As we come closer to showtime, the backstage hallway fills with people—stagehands carrying tuned instruments, sound technicians with microphones, and assistants rushing to bring the band dinner. I push my way through the chaos in search of a quiet place to think.

My discussion with Kade has plagued me all afternoon, and I need a moment to sort through it all.

"A.J.!" Ridley calls, her bright red hair and face popping out from a doorway. "Your brother has been looking for you."

"All right, I'll text him." I pull my phone from my pocket.

"No need, he's in the dressing room with the boys." She takes long steps across the hallway, and I wonder how it's possible to move in her skintight leather pants. Without knocking, she enters the room and I follow her in.

Nicky is in a circle with the boys; all of them consumed by someone standing in the center. I step closer and catch sight of black and white peppered hair pulled into a messy bun.

Nonna.

With her neck craned back and her hand on Kade's chest, my grandmother listens as he talks. I've never seen her so doe-eyed before and jealousy overwhelms me.

I clear my throat.

"Mia nipote!" She pushes through the circle and pulls me into her arms.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"The other week you said that they are not feeding you well, and I booked a ticket to come here and make sure you eat some proper food." She steps back from me, keeping her hands on my shoulders. "I swear, I can see your bones, Ariella. This will not do." She releases me and examines each member of the band, starting with Seb. "Too skinny, you need pasta." To Ridley, she says, "Look at your legs, they are like chicken legs, you also need pasta."

I glance at Nicky and together we roll our eyes. Leave it to Nonna not to care that she is telling the biggest musical act in the world they're too skinny.

She moves to Oscar. "You have good muscles, but don't worry, I will feed you."

Stopping at Eagin, her gaze falls to the tattoo on his forearm. "What is this on your arm? Does your mother approve of you doing this?"

Eagin's laughter fills the room. "I've never asked, but she's never complained."

"I suppose if your mother knows it is all right. She would want you to eat well, it is very important." She squeezes Eagin's tattoo and turns to Kade. "You have a beautiful head of hair. It reminds me of my brother Antonio's hair. Can I touch it?"

A boyish smile washes over his face as he bends forward. "Yes, ma'am."

She touches a strand next to his ear, and another pang of jealousy flows through me. Maybe it's because I've thought about touching his hair just to see if it's as soft as it looks. Or perhaps, I'm envious that she is giving him the same attention she reserves for Nicky and me.

"Very soft." She says, pulling her hand away and patting him on the chest. "I like you, Kade. You are a good boy. You are a little skinny but a good boy all the same."

If only she knew the truth.

Nonna addresses the room saying, "Nicky tells me you have some days off so you all will leave with me tonight." She faces me, placing her hands on my cheeks. "Everyone will come with me to the vineyard. Antonio will have the villas available. I will feed you all for the next three days."

Over the weeks, I've let some of my minor struggles with Kade slip. This is her way of letting me know there will be no arguments. Everyone will come.

She wraps her arm around my waist, pivoting me toward everyone.

"You see how beautiful my granddaughter is? She is beautiful inside and out, no? Lei è bellissima."

"Nonna," I say under my breath and blush.

"Well, you are, Ariella. Kade, isn't she the most beautiful girl you have ever seen?"

Did she just ask the one person she knows hates me if he thinks I'm beautiful? She must be jetlagged and not in her right mind.

His stunning golden gaze meets mine, and I still when he says, "Yes ma'am, she is very beautiful."

My heart beats so hard that my chest hurts. Nonna reaches for my hand and embraces it in hers, drawing me out of my daze.

Nonna says to their manager, "Mr. Mike, the vineyard is secluded. There will be no need for security. Do you have any objections to my request?"

"No, ma'am. If they want to go with you, they can go." It's a wise choice on Mike's part. My grandmother may be a tiny woman, but she's ruthless in getting what she wants.

"So, it is settled. Ariella, you must call for a car to take everyone from here to the vineyard. Stage Presence will take care of the cost—a thank you for allowing us to build the stage for your music tour," she says to the group.

Nonna rarely gets involved with S.P.I., even though she's a private investor in the company. My father handles all the operations, and I wonder if he knows she's spending his hard-earned money. The company doesn't pay for the vacations of the artists even as a thank you.

"Go do what I told you, mia nipotina."

"Sì, Nonna," I reply, hurrying out of the dressing room.