smile. I didn’t know how to interpret the look in her eyes until she gave him a huge hug, one he didn’t look as if he had any idea what to do about. He just kind of held his hands out to the sides and stood there like a mannequin. When she released him, she winked at me, then said, “Welcome to the family. Now calm the fuck down, and don’t forget to compliment Nona on her cooking. She’s very proud of her frittata.”

  Dominic nodded slowly, then smiled, then actually—holy shit—laughed. “Thanks.”

  We were heading toward the kitchen when the outside door flew open and Luigi came rushing in. “Is he here?”

  “If you’re referring to me, then yes, he is here,” Dominic said in a similar tone to what he’d used in his office with me the day before.

  Luigi switched to Italian. “Christof, don’t hate me, but remember when you told me not to tell anyone? I might have told one person.”

  In Italian, Dominic added, “He also speaks Italian.”

  I exchanged a quick look with McKenna. You’re right: I shouldn’t have told him. I turned back to Luigi. “Who knows?”

  “Everyone?” Luigi answered weakly.

  I groaned. “You did tell them to stay away this morning, right?”

  “They’re on their way.”

  Mauricio went to stand beside Dominic. “You won’t want to meet them at the door. Let’s go have breakfast. Christof is good at handling things like this.”

  Gian moved closer to Dominic as well. “You have every right to be here, Dominic. Nona is the only one who can ask you to leave, and she offered to feed you.”

  I started going over all the possible ways this could work out as well as blow up. “McKenna, do you think you can keep Nona occupied long enough for me to calm everyone down?”

  “No problem,” she said confidently. God, I love that woman.

  Luigi added in Italian, “You might want to have this reunion somewhere else. I tried to say we should wait and see what comes from the visit but was met with a bit of a mob mentality. Not that I can blame them. I don’t like the devil in this house any more than they do.”

  “There is no devil here.” I went to stand with my brothers beside Dominic. “Dominic, this is your cousin Luigi. My best friend as a child, good man, faithful husband, great father, very, very bad secret keeper. Luigi, this is Dominic Corisi. Your cousin. Good guy, great husband and father, was not expecting to meet the whole family today. We all want the same thing—for today to go well. Dominic, it might help if you told Luigi what your plans are for the land you bought up.”

  “Yes, I would be very interested in your plans,” Luigi said in a harsh tone. I was used to seeing the lighter side of my cousin, but the wounds here were deep.

  In the silence that followed, I had time to worry that Dominic was going to ruin this for himself. There was only so much you could do for another person, though. I’d gotten him there, shown my support, and suggested a way he could move forward as part of the family. The rest was his choice.

  Dominic looked from Mauricio, to Gian, to me . . . as if realizing then that we stood with him in support. He swallowed visibly, pocketed his hands, and said, “I’ve hired an attorney to assist in ensuring each parcel of land is deeded back to its rightful owners. I cannot undo all the damage my father did to this town, but I can right many things.”

  “You bought the land to return it?” Luigi asked with skepticism.

  Dominic looked about to confess the truth, but I put a hand on his shoulder and spoke instead. “Until a person gives me a reason not to, I believe them. We can dredge up the past, waste all our time on things we cannot change, or we can move forward—together—as family.”

  Luigi didn’t soften.

  So I added, “Luigi, I know that look, but you need to hear me. No one was innocent in this. When Dominic was in need of the family, you all turned your backs on him. Although you had reason to, it still wasn’t right. Imagine what he has endured. You have the power to right that wrong. Stand with him, with us, and greet the family when they arrive, Luigi. If you accept Dominic, they will.” Dominic opened his mouth to say something, but I raised my hand. “Let me handle this one, Dominic. Just trust me.”

  Luigi remained quiet for a moment, then said, “I was one of the ones who thought it would be better for Nona if she never met you. My father lost his vineyard to your father. The Corisi name has been a curse on our house. But Christof is right: those crimes were your father’s—not yours. He wanted to break us, but he only made us stronger. It’s time to move forward.”

  I said what had become obvious to me. “He wanted to break Dominic as well, but here he is—stronger, very much like us. What tries to tear us apart only brings us closer.”

  In a tight tone, Dominic said, “All I ever wanted was to move forward with the family.”

  Eh, that was mostly true, so I let it slide.

  Appearing in the doorway were Salvatore and his wife.

  Luigi gave me one look as if to ask, Are you sure?

  I nodded.

  He turned to greet the couple. “You’re here just in time to welcome Dominic. Wait until you hear what his plans are for the land he bought. You might be able to finally start that wine label you’ve been talking about.”

  “We don’t need his charity,” Salvatore said in a cold tone.

  Dominic stepped forward. “There is no charity in returning something that was stolen from you.”

  I added, “Looks like we not only have many reasons to celebrate today, but we’ll also need more food. Could you swing by the bakery and pick up some pastries?”

  Nona called out from the other room, “Did I cook another plate for no one? Someone tell Dominic in my house food doesn’t have legs and at my age I don’t wait to eat.”

  Salvatore asked, “She’s okay with him being here?”

  I answered, “You just heard her. Not only okay but impatient for him to get his ass in her kitchen.”

  Dominic smiled. “Then I’d better head in.”

  After he headed in and Salvatore left to get pastries, McKenna returned from the kitchen and slid under my arm. “Ho
w is it going out here?”

  I kissed her briefly. “Luigi and I only have to explain to about seventy-five more family members that Dominic is welcome. Right, Luigi?”

  Luigi smiled. “I’ll call Pia. You think I have a big mouth? Tell her, and even those on their way will know before they arrive.”

  “Luigi, you’re a genius.”

  Looking pleased with himself, Luigi stepped away to make the call.

  McKenna looked up at me. “You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”

  “That’s what she said,” I joked.

  McKenna pinned me with one of her long looks. “I’m serious.”

  Turning her in my arms, I kissed her with all the gratitude welling inside me. When I raised my head, I said, “I don’t know how to begin to thank you. You’ve been the best fake fiancée a man could ask for.”

  I expected her to smile, but she didn’t.

  She shuddered against me, then stepped back. “I should head back into the kitchen.”

  Luigi was back, smiling, saying there was no reason to worry; everything was going to work out.

  I wasn’t so sure, but my concern wasn’t related to Dominic’s visit. I couldn’t shake the look that had been in McKenna’s eyes just before she’d walked away. She’d looked—hurt? I hadn’t meant my words to express anything more than how glad I was she was there with me.

  Family began to arrive before I had a chance to act on my concern. Having Luigi not only at my side but also adamant about Dominic’s right to visit Nona brought a calm to a situation that otherwise might have quickly gotten out of hand.

  Soon the kitchen was overflowing with cousins of all ages. Children were once again running between adults; parents were laughing, scolding, arguing about everything and nothing. When Luigi’s wife arrived, he brought her to meet Dominic in the kitchen as well.

  Dominic stepped out of the kitchen. “Christof.”

  I met him halfway. “A bit overwhelming en masse? Many of them took the day off from work to meet you.”

  One nod said it all. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” In that moment I saw real potential for him to be a good brother to Gian and a good cousin to me and Mauricio. And Sebastian? It wasn’t the time to add to that relationship. If there was one thing Sebastian didn’t handle well, it was surprises. I was torn between his right to know and my mother’s right to her secret. Love was complicated.

  “How long are you in Montalcino?” he asked.

  I doubted he was curious about only me. “Gian should go back tomorrow or the next day. He is missing classes to be here. He’ll probably fly back with Mauricio and Wren. I might hang back a few more days so I can show McKenna some of Italy—Venice, Florence, definitely a little of Rome.”

  “I have an extra jet if you’d like to borrow it.”

  “An extra? Like, one just hanging around?” I joked. My family had become successful through Romano Superstores, but Dominic’s level of wealth was so far above ours I couldn’t fully imagine it.

  He wasn’t an easy man to make smile. “The offer is on the table. I assume your family will be using your plane. If you’d prefer the use of my yacht, it’s currently off the Amalfi Coast.”

  “Do you know what I would like more than that?”

  His eyes narrowed as he waited.

  I said, “I’d like you to come to Sunday dinner next week at Gian’s place. My mother usually makes a big dinner there. Bring your wife, your little girl, your sister too. Sebastian and Heather will be there with Ava, who is almost six.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Also your mother, if she’s willing to come.”

  “My mother?” He didn’t seem keen on the idea.

  I wasn’t sure I was, either, but this wasn’t about how I felt. “I’ll talk to Gian, but I believe he wants to meet her. My mother might not be happy with it at first, but we need to stop letting the past have such a stranglehold on us. It’s time to move on—together, if that’s at all possible.”

  “I can see why Alethea thought you were worth sneaking in to meet me.”

  “I didn’t sneak—” I stopped. Ballbuster. It was a good sign. “I’ll make you a deal. When I tell my future children about you, I’ll forget the devil part, if you leave off that I popped out of your bathroom. In my mind, I’m much more of a strut-through-the-front-door kind of man.”

  Dominic laughed at that, his face transforming as he smiled. “I can do that.” A twinge of sadness filled his eyes again. “I never wanted to be the devil.” He shook his head. “When I think about how close I came—”

  “But you didn’t,” I cut in. “We all have something we regret. We all make mistakes. I don’t trust anyone who says they don’t. The world can be a very unforgiving place, but that’s not how family should be.”

  Dominic offered me his hand.

  I shook it.

  We stood there afterward in prolonged silence. He spoke first. “There have been a handful of people who have come into my life and changed the course of it. My wife and daughter. A few close friends. And a man who has become like a father to me, Alessandro Andrade. You sound a lot like him. Do you know him?”

  “No, should I?”

  Dominic shook his head. “I suppose not. I can’t shake the feeling, though, that this has all worked out too well. Almost as if it were orchestrated. Was it your idea to come to Montalcino to meet me?”

  I could have lied, if for no other reason than how lame the truth would sound, but I was intrigued. “No, it was my parents’. My mother’s mostly.”

  “Did she have any unexpected meetings? Was she invited to something she found unusual?”

  “She did attend a fundraiser hosted by the queen of Vandorra.”

  The smile returned to Dominic’s face. “Queen Delinda of Vandorra, until recently Delinda Westerly, a.k.a. one of Alessandro’s closest friends. Looks like they are still up to their old antics. Not that I’m not grateful for the intervention.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “How long have you and McKenna been engaged? Don’t tell me—it was very recent.”

  My expression must have given the truth away, because he added, “Is the engagement real or staged for this visit?”

  I frowned.

  Dominic continued. “Classic Alessandro and Delinda. You poor man. Don’t worry, their success rate is nearly perfect.”

  “Success rate?” Perhaps it was because there was so much running through my head that day, but I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Forget I said anything, but invite me to the wedding.”

  The wedding. Words that would have once made me feel trapped had the opposite effect on me then. I wanted the engagement to be real.

  I love McKenna.

  Oh my God.

  I love McKenna.

  She chose that moment to appear in the doorway of the kitchen. Her expression seemed concerned at first; then she smiled as she noted who I was with.

  My heart started thudding in my chest. I didn’t care about what we’d found or how my mother would respond to Dominic as well as his wife, child, and mother coming to Sunday dinner. All I wanted was to get McKenna alone and show her how much she meant to me.

  “Dominic,” I said. “About that extra jet—”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  MCKENNA

  I stood off to one side of a kitchen full of people speaking a language I didn’t understand. Whenever I spoke, the conversation around me reverted to English, but I was taking a moment to breathe.

  I looked around the room, soaking in the laughter and excited chatter, and was filled with a sense of wonder. Christof’s wins weren’t gaining him a trophy, prize money, fame, or sponsors. He didn’t care about anything like that. Everything he’d achieved on this trip he’d done out of love.

  Dominic had won the lottery when it came to cousins. I could still hear Christof telling him that short of killing him, there was no way to hurt him, because even if someone
stripped all his family’s money away, he’d still have the things he needed to be happy: his family, his friends . . . his fiancée.

  Me?

  Had he said it because he meant it or simply to keep up the charade of our engagement? I struggled with how I felt about either possibility. I had what some might call a jaded view of people as well as relationships. Yet there I was in Italy, falling in love with a man who had just called me the best fake fiancée a man could wish for. I hugged my arms around myself and admitted to myself how deeply those words had stung.

  They were true, but hurtful because they no longer matched how I felt. Pia motioned to me from across the room as if to ask if I was okay. I nodded in reassurance because I was, and that was also unsettling.

  I should have felt alone, the way I’d felt so often in my life, but Christof’s family had welcomed me as one of their own. They believed our lie, and because of it they’d made room in their hearts for me. The only place I felt this comfortable was at Decker Park with my crew.

  I was invested in these people. When Gian bent to hear something Nona was saying, then straightened and laughed . . . I felt his joy. When Mauricio’s cousins teased him about finally finding a woman who was too smart for his bullshit and his only response was to hug Wren closer and say, “Thank God.” I was happy they’d found each other. Christof’s family had experienced some dark times, but their unshakable ability to love was their strength.

  My kind of people.

  I wanted to be part of this world almost as much as I’d ever wanted Decker Park. It was a scary revelation. I didn’t want to give up one for the other, but could I have both?

  Christof entered the room a short time later with Dominic. A hush fell over the room; then someone made a joke in Italian, Dominic smiled, and conversation resumed. Could love be that easy? I wanted to believe so.

  Christof spotted me, and for a moment it felt as if I was the most important person in the room to him. He walked toward me, never looking away, then put his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. “How are you holding up?”

  I rested my head on his shoulder. “You did it. You brought them all together.”

  “We did it. I couldn’t have done it without you.”