Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
"Impressive," Nikko says.
"What?"
"You know how she takes her coffee. You got hers first. Who are you?”
"A happily married man. Shut up. Are you going to tell me or what?”
The door to the kitchen opens and Mom comes out arm in arm with none other than Marialena Rossi. I haven't seen her in ages, not since we visited Boston years ago.
“Marialena! Harper, this is Mario’s sister Marialena. Marialena, this is my wife, Harper.” It’ll never fail to make my chest swell with pride calling her that.
Harper smiles and extends her hand. “Nice to meet you."
"Oh, my God,” Marialena says, staring at Harper with wide, beautiful, brown eyes. "Nikko showed me the footage of you shooting. You are amazing. I've never seen anything like it, even in the movies."
Harper blushes a little bit.
"She is amazing," I say. “What are you doing here?"
Aria enters next, holding a laptop. Her glasses are perched on her nose, and she looks like she just woke up, her clothes all rumpled. "Marialena happened to be in the area, she's going to a convention.” She turns to Harper. "The Rossis own a little boutique in Boston, and sometimes they come here to New York to source their wares. She was here this weekend and I needed to talk with her. I needed to delve into family history.”
Family history. What the fuck?
Aria purses her lips at me. "You should check your texts once in a while, Aleksandr."
I narrow my eyes at her.
"Can’t I sleep in for once in my life?”
"No,” they all say in unison. I throw my hands up in the air.
"Go on. What were you gonna tell me?”
“The Bianchi family has a long history with the Rossis. You know that the Bianchis don't like the Rossis, but the reason is because the Rossi family invested quite a sum of money in Harper's dad's business, and when it went up, they lost everything they invested." She turns to Harper. "What do you know about your dad's business ventures?"
She shakes her head. "Not much. My father is Italian mafia, he came up under the belief that women didn't have anything to do with business, so we were left ignorant about all of it."
Marialena laughs out loud. "Girl, you and I need to have a chat.”
Harper smiles. "Maybe we do."
Aria goes on. "The reason why your parents were penniless was because your dad had a gambling problem. He has a long history of borrowing money he doesn’t return, and recklessly borrowing his investors’ money in hopes of doubling his profits or more, but it never worked out. Your family has basically vanished off the face of the earth," she says with a sad shake of her head. "From what I've heard, and what I've seen, that's probably not a bad thing."
Harper looks pained, but relieved. “Agreed.”
"Harper, the reason why your father borrowed money from the Rossi family is because they were distant relatives. In short, what I'm telling you is that you are related to the most powerful Italian mob in all of America. You are not just from the Bianchis. The Rossi family disowned the Bianchis because of your father, but he's out of the picture now, so…"
Shit. Seriously? Harper's eyes widen.
"You're gonna like us,” Marialena says. "I mean we're crazy Italians, so add mafia to the mix and forget it, but I'm telling you right now that we're gonna love you, Harper. We've already told you, but I'm gonna say it again, welcome to the family. I have five siblings and a whole bunch of cousins and they're all in Boston not far from here. You can come and visit anytime. We own restaurants and bakeries and all sorts of things."
Harper stares. "But if my father was on the outs…"
Marialena waves her hand. “Believe me, my brother Romeo is way more concerned with solidifying connections with the Romanovs than he is with worrying about your father.”
My mother grins. "Good, it's about time that we had some connections with people who know how to make pastry.” She winks at Harper.
"And I'll have you know, Harper," Marialena says, "my great-grandfather was an old, old man when I met him, and I was only a child, so I didn't know him well, but I've been told by many people that he was one of the most skilled marksmen in all of Italy. People would come from all over just to see him.” She smiles. "It seems like your gift may have been inherited.”
Harper smiles but her eyes water. “I’m sorry I’m so emotional.” Ha, not many know the real reason yet. “I'm a little overwhelmed. I never had family like this before and I… I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"Tell me you’ll come shopping with me," Marialena says with a grin.
Harper grins back. “Consider it done."
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Harper
I run, branches snapping beneath my feet, but no matter how hard I run, he's hot on my heels.