In Italy.
Probably to escape the wrath of the Vitale family.
At the time, I believed Luca was guilty.
How could I not?
The evidence pointed straight to him.
I screamed, I accused, I pushed him away.
And he left for Italy without a look back.
A month later, I discovered I was pregnant.
With triplets.
God, I’d never been so scared in my life.
“Miss Vitale.”
I look up to see Gio Sarto, one of Dom’s men.
He’s been around forever.
At one time, he and my father were friends.
“I see Don Vitale has pressed you into work.”
I smile. “I enjoy it.” Gio has never taken to Dom and the changes he’s made since becoming Don after his father’s death.
I think it’s a matter of the old guard not understanding the innovation and new ideas of the younger generation.
“Are the children here?” He glances around the room.
“Not this time. They’re at school. I figured I’d get the basics down, you know, the lights on the tree and the garlands up, and then have them over later for the other decorations.”
“Ah, yes. I remember when you were little coming over to decorate with your father.”
“Those are precious memories.” And they are.
My mother left my father when I was young, unable to cope with the life he lived.
So it was just me and my father growing up.
“Have you seen Don Vitale?”
I shake my head. “I understand his meeting took longer.”
“Ah. Right.” He glances down the hall toward Dom’s meeting room. “Do you suppose Don Monti is here? I understand he’s less and less involved.”
I shrug and turn my attention back to the ornaments. “I don’t know.”
“Don Vitale wouldn’t put up with having the boy that put his brother in prison?—”
“Dom is the Don now,” I remind him. Dom never seemed to buy that Luca arranged for my father’s arrest.
It was his uncertainty that had me question everything that happened.
