“Did you now? May I?”

She smiled, nodding.

He picked one up and took a bite. “Well, you did a good job. They’re the best cookies I’ve ever had.”

Effie gave him a big smile. “They are?”

“Yep. And Rainey’s a good cook, so that says something.”

Izzy checked her watch. “We should get going.”

“You can’t stay longer?” I didn’t want her to go. I didn’t want to be alone with him.

“I’ve got people coming to help with the house, and we’ll be back with bathing suits soon. Maybe you can come help? I’m packing up some things and moving them to the attic, getting rid of some things. Maybe you want to do your room?

I glanced at Salvatore, hating that I had to ask his permission. Ask him for a ride. Ask him for everything.

“When?” he asked.

Izzy shrugged her shoulder. “Tomorrow or the next day.”

“I think we can manage that.”

I felt like I went from my father’s house, to the nuns, to Salvatore Benedetti’s. I was powerless to decide anything for myself.

“Luce?” Izzy asked.

I nodded, adjusting my expression. “My calendar is free,” I said, giving Salvatore a smirk.

He didn’t react.

“Great, we’ll see you then. Come on, Effie, time to go back home.”

“Ugh. Home is so boring,” she said, her shoulders slumping.

“No, it’s not. We’ve just got to find your box of toys. Maybe you can pack up a couple of those cookies for home.”

I picked up a napkin, tucked the remaining cookies into it, and handed it to Effie.

“Here you go, honey. Don’t forget your bathing suit the next time you come, by the way.”

“I won’t, Aunt Lucia.”

She gave me a hug. Again came the thought that I’d missed out on the first years of my niece’s life. I didn’t know her. I hardly knew Izzy anymore. Or Luke.

Were Luke and Izzy really planning an attack on the Benedetti family? What did that mean for Salvatore?

Salvatore walked with us to the door. Once they had driven off and were out of view, he closed it. We stood in the foyer.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done what I did.”

Shit. An apology was the last thing I’d expected. If he’d locked me in a room, been a beast to me, it would make more sense. I could hate him. But an apology? Him offering to take me to my sister’s?

“I hope we can forget it and start again,” he added.

I think both of us found it hard to hold each other’s gaze, and the last thing I wanted to do was talk about what happened, so I nodded. “Okay.”

He smiled a small smile. “Thank you.”

“If you ever do something like that again, Salvatore, I will kill you.”