Chapter Twenty-two: Marco's Women
"Tell the truth, girl. What is Marco to you?" The old woman looked deep into her eyes. "What hold do you have over my grandson?"
The question took Mary by surprise. Sunday afternoons at Antonia's were usually a nice break from all the craziness at Marco's restaurant. Sundays were usually very quiet and relaxing. Mary enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen, drinking wine and swapping stories. Sometimes Antonia taught her naughty words in Italian, the two of them laughing together like a couple of kids.
This was different. Antonia's stern and wrinkled face was suddenly deadly serious. Her searching gaze made Mary feel like a police suspect being questioned under the bright lights in the interrogation room. The cozy kitchen felt very hot all of a sudden.
"Marco is my boss," she said, squirming under the old woman's questioning gaze. Mary knew that Antonia had sharp eyes and missed nothing that happened under her roof. Mary obeyed her grandson's every command, but it wasn't just about work. When they were alone together, Marco was boss in the bedroom too. Mary reached for her wine glass, but her hands were unsteady. Her fingers shook, and a few red drops spattered the tablecloth.
"You must be more careful," Antonia scolded, dabbing at the stains with a frilly napkin. "Marco has many powerful enemies in this town. They watch closely for any sign of weakness."
"Marco doesn't have any weaknesses," Mary murmured, closing her eyes and consuming the rest of the sweet red wine. She couldn't help feeling a stab of bitterness as she drained her glass right down to the very last drop. All week long, Marco kept her hopping. He treated her just like any other waitress. Mary didn't mind the work, but her sexy boss was always so brusque and impersonal in public. And when they were alone together . . .
"You are his weakness," Antonia stated flatly. "I love you very much, child. But you are bad for him, and bad for his business."
"But the restaurant is busy every night!"
"The neighborhood loves to eat at Maselli's Restaurant," Antonia acknowledged. "And that will never change. But you know many rich and important people. You used to be a rich and important person. None of those people ever come to Maselli's. Why?"
"I told Marco he should let my cousin Elizabeth help us out," Mary squeaked. Her cheeks were flushed, and she felt a bit dizzy from the wine. "I begged Marco to let her book a big corporate dinner at Maselli's, but he said no! He doesn't want me going anywhere near my two-faced cousin. He thinks I'll get in trouble again, like when I broke into her office a few weeks back."
"Perhaps it is just the opposite," Antonia suggested quietly. "Perhaps he is afraid of losing you."
"Losing me?" Mary had to laugh. "Where would I go? Elizabeth is in charge of all the Tudor lands, all our financial holdings. She had me thrown in jail. The board voted me out. My connection to that world was broken a long time ago."
"But you and Elizabeth are still family. And Marco knows that one day you will reclaim what's yours. And then you will leave us."
"Never," Mary said firmly. Suddenly her green eyes gleamed with understanding. "That's why Marco won't let Elizabeth help us out? I thought he was just trying to cover up his own past. I mean, he used to work for Elizabeth. Undercover I mean. He was sort of like a spy. I found out all about it when I broke into her office. Elizabeth had Marco in her pocket right from the very beginning. She paid him to get close to me. And I think she paid him to . . ."
"Paid me do to what?" Marco's voice made the two women jump. He walked into the kitchen shirtless, looking sleepy after his nap. His massive muscles bulged, and his lean belly was hard and flat. His black hair was tousled and sticking up every which way. Sunday afternoons were the only time Marco ever relaxed.
"Elizabeth paid you to destroy me," Mary said pertly. She hooked her fingers into the pockets of Marco's faded jeans and pulled him close. "But you saved me instead. So the joke is on her." She kissed Marco on the tummy, her tongue tickling his belly button.
"Knock that off," Marco growled. But his hands were gentle as he pushed Mary away. "Nona is watching."
"Mary is a good girl," Antonia said firmly, her black eyes shining as she studied the two young people. "You marry her, you start a family. Family is important. You can never lose your family."
"Elizabeth is my family," Mary pointed out, feeling a rush of bittersweet emotion. "But I suppose I'll never see her again."
"Knock it off, both of you!" Marco groaned as he sat down in a chair at the kitchen table, wedged in between the two women. "Making up with Elizabeth is what you want, huh? Even though she hurt you? Even though she betrayed you?"
"She hurt us both," Mary said softly. She rubbed Marco's arm. "But together we can face her. Together we're strong."
"Together we're family." Antonia was very forceful and direct.
"I thought I was the boss around here!" Marco moaned, and buried his face in his hands. But the two women simply laughed at him. And then Mary got up to set the table for dinner.
