My throat feels suspiciously thick as I try to wipe up the red mush left behind, before lifting her back out of the chair. Sticky red hands immediately land on my cheeks, patting them. Alessia brings her nose close to mine. “Ma.”
“Ma,” I whisper. “Clever girl.”
I carry her across the hall, pulling open the door. The courtyard is still cool, shaded in the morning air as I carry her across to the steps. “Have you seen the sea yet?”
She ignores it completely as I sit on the top step, the warm water lapping against my toes, and settle her between my legs, her own small feet slipping into the water.
“Look.” She stills as I lean forward, my palm gently slapping the water so it ripples. Gently, I cup some in my hand, using it to wash off her hands as she wriggles.
An excited squeal tears from her throat as she hits the top of the water, splashing herselfandme. A laugh, bright and bubbly.
When I lean forward to create my own splash, she laughs harder, her whole body shaking with amusement.
And I realise very quickly, that there is not much I wouldn’t do to hear that laugh as much as possible. Asoftenas possible.
Both of us are sat fully in the water, Alessia a step above me as I hold her steady, by the time I hear movement behind me.
Dante’s eyes glitter as he settles on the top step, his own feet bare.
“How long have you been watching?” I keep my eyes on Alessia.
“Long enough.” His voice is thick as he extends the beaker from the kitchen to Alessia, and she grabs it, sucking on the water. He balances a fresh coffee on the top step. “I’ll leave you be.”
He starts to get up.
“Stay.” I look up at him, watch as he slowly settles back down.
And then I flick water over him, Alessia cackling as he shakes his head in mock despair. He flicks the smallest bit of water over her legs, smiling as she laughs. “You won’t have her as a shield forever,tentazione.”
Grinning, I flick him again. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”
22 – Caterina
Ilean back in my seat. “It’s not the strongest plan.”
A lot of it hinges on my shoulders. “If I can’t persuade the rest of the senior soldiers to follow me, we’re going to struggle with numbers.”
“Assuming Matteo’s numbers drop as we hope they will, that might not be an issue.” Gio leans forward, studying the rough sketch with a frown. “You think you can get him onto campus?”
“I don’t think he’ll be able to resist. Not if he already thinks he’s won.” My hair brushes against his as I lean in too, pointing at the hall we use for ceremonies. “We pin him down there.”
Stefano clears his throat. “If there’s anything left standing at the estate, there should be plenty of weapons. Ammunition. Gear.”
“What of the rest of it?” Luc voices the question. “You’re the Asante capo now. Like it or not, you’ll need to decide.”
Stefan’s eyes flash to mine. “It’s not a legacy I want. And the type of men Salvatore kept under him – you don’t want them. Trust me.”
“A clean out then,” Dante says quietly. “You could start again, if you were of a mind to.”
A bloody, drawn-out process. Stefano sighs. “Not a priority right now.”
“Leave it too long, and a power vacuum will appear. They’ll start scrabbling for scraps, and it will bubble over into smaller gang wars.” I hold his gaze. “Most of his senior men died at the compound. The others will fall in line.”
His jaw tightens. “I don’t have a single ally in the Asante ranks. Not one.”
“But you have five out here.” Gio taps his fingers. “Admittedly, we can’t stretch ourselves too thin right now. But when this is done, we can help you.”
Dom shifts in his seat, but he doesn’t say anything to dispute Gio’s words.
