Quiet Wealth by J.L. Drake

As much as it hurt when Sienna pulled away, it was for the best. I had to deal with a few things myself. But I couldn’t help but be more pleased that she was here now and willing to go somewhere with me. It only took a childhood to get here, but I knew this needed baby steps.

From the first day we met, there was something about her that I found interesting. I believed it was that she wasn’t frightened of me. Most people were, and it was hard to grow up like that. Now, as an adult, it was an asset rather than something I hid from.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw she was hesitant. Poor girl was always on edge and jumpy. I wished I could have taken her from that house, but I had bigger things to deal with, and it wasn’t safe at my house either. My only saving grace was that the swimming pond was on our property, so she would be safe any time she hung out there.

“Not too much farther,” I reassured her and watched as she wrapped her arms around her midsection.

I had watched Sienna become even more beautiful as the years went by, not that I would tell her that. I believed she had enough men in her life looking to get a piece of her. Her long, dark, damp hair fell to her mid-back. Her frame was small, but she looked healthy for once, not to mention she had a few curves that I couldn’t help but admire. She was the classic sexy Italian woman, and she nearly brought me to my knees when she stepped out of the water earlier.

“This,” I forced myself back to where we were and held up a branch to let her see my home, “is where I live.”

She stepped out and came to a stop. She shook her head and looked back into the forest and back to the villa again.

“What?” She almost sounded upset. “This? This is where you live?”

“I do.”

I saw the panic that swept over her, and I felt her pull away.

“Is something wrong?”

“I feel like a bird let out of the cage for the first time.” She rubbed her eyes. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this was here. It’s beautiful.”

I didn’t want to let her talk herself out of coming with me, so I took her hand and started to walk forward.

“Come on, let me show you around.”

She came, but I could tell it took a lot of effort.

When we rounded the back yard, she gasped at the sprawling, rectangular stone pool. A few cabana huts were nestled between the white lounge chairs that lined one side of the pool. Archways outlined the five double doors leading inside, and the view took your eyes over the cliff and down to the crisp blue ocean below.

Francesco, the head of the house staff—at least that was what we led others to believe—appeared in his usual suit and tie as we stepped onto the patio.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Capri. Will you and your guest be joining us for lunch?”

I squeezed Sienna’s hand to let her know it was all right. “Yes, we will be.”

“Elio,” she whispered, but I shook my head with a smile. I wanted this to happen.

“Very well.” He nodded politely and led the way to the long table under one of the cabanas. He pulled out a chair for Sienna while I took the other. I reluctantly broke my hold on her hand, one that I had very much enjoyed.

“Elio,” she repeated, “what am I doing here?”

“We’re having lunch.” I poured her a glass of ice water. “And my family wanted to meet you.” Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head, and her face went pink.

“Now?” She looked around in a panic. “With me looking like this?”

“I think you look nice.”

“Nice,” she hissed. “I’m still wet. I must look like a half-drowned rat.”

“You could never look anything like a rat, Sienna, so I totally disagree. You look beautiful.”

“I swear, Elio, I will cut you from your navel to your hairline if you’re serious right now.”

“Ha!” I laughed out loud. I had never seen that fire in her before, and I really liked it.

“You forget the kind of men I have to live with…” She trailed off when my mother arrived with her arms stretched open for a hug.

“Elio, my dear son, you finally brought her to us.”

I leaned forward and moved the steak knife from Sienna’s reach.

“Mama.” I quickly jumped up and kissed her cheeks. “This is Sienna.”

Sienna stood and hesitantly offered a hand, but my mother leaned in for a hug, and I noticed Sienna’s face softened for just a moment.

“It’s lovely to meet you, dear. You can call me Andrea, and this is my husband Piero.” My father, an older version of myself, offered a hand, then he laughed and pulled her into a hug. We were a true Italian family. No one was unwelcome, until they gave us a reason to change our minds.

“We’ve heard about you for years.” My father took a seat at the table and reached over to pour my mother a glass of sparkling wine. “I won’t lie, we may have believed you were imaginary, but when Elio started collecting your notes, we had to believe you just might be real.”

Sienna glanced up at me like she was trying to read my thoughts.

Good luck with that.

“I apologize for how I must look. We just had a swim.” She blushed as her hand went to her hair while looking down at her damp clothes. “If I had known I was meeting you today, I would have dressed appropriately.” She threw me a look, and I smirked, entertained by her glare.

“Nonsense.” My mother waved her off. “I think this is the first time I haven’t been in the pool before lunch.” She leaned back while Francesco placed a plate of fresh fruit in front of her. “Why don’t you share a little about yourself, since my son seems to have kept you all to himself.”

“Well, um.” She fought to think as a plate was placed in front of her. She took a deep breath and looked at me, then her chin lifted as she turned to face them. “I’d really love to sit here and give you a beautiful story about my loving parents and the opportunities that I was given, but I can’t.” I could feel the sadness in her voice. “All I know is what I’ve been told, that my father left after he got my mother pregnant, she moved here from somewhere, and we stayed with a friend of hers. Until one day she left, and I was told I had to live with one of his friends. I’ve never seen her since.” She gave a shy shrug. “As you can see, I don’t know much about where I came from. My life began rocky, and my memories are vague.”

“Oh.” My mother’s face fell.

“Like I said, not exactly a beautiful tale,” she whispered and cleared her throat.

“I understand you’re living with the Di Vaio family?” My mother leaned in closer.

“I am.”

“So, it’s true?” My father eyed me and shook his head. I gave him a nod to let him know I would be looking into who exactly was living at that house.

“Yes, sir, and I’m looking forward to the day I can leave. If they let me.”

“Let you?” I asked and caught Francesco holding a finger up to me that he would be right back. I gave a nod and went back to watching her.

She bit her lower lip and looked up at our faces. “I’ve been working at the dockyard for a few years now. I’m not afraid of hard work. I just don’t get my pay, as it all goes through Andrew Di Vaio. He only allows me money to buy clothes. Without money, it would be nearly impossible to go. I represent income for them, so it might not be easy to do.”

“You’re always welcome here, dear.” Mama put her hand over Sienna’s and gave her a warm smile.

“That’s very kind, thank you.”

It wasn’t lost on me that Sienna only ate the fruit and not the actual meal. The Italian in Mama wanted to insist that she eat, but I gave her a warning not to push. I knew Sienna was never fed much. I knew she always ate what I left for her, and I was happy to be able to do that, but a meal like the one we were having would overpower her stomach.

As the afternoon went on, I could feel her anxiety level rise. I knew it was her fear of being away from the house too long. My parents enjoyed talking to her. Despite what she had been through, she was quite smart and had a fire to her personality that I found very intriguing. However, I knew she needed to get back and stood to give her the out she needed.

“Thank you for such a lovely afternoon.” She hugged my mother. “Forgive me for not staying longer, but I must get going.”

“Wait, wait.” My mama held up a camera, and as she snapped a few photos, it surprised me that Sienna leaned into me and smiled warmly. Even my mother seemed pleased and snapped a few more as we were hustling around the table.

“I will walk with you.” I waited for her to say goodbye to my parents then led her back toward the path, her hand in mine.

She remained quiet for most of the way. I knew I had dropped her into a world she wasn’t ready for, but if I didn’t do it then, when? I started to get nervous and decided to be honest with her the way she had been with us.

“Sienna,” I reached out to stop her, “I’m sorry if that was a lot. I just wanted my parents to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Because I really like you.” What was she not getting?

“You can have any girl out there. I have nothing to offer you.”

“You’re different from any girl I have ever met.”

She closed her eyes, and a tear leaked out. I reached up and gently dragged my thumb down the damp path, catching the tear at the corner of her lips.

“You’re right. We are very different.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I know, but it’s true.” She smiled and slid her hand from mine. “Thank you for an afternoon I will never forget.” She leaned up and gently kissed my cheek then disappeared through the brush back to what I knew must be hell for her.