Treasured Dreams Read Online Free Page B

guest who visitato from time to time. Once you started school, your mother had more time on her hands and she found herself work at the florist in town. She loved it. All day she would design bellissimo fiori for men wanting to romance their lovers. She blossomed, just like the flowers she arranged. And men flocked to her like bees to the sweet flower nectar.’
    Rosalina had a feeling she knew where this was going and wasn’t sure she wanted to hear any more. But how could she stop it? She’d begged Nonna to tell her the story; now she had to listen.
    â€˜At first, your mother laughed off the attenzione . She couldn’t believe that any man was interested in a woman with six children. But they were. Many were. Your mother was bellissimo , confident, sensual. Yet hollow. She needed more than what she had at home. Especially as you children were growing up.’
    Rosalina felt icy fear building in her spine as she dreaded what secret Nonna was about to reveal. ‘Nonna, you don’t need to go on.’
    â€˜Yes I do,’ she snapped to Rosalina. Her eyes blazed with fire. ‘I have started now. You will hear it all.’
    Rosalina could barely swallow. ‘Shall I fetch a glass of water? Or tea maybe?’
    â€˜Wine. We will have a wine.’
    Rosalina hesitated, unsure if Nonna was serious, but before she could decide Nonna stood up herself and reached for the bottle in the cupboard at her right. She plucked two wine glasses from the hanging rack, splashed a generous quantity into each glass and handed one to Rosalina. Before Nonna sat back down, she took a large sip.
    Nonna rolled her tongue over her bottom lip as she returned to her seat. She wrapped both flour-caked hands around her glass, then she let out a long, slow breath. ‘Your mother met another man. She never told anyone his name. It was just a little fun, she told me once. Nothing serious. And it was.’ Nonna paused, took another sip of wine, and swallowed hard. ‘Until she fell pregnant.’
    Rosalina cupped her mouth. A wave of fire flooded her body as she watched Nonna swallow another large gulp of wine. She too had a sip, hoping the wine would settle her churning stomach.
    â€˜Filippo?’ It was a question, although it need not be. Rosalina already knew the answer.
    Nonna rocked ever so slightly back and forward for a long moment. ‘When your mother passed away during childbirth, your padre was forced to look after a child that was not his own flesh and blood.’

Chapter Four
    Nox casually strolled his way to the kitchen, pleased that he’d gone undetected. He pushed open the door and nearly walked straight into Brother Linchin.
    â€˜ Scusami ,’ Brother Linchin said, as he placed a large ceramic bowl of creamy pasta on the table and stepped back.
    The bald man had put on significant weight since Nox had last seen him. Nox waited, watching his eyes for a flicker of recognition, but there wasn’t one.
    â€˜ Scusate un po 'perso .’ Nox pretended to be lost. Then, he realised his mistake. Shadow, his beautiful grey cat, was going to ruin his disguise. Nobody had been able to even get near Shadow other than Nox.
    Linchin blinked, lowered his eyes and backed up farther. When sweat beaded on Linchin’s upper lip, Nox was certain his ruse was over.
    â€˜Still sneaking food I see, Linchin.’
    Linchin’s lips quivered. ‘Don’t hurt me.’
    â€˜Why would I hurt you? We’re just having a conversation.’ But Linchin’s words almost proved that Nox had been identified as a murderer. Nox wondered which murder it was. There’d been a few.
    â€˜I thought you were …’
    â€˜Dead.’ Nox finished his sentence. ‘You can’t believe everything you see in the media.’ Nox laughed as he put Shadow on the table. The cat slinked towards Linchin’s bowl of steaming pasta.
    Linchin’s back was against the bench now, his hands