The Secret One

by Cardello, Ruth

  Camilla did. She’d seen this side of the Corisis before. Dominic’s father had done everything in his power to crush her family. He’d taken their land, their businesses, but they’d never bent to his will. Was Dominic back to finish what his father had started? She wound her hands together tightly on her lap. “I do. He has every reason to hate my family.”

  “They’re his family too.”

  “Yes. Rosella, his mother, is my sister.”

  “The grandmother who refuses to see him is your mother.”

  “Yes and no.” Camilla shook her head. “It’s not that simple. My mother is his grandmother, but she gets confused now. When I heard Dominic had tried to visit her a few months ago and that my cousins had denied him access to her, my heart broke for him, but I understood why it was for the best.”

  “Because he’s a man better kept at a distance?”

  “Because my mother is still afraid of his father.”

  “Antonio Corisi was certainly an evil man. No one wept at his funeral. Well, perhaps his daughter, Nicole, but she’s a softhearted girl.”

  “My mother calls Antonio il diavolo, the devil. She believes he is circling our family, planning to do us more harm.”

  “How he abused Rosella was a crime he should have been punished for, but Dominic knew the pain of his wrath as well.”

  Tears filled Camilla’s eyes. “My sister has a long record of making mistakes that hurt the ones she claims to love. She left her children with Antonio when she ran from him.”

  The queen pressed her lips together for a moment before saying, “And ran to Italy, where she faked her own death and changed her name.”

  “You’re well informed.”

  “Always. When Dominic first went to Montalcino to search for his mother, why did they hide her from him? Her son. Seems heartless, even to me.”

  Camilla sniffed and blinked a few times quickly. Doors were flying open to a time in her life she’d worked hard to put behind her. “Dominic didn’t arrive alone. Antonio had followed him. He told our family if Rosella was still alive, she wouldn’t be for long. They had no choice but to maintain the lie.”

  “I see.” After a quiet moment, the queen said, “And since Antonio’s death, no one has reached out to Dominic. Not even your family. Is there a piece to this I’m not aware of?”

  “No,” Camilla hedged. As she’d learned to do with anything that involved her sister, she divulged only what she had to. “I simply have no desire to see my sister again. She’s in Dominic’s life now, which means he has no place in mine.”

  “Interesting. I didn’t take you for a liar.”

  Camilla’s mouth went dry. “Does there have to be more of a reason?”

  With a dismissive wave of her hand, the queen said, “Normally I try to mind my own business. Really, if your secrets don’t affect me, you’re welcome to them, but since I’m here to help you unravel this mess, I can’t accept less than the whole truth. It’s my understanding that Gian is also your sister’s child, although not from Antonio.”

  Oh God. Is there anything she doesn’t know? “You understand correctly.”

  “From a man she married while under a false name who died shortly before your sister asked you to raise her son.”

  How does she know all this? “If you know everything, why are we having this conversation?”

  “Because Dominic Corisi can be a very dangerous man. He’s hurt and he’s angry. Justifiably, in my opinion. Unfortunately, that means he’s teetering on doing something that might cost him the wonderful family he’s made for himself. Normally I have no pity for his type, but he’s become, albeit not by my choice, a member of my own extended family. I care about how this all plays out for him—and, after learning more about your family, you as well. As someone who was once afraid she wouldn’t be part of her grandchildren’s lives, I can’t help but think that Dominic deserves to hug his grandmother at least once before that opportunity no longer exists. I don’t know how he’ll react to discovering he has a half brother who has been raised mere hours from him, but he should be given a chance to know him as well.”

  “Ideally, yes.” Camilla shook her head, not because she disagreed but because the idea of those meetings happening was overwhelming her. “I don’t know. I hear what you’re saying, but I can’t think right now. All I see is everything I love falling apart.”

  The queen took Camilla’s hand in hers. “It doesn’t have to. That’s why I’m here. My family was shattering when Alessandro stepped in. He has this unwavering belief that love is always the answer . . . regardless of what the situation is. With my connections, I could stop Dominic in his tracks if I had to. It would get ugly fast, but I’d do it if I thought it would save him from himself. Blunt force is effective, but I’ve learned it has no place in family matters. You have something more powerful than anything in my arsenal: you have the family he’s yearning for. Your sons are fine young men who are loyal and loving. Imagine what Dominic could learn from them.”

  Camilla gave the queen’s hand a squeeze, then broke off the connection. “I want to say yes, but I have so much anger in me—toward my sister, toward the decisions she’s made. In my heart I want to put it aside and do what’s best for everyone, but I don’t know if I’m capable. When I think about the past, I still get angry. Angrier than would be helpful in this situation.”

  “Could your sons step up? All you’re asking is for one of them to prepare your family for Dominic’s arrival . . . soften them toward him.”

  “Even though he’s already bought up their land?” Camilla brought a shaking hand to her chin. “That won’t earn him a warm reception. I couldn’t ask Sebastian to handle this. He and Heather are expecting a child soon, and he’d meet aggression with aggression. I won’t put him in that position. He’s finally happy again. Mauricio has smoother negotiating skills.” Camilla sighed. “He might be able to do this, especially with Wren at his side. Neither speak Italian, though, and this is something that will require someone who can reassure our cousins as well as make sure my mother understands who Dominic is. Gian has been hurt enough by my sister that I don’t want him involved until we know if Dominic will accept him. It would have to be Christof. He speaks Italian. He’s even-tempered. Kindhearted. He’s also discreet.”

  “Dominic is no innocent, but he’s not the devil either. He’s going to Italy whether or not you get involved. You have an opportunity to get ahead of the situation and shape its outcome. Tell me, does Christof have someone special in his life?”

  “No. Yes. Maybe. He’s recently met someone he appears to have feelings for.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Not really. No. I hardly know you.”

  The queen frowned. “Well, aren’t you pragmatic? Do you believe in the power of love?”

  It was an odd question, but it struck a chord in Camilla. “I do.”

  “Alessandro once told me that if I wanted a rose garden, I needed to stop planting weeds. Your garden is as overgrown as mine once was. It’s time for you to start planting more strategically.”

  “You’ve lost me again.”

  A smile returned to the queen’s face. “What if I told you that you could smooth over the Dominic situation and gain yourself a daughter-in-law at the same time? Would you be interested in hearing my idea?”

  “I don’t believe in meddling in my children’s lives.”

  Queen Delinda laughed with delight. “You’re a horrible liar and a sheer delight because of it. I look forward to a time when we know each other well enough to swap stories. For now, though, let me tell you my solution to your problem.”

  Camilla felt like a first-time skydiver poised to jump, not because she wanted to but because the plane was going down. “Sure, I guess. What do you suggest I do?”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MCKENNA

  I’d never been someone who enjoyed talking on the phone. I’d rather do something than sit around talking about doing it. Still, as I sat curle
d up on one end of my couch, I had to admit I loved the sound of Christof’s voice. He’d called at exactly the time he’d said he would.

  Reliable. That wasn’t something I was used to with men. Well, not men interested in dating me, anyway.

  “What was the best part of your day?” Christof asked after we’d exhausted a more general conversation about nothing in particular.

  I almost told him about the big-name racer who’d booked a spot for the weekend. Seeing that caliber of driver on my track still gave me goose bumps. I didn’t say it, though. Right or wrong, I was still hesitant to really let him into my life. “I fixed a car up for a client who’d gone someplace else first and been disappointed. That always leaves me feeling good about what I do.”

  “That’s awesome. I feel the same every time I complete a task my brothers weren’t sure I could handle. Doesn’t matter that I’m twenty-seven. They still see me as the little brother who needs help tying his shoes.”

  “Did you?”

  “What?”

  “Need help with tying your shoes?”

  “Who didn’t? ‘Bunny ear, bunny ear, send him through a hole. Pop him out the other side, fluffy and bold.’ First of all, that doesn’t even rhyme. Second, no one should tie a rabbit’s ears in a knot. It’s a horrible image to fill a child’s head with.”

  “You know, I’ve never had a man recite poetry to me before. Is that Thoreau? Frost?”

  “You never struggled with tying your shoes, did you?”

  “Never.” Guess that’s what happens when there’s no one around who’ll do it for you. “But to make you feel better, I used to be terrified that my mother would get soap in my eyes when she washed my hair. I mean, I’d go flip-out nuts. I’d start crying before she even turned the water on. She gave up on me and cut my hair super short. It wasn’t until she left that I had enough to put up in a ponytail.”

  “You can tell me it’s none of my business, but where did she go?”

  “My mother? Away. She thought she could do better than my father and went off to try.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Ten, I think. I prefer to look forward, not back.”

  “That couldn’t have been easy.”

  “It wasn’t as bad as it sounds. My father took me everywhere with him. I adored him.”

  “How old were you when you lost him?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “I’m so sorry you went through that.”

  “It’s okay. It’s been a long time. I still miss him every day, but it doesn’t overwhelm me anymore.”

  “You told me about him the first time we met.”

  “I thought you didn’t remember much.” I sat up straighter.

  “It’s slowly coming back to me. Fragments of that night. The kiss is fuzzy, though. Maybe we can do something about that when I see you next.”

  My face warmed. “Maybe.” After a pause, I asked, “What was the toughest thing your brothers asked you to do that they weren’t sure you could?” It wasn’t my finest question, but I knew it would get him talking and give me a moment simply to savor hearing him.

  “Let me see. Toughest. Okay, several years ago, when Romano Superstores was experiencing its first expansions, we weren’t popular in every town we opened a store in. People saw us as the enemy of the small, independent store chains—and we were. Sebastian sent me to a certain store we couldn’t keep employees in. The town hated what we stood for so much, and they were exceedingly vocal about it. They didn’t want their husbands, wives, children, or neighbors working for us. I went in and sorted it out.”

  He was so even-tempered I could imagine him doing that, but I had to ask, “How?”

  “I met with everyone who had anything to say and let them speak their piece. Amazing how quickly people calm down when they feel that their opinion is being heard. The store we replaced had been going under before we forced the close. People had already become dissatisfied with what they had. It wasn’t the change they hated as much as the feeling that they had no control over what was happening in their town. I formed a committee of locals and gave them the task of compiling a list of what the community most needed from an employer. Turned out they needed after-school childcare. Once I implemented that program, it was as if we’d always been there. It’s one of our strongest stores, not a lot of turnover. I like to think that’s because they feel invested in our company.”

  “I bet they do . . . because you invested in them.”

  “Exactly. No one expected me to be able to turn that situation around. It was the first time I’d say I really earned Sebastian’s respect as far as being a valuable part of the company. Since then I’ve worked in many different departments, but when there’s discord at a store, they send me in.”

  “And you work your magic.”

  “Not magic. Like you, I enjoy making things work. Most people want to get along. All I do is look for what’s standing between them and their ability to work together. At one store it was a manager who was sleeping with several cashiers. How did he not think that would be a problem?”

  “What did you do?”

  “I fired him. I’m an understanding person, but you can’t fix stupid.”

  I chuckled at that. “No, you can’t.”

  “How about you? You work in a garage, right?”

  “I do.”

  “Is it yours?”

  “It is.”

  “I get the feeling you don’t want to talk about where you work.”

  “Work is work.” I should have told him about Decker Park then. Really, he’d played a role in making it possible. I couldn’t understand my reluctance, but it won out again.

  “Right, and this is a date. Of sorts. Our second date.”

  “You did feed me again, so I guess it counts.”

  “I took a gamble that you’d like shrimp scampi.”

  “I loved it. Wasn’t sure I should eat it when it arrived or wait, but it came at five, and I was hungry. It was delicious, though.”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad. I didn’t see too many restaurants that deliver near you, but it sounded good.”

  “You chose well.” On time. Thoughtful. Did the man have a flaw? “If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?”

  Yep, I’d gone there. Nobody was perfect, and the more I found to like about him, the more I worried I was missing something.

  “That’s an interesting question. I’m at a good place in my life. I’m comfortable in my own skin. I’m far from perfect, but I can look myself in the mirror every morning and not hate the person looking back. I don’t know that there’s much I would change. Is it a requirement that everyone wants to?”

  “Maybe not.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked his answer. “I wouldn’t want to change much of my life either. I’m finally where I want to be, doing something I love.”

  “Sounds like we have a lot in common.”

  “More than I thought,” I said aloud, then stopped because I hadn’t meant to share that last part. “Now, did you already buy the new engine for your car?”

  “No, I could only find something similar and wanted to see what you thought.”

  “I’d like to shop around a little for you. I bet I could find the exact engine you have.”

  “I looked.”

  “We may have different connections. That is, if you’re okay with me getting involved.”

  “I’m very okay with it. I thank you. Mack thanks you.”

  “I still can’t believe you named a car after me.”

  “Crazy romantic or borderline creepy?”

  I laughed. “I’m not sure yet.”

  “Hey, I’m not the one who took advantage of an inebriated person I’d just met in a bar.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “There I was, drinking my sorrows away, minding my own business, and you leaned in to kiss all my pain away.”

  “That’s not how it went down at all.”

  “Sure. That’s wh
at you say now. There I was, a young, innocent twenty-year-old . . . ripe for the picking.”

  “Hold on. You really were a virgin at twenty?”

  “You weren’t?”

  “Um. Sure. Yeah. I just assumed men started earlier.”

  “Do you want to hear about my first?”

  “Not really.”

  “Thank God, because I don’t want to hear about anyone you’ve been with either. How about we both consider each other a fresh slate.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. “I’d like that.”

  “But yeah, if I’d been more sober, you might have been my first.”

  “It wouldn’t have gone that far.”

  “We’ll never know, will we?”

  “No, we won’t.” He was teasing, but the subject had me flustered. Lately I’d gotten lost in what-ifs. What if he had been sober? Would anything have happened? Would we have gotten together? Would I have focused so much on him that Decker Park would have never happened?

  He must have sensed the change in my mood because he didn’t pursue the topic. Instead he asked me what my favorite television show was. From there we talked well into the night about everything and nothing. Halfway through the conversation I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, and crawled into bed. He did the same.

  There was something absolutely amazing about his voice being the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHRISTOF

  Sundays were for family dinners. Saturday mornings, while my brothers occupied themselves with other things, I continued my tradition of spending time with my parents.

  I whistled as I let myself into their home, a lightness lifting my steps. The smile on my face could only convey a piece of my almost giddiness. Giddiness I hadn’t felt since I’d first heard the purr of Mack’s engine. I wondered briefly if our phone conversations were leaving McKenna as revved as they were leaving me. All I could think about was seeing her again—in person this time.

  My father was sitting in his favorite chair, likely reading the news on his tablet. “Hi, Dad.”