“And the moral of the story?” Aida’s voice takes on an edge with the inquiry and a warning goes off in my mind. When I nod, she continues. “You three were also to represent the three princes, who looked after one another no matter what difficulties they faced, and when they were given the chance to steal from the other they refused. That story was what I wanted your relationships to be, with or without your father and me.”
“They are,” Rafael says. “You can be sure of that. I will say I don’t get why Tris got to be the lion. Clearly, there were better candidates available. Myself for instance.”
“You know, there is also a boar in the story.” I raise a brow in challenge. “You are quite pigheaded and you squeal often. This present moment is a prime example.”
Aida laughs and her gaiety causes the side of my mouth to lift. Seeing us together after so long… It’s hard not to enjoy this moment, despite whatever brought her here. I want to ask her, yet I can’t bring myself to intrude on the peace treaty between us, however temporary.
Maximus folds his arms. “Why are you here?”
I exhale and Rafael gives Maximus a disgruntled look.
“Right,” Aida says. “I should’ve started with that, I suppose. Lorenzo has taken Dante and refused to accept the money in exchange for my son’s release. He also sent me the DNA test results to let me know he found out my secret, my pregnancy and delivery of Dante. I don’t think Lorenzo will kill him because he’s his first born son, but I can’t be sure.” She fists her hands by her side and pauses for a moment to collect herself. “For that reason, I’m going to meet with Lorenzo and see what he really wants, which I suspect was his objective to begin with.”
“The question is, what will Galli do to you?” Maximus asks. “If what you’ve told us is true, there is more at stake than just Dante’s life. Yours could be forfeit as well.”
Rafael narrows his gaze. “That asshole is hardly ever seen, has properties and secret houses everywhere, and a large security detail that’s bigger than the three of ours combined. You have no way of securing Dante’s release, even if you sacrifice yourself.”
“I know,il mio volpe4,” she says, “but I have to try. I made the wrong choice the first time Lorenzo threatened my family and I won’t do it again.” Her gaze finds mine and it has the strength of gravity, rendering me unable to look away. “‘Loyalty ’til death,’ Signor Dragonetti. I may have forsaken, but I haven’t forgotten. The only thing left for me is atonement and perhaps, forgiveness one day.”
My brothers’ perplexed expressions aren’t enough to break through the thoughts careening through my mind. Aida is going on a suicide mission.
“You came to say your good-byes.” Maximus’s statement is loud in the quiet room. “And it’s because you don’t think you’re going to survive.”
“I’m so proud of the men you’ve become,” she says. “You have carried on your father’s legacy and he would be honored and humbled by what you’ve done. Stay faithful to your wives and each other because there is no greater calling in this world than loving your family.”
Aida gives each of us a nod and then exits the room. I stare at the door unseeing, still coming to terms with everything she said and the secrets she revealed. My mother could be lying about all of it and it’d be to our benefit that she left.
But if she was telling the truth about it all…
I’m going to fucking murder Lorenzo Galli.
“So, now what?” Rafael asks, shattering the heavy silence. “I’m pretty fucking confused and not really sure what to think about all of that. A penny for your thoughts?”
Maximus doesn’t answer and rises from his seat to snatch up the decanter off my bookshelf. He returns to his chair and then proceeds to drink from the bottle. Rafael chuckles and Maximus scowls at him.
“Bro, you don’t need to say a damn thing,” Rafael says. “We’re all in the same boat. Time to be a drunken sailor, I guess.”
Wordlessly, Maximus hands him the decanter and Rafael downs a fair amount.
“Oh, fearless leader,” he says after thumping his chest, no doubt caused by the burn from the alcohol, “what do we do now?”
“The first point of action is to do reconnaissance. That includes verifying as much of Aida’s story as we can. Depending on that, we will make a decision as a family. It’s too difficult, and carries too many consequences, for me to decide alone.” I massage my forehead while trying to formulate my next words. “If what she said was true, then we have more than just Caruso and Nardone to deal with. Taking on Galli is one thing, but all three of them at once? It’s beyond risky.”
“If she told the truth,” Maximus says, tapping the glass container that’s nearly empty, “we have to stop her before she’s killed.”
Rafael nods. “And find a way to rescue Dante. Our mother won’t give up on him.”
“A half-brother and half-sister…” Maximus drains the bottle and slams it on my desk. “I can barely stand you two fucks, let alone two more siblings.”
“They still carry the same blood as us in their veins,” I say.
Rafael gets to his feet and I frown up at him. “Well, it sounds as if we need to call in the cavalry and rescue the Dante in distress, only we’re the reinforcements which makes you the general.” He salutes me and I shake my head, fighting the grin trying to appear. “What’s the first order then, sir?”
“Recon and then a declaration of war.”
“Fuck yes!” Rafael smacks Maximus on the shoulder. “Come on, man. It’s time to bust a cap in someone’s ass.”
Maximus rises and tilts his head at our brother. “I recall the bedtime story also having a bunny as one of the prince’s beasts. I think it suits you better since you’re so full of energy, wanting to fuck all the time, and no one takes you seriously.”
