“I should have had her taken care of long before,” he mutters darkly.
“You would have started a war. Karma took care of Fenza, and you got to keep your hands clean.”
“But I lost her. I lost my daughter.”
I’ll not lie. That was a stab to the heart. I have to get used to the reality that I’m not, and never was, good enough to own his heart like a real daughter.
“Yes, but she’s here now, I suppose.” I can’t help the attitude that comes out.
He looks at me with his piercing eyes. “You are my daughter too, Allegra. I thought that was clear. I’d die for you, as I would Bonnie. You have made me so proud. Never doubt your place in this family and in my heart.”
Getting into deep emotional conversations makes me uncomfortable. My skin feels itchy and I want to run out the door, but I know better. I’ll keep my mask on and my body armour engaged.
“We need a plan, Lorenzo.”
Lorenzo lets me bypass his last comment, which I’m grateful for. “We should go home,” he says. “Easier to protect her from the villa.”
I nod in agreement. “Yes, but she has a demand,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
A sly grin pinches at Lorenzo’s mouth. “And what was the demand?”
“She wants her dads brought in for their protection too.”
“Done. I’ll send Toni to collect them.”
Sitting forward, I hold up my hand. “Lorenzo. We can’t just haul her entire family to Italy.”
“Why not? It’s the best way to get her to cooperate, Allegra.”
“And the best friend?”
“I didn’t tell you to take her too,” he shoots.
I growl, “You didn’t tell me anything! Bring me the girl. That’s all I got. If I’d have known, I would have handled it differently.”
His shoulders drop, and he nods, “You’re right. I know. I…I suppose you can ask the friend what she wants to do.”
My eyebrows reach my hairline. “Just let her go? After I shot her?”
“You shouldn’t have done that either,” he chuckles.
“It was the only way to bring Bonnie to heel,” I reply matter-of-factly.
“She isn’t a dog, Allegra.”
“You weren’t there,” I protest. “She’s stubborn and difficult. I didn’t have time to waste, so I did what was necessary. Anyway, it was only a flesh wound.”
For some reason, he’s eying me strangely. “So, she rankled you, huh?” he grins. “The big bad Allegra Malgeri?”
My scowl only makes him laugh harder.
“She scared me too, if I’m honest,” he smiles. “She has her mother’s temper.”
“Huh, I thought she got it from you.”
He shakes his head with a fond smile on his face. “No, Bonnie is all Maria.”
I need to get us back on track. “I’ll talk to Kelley and Bonnie. Once we’re back home, we need a plan to end this shit with the Arellos. It’s gone on too long and is now impacting us internally.”
