There’s pain there, and I understand his meaning. “Will he know? Matteo?”
And the guilt is almost visible as he swipes a hand over his face. “Yes. She was responsible for Alessia.”
I follow his gaze to the little girl now demolishing one of the rugs as Dante watches with a delighted grin.
“We will already be too late to help her, Luc.”
I keep my voice gentle, but he flinches nonetheless. “Maybe not.”
Hope. It keeps all of us going in some way. Kept me going for those months that Cat was away from us, locked up with that asshole. So I nod. “Maybe not.”
Amie is not the only person unaccounted for. I pull out my phone to check for updates, but the screen is empty. Nothing from Vincent or Tony, nothing to confirm that they found Frankie Costa in the aftermath of the battle.
Perhaps we could all do with a little more hope.
“A few days,” I amend, looking to Luc. “And I’ll help you find her.”
“Find who?”
Luc stiffens as we both glance up. Cat lingers a few steps below, her eyes darting between us. “Who are you talking about?”
When Luc stays quiet, she crosses her arms. “Luciano.”
And despite her exhaustion, the ashy tinge to her golden skin… her tone is pure Corvo. Luc shifts, making space between us. “Come and sit down.”
She eyes us both before settling into the spot, her body brushing against mine. I drink in the warmth of her as Luc explains.
Her skin has paled further when he finishes. “We’re going to get her. Now.”
“He’ll be on high alert,” I say the words quietly. “Matteo knows we’ll be coming for him, Cat. He has more men than Asante did, and our side needs time to recover. He may even try to use her as a hostage.”
“No,” she breathes. There’s horror there, in her face. “I know exactly what he’s doing to her. I can’t leave her alone there, Gio. Not when I know—,”
She stops abruptly, and Luc and I lock eyes over her head.
When I know what it feels like.
“She is not alone,” I try again through the ache in my throat. “Wewillgo for her, Cat. But we need to regain our strength. Rebuild our allies, pull in anyone that wasn’t involved last time. Now that you’re… back, it will be easier. We go now andwe will lose.”
“Gio is right.” Dante steps up in front of us, cradling Alessia as she nestles against his shoulder. He tears his eyes from her for a moment. “We have to be ready, Cat. It won’t take long, but we will only get one chance.”
He nods at me. “We cannot waste it.”
She swings her gaze between us. “Et tu, brutes?”
But there’s no heat there. She sighs, rubbing her hands over her face before she glances back up to Alessia. “I know you’re right. But I still hate the idea of waiting.”
“Not long,” Luc murmurs. “And we have plenty to do in the meantime.”
He gets to his feet. “Come with me. I’ll find you rooms, and you can wash up before lunch.”
All of us still when Alessia wriggles in Dante’s arms. He’s still holding her protectively, and his gaze moves to Luc when Alessia holds her arms out in demand.
Luc waits.
Dante sighs, then leans forward. “The women in my life have no taste.”
No irritation lingers in his tone. Only a dry humor, as he holds her out.
