Antoni checked his watch and cursed under his breath. Maria sighed deeply, her hopes of more children dashed, before collecting the dirty plates.
“I think I’m too late for the florist on the corner. Could I borrow something from the garden?” Antoni pleaded with me. The Gardener was no longer a staple of the Greenich Bay underworld. I’d started to dismantle my business over the pastyear. There had been a few close calls, and one last year in which Paolo had been followed and threatened to force him to give up The Gardener’s identity. He had a young family to think about, and I was getting tired. So, I’d shifted to regular gardening, and while it didn’t give me the adrenaline spike my previous work did, there was something fiercely satisfying about managing to beat aphids from ruining my roses.
“Absolutely not, I didn’t toil away on those blooms for them to wilt on a white tablecloth. The supermarket on Weston sells flowers. Why don’t you pick something up there?” I waved my hand, knowing he was teasing me.
“Thanks, Mama, wish me luck.” He darted around the table and pressed a distracted kiss to my cheek. The warmth was brief, fleeting, and precious. I savored the kisses more now that he was older and more discerning with his affection.
“Good luck, I love you,” I said to his broad back, and he stumbled. He gripped the archway and sent me a trembling smile.
“I love you too, Mama.”
My chest seized with the desire to pull him close, press him to my chest, and keep him there. Keep him safe from everything outside of the four walls of our home. But he was gone, and the empty space was bittersweet.
“Remember when he used to cover you with open mouth kisses and bring you pies made of mud?” Romeo rose from his seat and moved to stand behind me. “Now we’re talking about giving him Greenich Bay and discussing his own children.”
“Time is a disgusting thief,” I grumbled, taking a sip of my cooled tea. Romeo dug his thumbs into my shoulders. They slid under the collar of my shirt, tracing my collarbone. Shivers ran down my spine, a familiar heat building in my stomach.
“Is my wife feeling sentimental?” Romeo tugged my ponytail back and grinned down at me.
“Yes,” I replied, shocking him with my honesty. He let go of me and I shifted so I was perched on the table, pulling him into the open bracket of my legs. I clutched at his solid body, letting his strength sink into me. “He doesn’t need us anymore, Romeo.”
Romeo’s chest rumbled, and I jerked back, a sharp retort ready to slash at him. But he cupped my face and pressed his forehead to mine. Mirth twisted his lips in soft affection.
“He’ll always need us, Anita. But in different ways. He’s still a terrible shot, and I refuse to stop badgering him until he improves.”
A wet chuckle escaped me. Antoni hadn’t had much chance to test his skills; the Donatos caused trouble periodically. But everyone else seemed to know their place. It made me wonder if it was Rosetta, her Unseen sticking their hands in our world and making sure her loose ends didn’t strangle us. The Donato heir, Harold, was a bulldog, and Greenich Bay was a chew toy he coveted. I’d already warned Antoni to keep an eye on him. He’d chew up our tentative peace and spit it out given the chance.
“Is this how we’re going to waste our free night?” He whispered, glacial eyes twinkling underneath his long, dark lashes. The heat in my stomach intensified.
“What did you have in mind?” I slanted my lips over his cheek. The slight shadow of stubble rubbed against my tender kiss. Romeo’s hands drifted down to my shirt, and he gave it an unceremonious tug. The material groaned and tore in two, the rip echoing in the room. My breath caught in my throat. Romeo pushed at the material until the torn pieces hung off my shoulders. His gaze glinted as he stared down at me. At the plain black bra I wore.
“You owe me some more marks.” His fingers danced goosebumps over my skin, teasing me. I hated to be teased, and he knew it. I tugged on his tie, reeling him in like prey. I draggedmy nails to the back of his neck and sank them in. He puffed a heated, harried breath in my ear.
“Like this?” I whispered. He hoisted me up, cupping my buttocks and urging me to wrap my legs around him. He swung us around and slammed me against the wall. The pain was delicious, licking up my spine like a dark promise. His eyes danced as his lips descended to brush against mine.
“More.”
2018
The greenhouse was partially empty, and the door groaned when I pressed it closed. The familiar scent of musky earth followed me out, and I filled my lungs.
It might be the last time I was on the lot my father had left me.
I couldn’t garden anymore. Arthritis had turned my hands into claws, and they ached too much for the finicky work. Romeo held out his elbow, and we shuffled over to where my father’s grave was. Adelaide, our granddaughter, was smoothing out the bouquet of flowers we’d brought.
“Thank you for bringing them,” I told her when she rolled back on her haunches. Antoni helped her to her feet.
“It’s nothing,” she dipped her head.
Romeo made a noise in his throat, pleasure at her deference. She pulled her shoulders back, and my breath caught at how grown she seemed. Her cheeks were still round with the softnessof youth, and her spine was locked with will rather than experience.
The girl was a force. All the fire Antoni hoarded, she threaded through her every movement.
She did well at harnessing it, carrying herself with a poise that commanded respect. She would make the men who followed her dance to whatever tune she pleased.
“We’ll come back on our own,” Romeo told them both, pressing a kiss to the top of Adelaide’s head. “Say hello to your boyfriends for us.”
Red crept up her neck as Antoni cursed under his breath.
