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Giovanni reached for her hand pulling her to him “I think it’s wonderful that you care about my sister and are helping her. I trust you, Bella. And I need a date for the wedding. Will you be my date?”

“I… okay, but, well this woman.”

“You and Catalina listen toSignoraClara. She’s a wise woman. Catalina will have a traditional Sicilian wedding, and Clara will see to it. If she objected to the dress, then there must be a reason. My sister will not flaunt fashion over our faith. I want her to be beautiful, can you make sure she is?”

“I will try. Giovanni, why an arranged marriage? Catalina is so young, why not send her off to school? Or let her fall in love on her own.”

Giovanni frowned. “Where does this question come from? Has my sister said she doesn’t want to marry Franco?”

“No. No. It’s just, I didn’t know arranged marriages were still done. I guess it’s my ignorance.”

He released a gust of a laugh. “Well it’s not always done. But in our family it is. My father arranged this marriage between our families, and Catalina is happy with the choice. Now enough of this.” He kissed her cheek. “You have a visitor waiting.”

****

Fabiana looked up when her friend walked in. She felt her heart sink. Mira smiled sweetly at her, and she looked away. The idea of lying to her made her stomach clench and her heart hurt. She sat silently as Lorenzo introduced the building inspector to Mira and barely listened when they told Mira that their boutique would be closed for the coming weeks until the building is up to code. Her friend asked the usual questions, panic in her voice and face. Fabiana couldn’t speak. She couldn’t say a word.

“Fabiana? What are we going to do?” Mira asked.

She gripped the chair, her gaze lifted to Lorenzo and his stayed on her. She glanced over to Giovanni who watched her as well. She should say to hell with them and call bullshit on it all. Grab her friend and walk out. Last night Lorenzo confessed something to her that had her terrified for him, for them all. He needed her help. To save his life she’d have to risk a friendship that meant more to her than anything in the world. What was she to do?

“Fabiana? What should we do?” Mira repeated.

“Don’t… don’t panic. This is only temporary,” Fabiana’s voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I made some calls while you were with,” her gaze shifted to the Don and away. “Giovanni. Angelique is going to bring over your designs. He’s agreed to give us space to work here. Until this matter is cleared up.”

“You did? How could you do that if he just told us the building was closed?” Mira frowned.

Fabiana stammered over her answer. “I found out about the problem late in the evening. I um, asked the inspector to come here. I didn’t want to worry you.”

Giovanni took her hand and kissed it. “I want to help. Let me.”

“What about our staff? Where will they be?”

She forced a smile. “Sending half of them to New York and the other half to Milan. We can join them in a few weeks. Setting things up now. See. No problem. We’ll handle it.”

Mira felt it. Something was off. Giovanni kept her hand in his, and Fabiana could barely make eye contact with her. The inspector needed a translator and again she felt like the only person in the room not in on the truth was her.

The inspector picked up his hat and situated it on his head. The man said a few more words in Italian to Giovanni and then left. “Are you okay with this? With us staying here?”

Giovanni smirked and she knew he was. In fact it played right into his request that she stay longer. Mira rubbed her temples, pacing. “This can’t work. This is wrong. It’s wrong.”

“Bella? Look at me.”

She stopped and looked at him. His smile melted her anxiety. “I will do whatever it takes to put this in order. Trust me.”

She glanced to Fabiana and Lorenzo. She had no reason not to trust them. Her gaze returned to Giovanni. Especially him. Her heart had grown fond of him. She nodded. “Well I’m yours.”

He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “Yes, you are.”

He then signaled to Lorenzo to follow him and the men walked out. Fabiana rose to leave behind them. “Freeze. Don’t you dare leave.”

Fabiana flashed her a pretty smile. She wore her hair in a slender ponytail. She’d chosen a pair of khaki colored capris and a sheer pink shirt with oversized sleeves that were adorned with tiny sequined beads circling her collar. Her friend smiled and stopped.

“What’s going on? How bad is it? Do we need to find another building to lease? Have you called our solicitor? Teddy?”

“Hey! Slow down!” Fabiana laughed. “It’s a setback. We can manage it. I can manage it. You know me. When I panic then you panic. Okay?”

“Mira! There you are!” Catalina hurried in. She and Fabiana froze. Catalina, in an all-white sundress, looked completely virginal compared to the seductress she saw having her way with her surrogate step-brother. “I’ve been looking for you.”