“Thanks, Mamma.”
I untangle myself from her embrace just as Papa steps into the hall. A wave of tension frosts the air.
They stare at each other—Mamma’s eyes narrowed, her mouth pressed tight. She hates him for stealing me away and dragging me into this life.
“Giuliana,” Papa says, extending a hand.
Her lips purse. But then—after a long pause—she accepts thegesture.
“Let me show you upstairs, Mamma.” I take her arm, steering her away from Papa and the awkward silence, leading her up to one of the guest rooms.
“Quell'uomo è un bastardo21,”she mutters.
“Be nice. He’s letting you stay here.”
“I birthed his son! Raised you!Bare minimum, Lorenzo.”
“Yes, Mamma.”
Once I get her settled, I head back down to Papa’s office.
I sink into the chair across from him and accept the glass of whiskey he slides over. “What did you want to discuss?”
A beat passes before he answers. “Phoenix.”
“What about it?”
“It’s time you learn everything. I’ll be expecting you to take over when the time comes.”
I nod, waiting.
“I’m sure you know a little—what the public’s aware of—but there’s much more to it.” He sighs, running a hand over his weathered face. “None of the operatives know who runs it. All their contact goes through handlers—like Cam was for Izzy—and the handlers report to me.”
“How do you recruit operatives?”
“It depends. Sometimes recommendations. Sometimes we spot someone we think could be useful.”
“Why did you never tell me?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lorenzo. You know I do. But Phoenix was separate from everything else. You didn’t need to know.”
“Still would’ve been useful,” I grumble.
He has the gall to laugh. “Perhaps.”
There’s a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Papa calls out.
The door opens, and Cam—Izzy’s handler—pops his head inside. “Is now a bad time?”
“No, this is good. I was just filling Lorenzo in on Phoenix’s operations. After all—he will be the one incharge soon.”
Cam nods, taking the seat next to me.
He seems nice enough. But something about him makes me dislike him—probably the way he’s too friendly with Izzy.
“I hear congratulation are in order,” he says, offering his hand to me.
