July 4, 1933
Vic's eyes fluttered open.
Sunlight filtered though the gossamer curtains.
Anet's small form wrapped against his chest. Her face so soft in sleep.
You must really love me to stay all night. he thought. You must love me. Only Graziella has ever looked at me the way you did last night. She always sought to save my soul. Is that why you came back into my life? He brushed a stray hair. To save my soul? To bring me into the light? To help me live again?
His fingers brushed the length of her bare arm.
Her eyes fluttered open.
She looked from his face to her surroundings, to her brazier then back to him.
"So it wasn't a dream..."
Half-smile. "No."
She didn't move. But he could feel her heart pickup pace.
"Vic... what happened? —Before I came to you last night."
"... My father... My father is getting closer to his 'divine appointment'. I guess, when you know you're time is almost up, you start singing like a canary, getting all sorts of guilt off your chest."
He didn't want to talk about this. But he didn't want it to become a haunting between them, like it did with him and Isla.
"My father confessed to sending Graziella to her death. He knew she would try to stop me, and he waited 'til it would be too late...knowing she wouldn't make it back."
"W-what did he do?"
Vic heaved a ragged breath. "He found out she was the daughter of a Marchetti."
"Marchetti. One of the families."
Nod. "The Maggios and Marchettis have been at each others' throats before either migrated from Italy." he shook his head "They couldn't let it go. Graziella and I didn't want part of it anymore—her long before I started. I wanted to go straight. Maggio wouldn't have it..." teeth gritted, "He still won't."
Anet placed a gentle hand on his cheek, drawing his eyes back to hers.
"I'm sorry, Vic. I'm sorry you couldn't be with the one you love...I know that pain. I couldn't be with the one I loved, because my duty to my family was more important... Maybe that's why I felt so connected to you when we first met... why I could never leave you before... or now." she drew closer. "I'll never leave you, Vic."
It's all he ever wanted to hear from her lips.
He drew her into his kiss.
R-R-RING! R-R-RING! R-R-RING!
He tried to ignore it.
R-R-RING! R-R-RING! R-R-RING!
Exasperated breath. "I should get that." he thought about snipping the cord... but Junior's condition lately had him a little more worried.
"Selini here."
"Vic..." Glorietta spoke. "You need to come home..."
"... Is he?"
"He's ready to go to the family."
"I'm on my way." he hung up. Took deep ragged breaths.
"Vic?"
"I have to go right now." he snatched up his shirt.
Anet found hers. "What's wrong?"
"I'll give you a ride to the Daisy-Chain. I won't be at the opening tonight for L'Angela."
YOU ARE READING
Through Time Again
Science Fiction((SEQUEL to Through Time She Came)) "Our family was always important to the Maggios, Anet. In your timeline, we had managed to stay well-hidden. Something changed and brought us back out into the game." 2010 is not how she left it. The Maggio and th...
