“Goodnight, Little Red,” I reply, but I don’t think she hears me as she quickly gets lost in slumber again.

I sit sipping my whiskey for the next few hours, only leaving when the sun threatens to peek through the windows to start a new day.

10

Annie

My body is weary after a day of building spaceships with Leo and watching Maria cook her traditional Sicilian meals. My mind too is a whirlwind as I continue to quietly practice the few Italian words Maria mentioned to me today. But although I am exhausted, I am currently sitting up in bed, engrossed in a book I chose from Dante’s library earlier this morning. I spent hours looking over the selection, then grabbed a few on childhood development. Clearly, he has them for his son, and I have tagged a few pages in them I want to revisit tomorrow. Now, I am cozy in the delicate soft linens as I read all about Sicily, which I’ve learned is a small island in Southern Italy, and by the look of the photos in this book, it is the most stunning place I have ever seen.

Bright blue water, beautiful pink bougainvillea, all the amazing foods that Maria prepares, and so many stunning historical landmarks. A place I can only fantasize about visiting one day.

“You’re still awake, Little Red?” Dante says in surprise as he walks into the room with his nightly glass of whiskey. For a big man, he can be extremely stealth, because I didn’t even hear him enter the room. As my eyes flick to his, my lips part at the sight of him, and I feel a flush overtaking my cheeks.

Tall, menacing, dressed all in black, looking exactly like a man who conducts his business at night. He stands at the end of the bed and gazes down at me, his dark eyes roaming over my body with a hunger I’m sure I’m imagining.

“Is it late?” I respond, while my eyes search the clock, noticing that it is after midnight. Late for me, but early for Dante.

“No,” Dante sighs, looking worn from his day as he walks a few steps across the room and takes a seat in his chair. He places his whiskey glass on the side table and begins to roll up his sleeves, his posture relaxing.