Page 70

“Mr. Sears and the estate trustees want to fight for it. It benefits him and his group, giving them more power. But even they can’t argue that some of the changes were things Luca knew he couldn’t make without approval. It’s strange.”
I sighed. “Well, then, it’s good you’re fighting it.”
“I know my grandfather expects me to. I’ve won a lot of my power back, but when I raised dismissing the child provision in the current will, my mother refused to change it. She’s the second highest shareholder.”
I grimaced. “That’s cruel. How could she do that to you?”
“She wants babies. Even bought a stroller.”
I groaned, “That’s…crazy.”
“It is. She agrees with Grandfather about Marini elders needing to guide their offspring. She wants us to have children now.”
“Can’t we talk her out of it?” I chewed on my lip.
“Maybe you can? She wants to see you.”
“I-I can’t. Not…not right now,” I stammered as I massaged the back of my neck. We weren’t good yet, and I didn’t want to be pressured by her.
“I told her you need some time alone. She asked I offer anyway.”
“Tell her thank you. What about your dad?” I wrinkled my nose.
He scoffed. “Still being an ass, but we restored his promised trust from Luca. We’re mediating about some of our larger properties and land holdings. But it still looks like we will end up in court.”
“I’m sorry, Rocco.” I blew out.
“I haven’t given up on getting it all or my movie studio. Now that my key investors know about Luca’s will, they will want more for their investment, which I don’t want to change.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” My voice raised octaves.
“Not really. Gunnar’s the best, we will win. As for expanding my production studio, I think after the Oscar win for The Age of Sin, I’ll have a better chance of getting everything I want. But right now I’ll have to try for more investors.”
I admired his sureness, but it all made me sad because he always worked so hard. “All you do is give them everything. It’s unfair they are making you do this.”
“You worried about me, Adelina?” There was delight in his tone.
“I am,” I admitted hoarsely.
“I love hearing that. I miss you, Bella. I hate going to our bed without you in it.”Bella. How I’ve missed him calling me that.His voice was deep and fueled my longing.
“Rocco.…” I said his name but didn’t know what else to say to him. It still hurt.
“I hate what my grandpa did; it’s hard to respect him. I can’t believe he’s the same man who did so much good for so many people and put everyone through school, college, and all the charities. I was so proud to be a Marini. To know he left your mother, Jacob, and you so vulnerable…I want to hate him; maybe I do.” Rocco’s voice filled with anger and disappointment.
“Don’t hate your grandfather. He kept it from you for years, right?”
“Yes. As I said, he only told me about the arranged marriage months ago.”
“Then it’s all still new to you. I’m having a hard time finding hate myself. Judge Colby chose to hurt us.” I was coming to better terms about it on my own.
“I still pick up the phone, ready to call him,” his voice lost steam.
“I do, too,” I confessed in a hushed tone. But then, the opportunity to reminisce about the Luca Marini we both knew seemed to bring a sense of comfort to Rocco, and I found myself feeling the same.
“Mom sent a picture from my first communion;. I got into a fight and ripped my new pants. She was furious, but when Grandpa heard, he laughed so hard.”
I giggled. “You fighting?”