Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO SMILED TOO MUCH
Rafael Spedaro was thirty-two.
Charming.
Handsome.
And entirely too comfortable with silence.
He walked beside me toward the main hall.
"So," he said, "how are you finding married life?"
I looked at him.
"We're not married yet."
He smiled.
"Technicalities."
I folded my arms.
"Do you always speak in riddles?"
"Only when the truth is inconvenient."
I stared.
He laughed.
"Relax, Anna. I'm joking."
I didn't believe him.
He stopped near the staircase.
"Tell me something."
I looked up.
"Why did you agree to marry my brother?"
My stomach tightened.
"That's personal."
His smile faded.
"Everything in this house is personal."
He leaned closer.
"Especially debts."
I froze.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
The marriage arrangement.
The debt.
The reason I'd signed those papers.
Rafael studied my face.
"Don't look so frightened."
"I'm not."
He smiled.
"Good."
Then he walked away.
That evening, I confronted Tomaso.
He was in the library, reviewing documents.
"Why does Rafael know about the debt?"
He looked up.
"Because he's family."
I stared.
"That doesn't answer my question."
Tomaso sighed.
"Miss Vincenzi, there are things you don't understand."
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
He removed his glasses.
"Then perhaps you should stop asking questions that could put you in danger."
I stepped closer.
"No."
He looked surprised.
I swallowed.
"My family died because people kept secrets."
His expression changed.
"What?"
I stared at him.
"Fifteen years ago. The fire."
Tomaso went completely still.
I felt my heart pounding.
"You know about it."
He looked away.
"Anna—"
"You know."
Silence.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"More than you think."
