I don’t know the truth of it all, but one thing I feel certain of now is that Luca wasn’t behind it.
Gio nods. “Yes, of course. What I mean is that his father wouldn’t put up with that disrespect.” His hand flexes by his side. “But we’re not allowed—” He stops himself.
I don’t ask what he means because I know.
There are those in the Vitale family who’d still like to kill Luca out of duty to their former Don.
Only Dom stands in their way.
“Well… I should get to work.”
“Good to see you. Merry Christmas,” I say to him.
“Merry Christmas. Send my love to the kids.”
When he leaves, I blow out a breath.
Are all families so complicated?
Probably.
They just don’t have the added worries of violence.
I pull out a delicate angel ornament, its peaceful face reminding me of Adalina.
It makes me think of how big the kids are getting.
And how much they’re looking more and more like their father.
I place the angel back in its velvet-lined box.
Gio’s visit reminds me of why I’ve made the choices I have.
Why I continue to avoid Luca.
Not out of spite for his betrayal but to protect me and my children.
I’ll never forget the day I overheard Don Vitale asking Dom to find out what he knew about Luca’s private life.
Luca was already in Italy by then.
My father had just been killed in prison and Don Vitale blamed Luca for that, although I didn’t see how since he was a world away and didn’t have the power or influence needed to arrange it.
It was another tidbit that had me doubting the narrative around my father’s arrest and death.
I was staying in the Vitale mansion, brought here when my father was first arrested.
I was also grappling with an unplanned pregnancy that I hadn’t yet told anyone about.
“I’ve caved to La Corona’s mandate that we don’t touch Luca as long as he’s in Italy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get revenge for my brother another way,” Don Vitale said to Dom.
“What are you thinking?” Dom asked him, sounding disinterested as he usually did with his father.
“Does he have girlfriends? Someone we can send him a message with.”
I swallowed as I understood his meaning.
He planned to kill someone close to Luca.
