Page 244 of Anti-Heroes in Love Duet

His eyes widened comically. “No, no, Caprice, I told you, I love your food.”

“You call me Mama,” she asserted because all our friends had always been ordered to do just that. “And next time, do not talk to me about takeout.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, giving me big eyes.

“Mama,” she corrected.

He grimaced.

I laughed.

I laughed when I hadn’t thought I would laugh again until Dante got out of lockup and back into my arms.

I would have said that I’d forgotten about the power of family, but the truth was, I’d never really harnessed it. I knew they were there for me, ostensibly, but I’d never really reached out to them in times of need. Even in Naples, Cosima had been the one to come to me.

Music still ringing through my blood, I thought again of that prayer to Apollo and decided tonight was as good a night as any to open up to the people who matter.

I stood from the piano and almost ran to my loved ones. They laughed, startled and maybe a little happy when I hugged each of them. It wasn’t something I normally did, but it felt good to hold them after so long. They anchored me when I’d felt adrift without Dante.

“Come in, come in,” I coaxed, taking Sebastian by the hand to lead them through the living room into the massive kitchen.

Mama made a noise of approval. “This is the sign of a good man, having a good kitchen.”

“He’s an amazing cook too.”

Her mouth turned down at the corners, eyebrows raised as she nodded her head in surprised admiration. “See? I told you he was a good man. You should listen to your mama.”

I laughed. “I did. I told you, we’re together now.”

“Together and married?” Sebastian asked, having lifted the hand he held to stare at my wedding rings.

I shrugged somewhat sheepishly, but Seb only laughed. “I have to hand it to you, Lena, when you make up your mind about something, there is no stopping you from attaining it.”

When I fought a frown, trying to see it as a positive, he stepped closer to take my head in his hands. His golden eyes, so bright and thickly lashed they seemed inhuman, were utterly sincere. “You are incredible,sorella mia. You have always awed me. Marrying a wanted man and a mafia Don…only you would have such courage.”

I smiled, thinking of Dante because I always did when I heard that word.

“For him, I’ve found I am much more courageous than I ever thought I could be,” I admitted as Mama set to work loudly in the kitchen, ordering Beau around like he was her sous chef.

Seb kissed me on the cheek. “I think you should give yourself more credit. You were always the bravest person I knew.”

His praise warmed me through like good brandy, but he moved away, calling to Mama as if it was nothing to give me those words.

Beau caught my eye from across the island, looking a little harried, but his eyes were soft with understanding.

“What’s all the racket?” Frankie called as he, Addie, Chen, and Jaco entered the room from the hall to the office where they’d been doing whatever it was mafiosos did during working hours.

I looked from them on one side to my blood family on the other and had a strange moment of disconnect as the two worlds merged.

“Mama, Sebastian, Beau? These are Dante’s men, Adriano, Chen, Jacopo, and Frankie,” I introduced, feeling suddenly shy and a little anxious.

The new and old world Elenas were meeting, and I had a feeling it could be seamless or as disastrous as the Big Bang.

Yearning rammed into my chest, stealing my breath.

If Dante had been there, he would have smoothed over introductions perfectly with his charm and warmth.

Mama eyed the men wearily as did Sebastian. They were used to the mafiosos of Napoli, the ruthless, selfish Made Men who would beat you up just to steal a nickel.