Page 62 of Rio (Knight Empire #3)

We get out of the car, and she meets us halfway, pulling Rio into a hug full of love, with a touch of scolding in rapid Italian. Then she turns to me.

“And this must be Raquel,” she says warmly, in accented English.

I smile, my heart thudding in my chest. I just want her to like me. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Isabel.” My voice wobbles in a way that feels foreign to me.

She takes both my hands in hers—warm and soft—and I feel comforted instantly. Her gaze searches mine in a way that’s not intimidating or invasive, but knowing. And understanding.

“You are even lovelier than Rio said.”

Heat rises in my cheeks. “He talks about me?”

She glances at her son with a soft, amused smile. “He talks about you a lot. I feel like I already know you.”

I tap Rio playfully on the shoulder. “You never said.”

“I never said what?” he teases. His smile that is wide and full, as if he’s lit up from his core. It’s the kind of smile that belongs to man who is grateful to be home again.

“My Rio has never brought a woman home to me before, and that tells me everything I need to know.

I don’t know what to say to that, but Rio’s gaze lingers on me, and something flutters deep in my belly.

“Come inside. Let’s have lunch,” Isabel says, and hooks her arm in mine, familiar and friendly. I warm to her instantly.

Her villa is light and airy, with sunlight pouring through open windows. The scent of basil and fresh bread fills the air. I love the smell of fresh bread—I never bake, so I only get it when I walk into a bakery.

Inside, a small wooden table is set with painted ceramic plates, a pitcher of wine glowing deep red in the center.

“Sit, please.” She ushers us to our places.

“Let me help you,” I say, not sitting down. I don’t like to be waited on, as I survey the dishes and platters on the countertop, I can see she’s already gone to so much trouble. Then it hits me. “Oh my goodness—we didn’t bring you anything.”

I forgot.

Rio laughs.

I put a hand to my forehead like I’ve committed a terrible offense. “I’m so sorry. I meant to pick something up on the way. Some flowers, and some—”

“Mama, she’s nervous.” Rio finds this amusing. “Raquel is never like this. This woman is like a velociraptor in court—stubborn, feisty—and I love her so much.”

Something trips in my stomach, an unexpected flutter that makes my breath hitch. It shocks and delights me how easily these words slip out, in front of his mother. They land right in the center of my chest, and I feel dizzy, as if the world is tilting around me.

With determined focus, I get up to help Isabel while Rio pours the wine, oblivious to the whirlwind of emotions swirling around me.

I carry over bowls of fresh pasta, roasted vegetables, a charcuterie board, salad and baskets of warm bread. I didn’t even realize I was hungry, but all of these delicious aromas combine to make my stomach rumble.

“This smells delicious. You’ve been hard at work,” I tell her.

She sets down a bowl of olives. “This is simple, but it’s from the heart. I’m so happy you are both here.” She clasps her hands to her chest, eyes misting over, as she looks at us both.

Rio gets up. “Sit down, Mama. We’re here now.”

She gives him a dismissive wave before sitting down. “It’s been so long, Rio. Matteo and Enzo were here recently, and it was just ... wonderful.” She looks wistful, a little sad even. “I miss my boys.”

“Then come back and live with us,” Rio offers. “We’re family, Mama. Nonno and Nonna are gone now. I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”

She arranges a white napkin over her lap. “I will. Not yet, but I have been thinking about it.”

“About moving back to the US?” The hope in Rio’s voice hurts. I know just how much he loves his mother, how much he hates the idea of her being so far away, and all alone.

“Don’t rush me. I’m thinking about it.”

I touch his thigh. Leave her be.

We eat, and she draws me into conversation, asking about my job—because Rio has told her—and then about the deal he’s working on.

He explains about the Cazale hotel we just visited.

Her questions aren’t polite filler; she’s genuinely attentive and listens and ask more questions than even my mother does.

Not that my mother worries about me much anymore—not since I’ve been FaceTiming her with Rio.

She’s more relaxed now that I’m not single.

Or focused on my work to the exclusion of everything else.

I heard her say this to Rio. She loves him, and is even coming to New York soon.

I’m moving into a new apartment, and she’s going to stay with me for a week.

I want her to get to meet him and get to know him, just like he wanted me to meet his mom.

Sometimes Isabel and Rio slip into rapid Italian before remembering I’m here. The resemblance between them is striking. It’s not just in their eyes, but in the way they listen and make you feel you have their full attention.

Halfway through the meal, Rio sets down his fork.

“There’s something else I should tell you, Mama.”

Her attention sharpens, and her hand stills as she breaks the bread. She can tell from his tone that this is serious.

“It’s about the old ... Papa,” he says, finally. His voice is calm but there’s an edge to it.

Her eyes widen.

“He had a health scare a few weeks ago. Kidney problems, and its being dealt with.”

He pauses, like he’s not sure if he should tell her more.

“Rio?” she says.

“He has stage 4 CKD, chronic kidney disease. It’s severe, but not yet total failure.”

She sets down the bread, and for a moment she doesn’t breathe.

“He has the best medical care, and he’s fine, but he’ll need ongoing treatment. Maybe even dialysis or a kidney…”

“It’s serious, then?”

“He’s not dying tomorrow, but this could kill him if it isn’t treated.”

Something flickers across her face. Pain, a rush of shock. Concern, too, but her composure calms in an instant.

“He will have the best treatment that money can buy.”

“He will, Mama. He’ll be fine.”

She picks up her bread again. “No matter what’s happened, he’s still your father, and thank you for telling me.”

I feel like this woman has known deep pain and now she knows how to school it.

I can see why. She’s survived heartbreak.

I can’t imagine how that would be—to be so in love with a man, only to discover he has a secret family and children and a wife.

It would break my heart into so many pieces.

I don’t think I’d ever be able to put it back together.

But this woman has. Rio’s gaze drops to his plate. “He’s still not an easy man, Mama. He’s still not nice or decent.”

I slide my hand beneath the table, my fingers brushing against his, and he glances at me briefly, his fingers twining with mine. I squeeze his hand, needing him to know I’m here for him. Whenever. Forever. For all time.

When I look up, Isabel is watching us. Her expression soft. “Eat,” she says gently, pouring more wine into my glass. “We’ll talk more later. For now, I want to enjoy having my son home, and I’m so happy to meet the woman who’s made him smile again.”

The way Rio looks at me makes me light up from the inside out.

Sitting here, in his mother’s house, with the man I love, knowing how his early life was ripped apart by the man he loved, I feel like Rio has finally come full circle.

It feels as if we’re standing at the start of a new chapter where the past no longer haunts him, and the future belongs to us both.

Thank you for reading Rio and Raquel’s story! I love the Knight Empire story world, and all the characters in it. I hope you do, too!