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Now Gio pointed his finger at Slash. “Youobviously toldhereverything, after we swore,in blood, we’d never speak of it again.”

I leaped up from the bed. “Slash didn’t tell me anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Stefan started pacing the room. “We’re just supposed to believe it was coincidence that Romeo picked the statue of the Virgin Mary to play this prank on Gio?”

“Slash didn’t have anything to do with this prank.” I put my hands on my hips, standing my ground. “He’s covering for me. This prank was Mia’s and Alessa’s brainchild. I got roped into it and they snuck away while I got caught. I didn’t want to tell on them in front of everyone, so Slash stepped in to take the heat on their behalf. They’re the true pranksters.”

“Alessa?” Stefan looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “My girlfriend?”

“Yes, she was Mia’s righthand prankster, and I was the designated lookout.”

“Then how did you get under my bed?” Gio asked.

“I came to check on their progress, but Vittoria returned to the room before we’d finished arranging the statue. They hid in the bathroom, so I dived under the bed. When Vittoria went to get you, they slipped out, but I was stuck, and then I sneezed. I assure you, this was Mia’s plan, Alessa’s execution, and my screwup.”

Stefan stopped his pacing and snapped his fingers. “Wait. How would Vittoria’s sister know about the Virgin Mary thing unless…” He turned to Gio. “You.You told Vittoria, didn’t you? And she must have told her little sister.”

“I didnottell Vittoria,” Gio said, spreading his hands. “Why would I tell her? I swore in blood I would say nothing of what happened, and I didn’t. Besides, I have the most to lose here. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Enough!” Slash said, clearly exasperated. “Read the sign around the statue’s neck. It’s clearly Mia playing a prank on her older sister, teasing her for getting pregnant before the wedding. Immaculate conception and all that. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence that sparked a memory with Mama. Now we have to deal with it.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking around uneasily. “Did you guys kill someone or something?”

Gio snorted. “If only it were that easy.”

“Yes, if only,” Stefan agreed. “Instead, I have to confess.”

“Confess towhat?” I asked.

“To something he didn’t do,” Slash said, taking me by the elbow. “Come on, we have to go to dinner, but at some point, after we eat and before dessert, when people are out of their seats and mingling, we need to step out onto the balcony and have a discussion regarding thisbeforewe speak with Mama. We all need to be on the same page. Stagger your exits, please.”

The three brothers looked at each other and nodded. Without another word, we left the room and headed down to the dining room together.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I whispered to Slash as we descended the marble stairs.

“You’ll hear soon enough,” he said, taking my hand, leaving me wondering what in the world was going on. “Don’t worry.”

* * *

Slash

I shouldn’t have wasted my breath telling Lexi not to worry. That had never worked in the past. But Mama’s revelation about Father Rainaldi had taken me off guard.

Sure enough, during dinner, Lexi repeatedly folded her napkin in her lap into a tiny square, a sure sign of anxiety.

I sighed inwardly. There was nothing to be done about it at this point. I ate my dinner and chatted in Italian with Father Armando, who sat next to me. I pretended all was well in my house when clearly it wasn’t.

I’d have to fix that.

I kept my eyes on my brother, noting when Gio disappeared, followed by Stefan a few minutes later. When Father Armando got up from his chair, I took Lexi’s hand and we slipped outside to the veranda. I found Gio and Stefan at the far end of the veranda, huddled together talking.

“You brought Lexi?” Stefan said in surprise when he saw us.

“I did. She’s a part of it now that she knows something’s amiss, and I’m not keeping it from her,” I said.

Stefan rubbed his forehead. “Fine. Sorry we have to air the family dirty laundry in front of you, Lexi.”

“I don’t have to stay,” Lexi started to protest, but Gio came over and put an arm around her shoulders.