“I believe she heard about Nico and was concerned about you, sir,” Armando replied.
Santino blew out a breath. “Tell Mamma I’ll call her back shortly and not to worry.”
Reiko blinked, not hearing Armando’s exit and barely processing when Santino loosened his grip. “Your … mother?”
Santino flashed her a grin. “Sorry, beautiful. Sometimes she still hovers. The incident with Nico’s going to make waves in the family. I should’ve expected someone would call.”
His mother.The half-developed pit of anxiety uncoiled and she felt herself flush over her own stupidity. Yet, she smiled. He’d said family was important in his world. She was used to seeing other people’s family matter to them. But it felt different, thinking she might one day be included in that. Even if on the periphery. “You should call her back and put her mind at ease,” she said. “Come to think of it, I imagine you have other things you have to handle because of that … incident.”
Santino frowned. “Are you running away?”
Reiko shook her head before casting her gaze around the room. She actually wasn’t sure where he’d tossed her shirt, and it took her a moment to spot. At least it wasn’t hanging like a cliché off of a light somewhere. Before getting up, she said, “I’m not running, or panicking. I just realized you can’t ignore the world all day, and if we’re serious about all the things we talked about”—she drew a steadying breath, the words feeling heavier as they prepared to fall off her tongue—“I need to give my landlord notice, and work on packing.” Not that she had a lot, but among other things, she also didn’t have boxes.
Santino blinked at her for a beat, and then his face split in half with a wide smile. “I don’t like the idea of you leaving so soon, but if you have to, I can accept this reason.” He reached over, dragged her back onto his lap in a complete contradiction to his words, and kissed her. The kiss was wet and hard and full of promise. Full of all the things they’d both had on their minds only minutes earlier.
Then he retreated and cupped her face between his palms. “I’ve assigned a man to keep watch on your apartment at all times, and there will be another following you when you go anywhere without me. This is for your protection. None ofthese men will ever need to enter your apartment except in emergencies. If they act shady, or offend you, you tell me. If you get scared or anything happens, you call me immediately. I don’t care what time of day it is or what you think I’m doing that day. If you need something, I will be there. Understand?”
It took her a good thirty seconds to process enough of his words to comprehend what he was saying. At which point, her mouth fell open again. “You’vealreadyassigned someone to just, what, stake out my apartment? They’ve got to be hating you a little bit for how boring that must be.”
Santino tipped his head back and laughed, his arms lowering to loop around her abdomen. “No, beautiful. They’re loving me for the easy job. Trust me. And yes, that part’s done. Your personal escort will be your chauffer home, so you’ll meet him. You’ll get his number.” He bumped her forehead with his. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
Her heart seemed to settle at his gentle words and she smiled. “Okay.”
Chapter nine
Backfoot
“Preposterous,” Nonno exclaimed witha raspy growl. He smacked a poorly curled fist down onto the armrest of his chair, as if the cushioned leather might emphasize the upset his voice could no longer fully portray.
All it really did was remind Santino of his grandfather’s fragile health. The man was in his mid-eighties, which was miraculous in their line of work by all accounts. But a life of dangerous living and frequent substance abuse had taken its toll on his body. It was amazing he was as sharp as he was on his good days. But there was a very good reason the stubborn old Italian had finally handed over the reigns to the family business, arguably not soon enough, and it had little to do with the age spots that dotted his ever-thinning skin.
Regardless, as it always did, the sight of Nonno’s weakened state was enough for Santino to mind himself. He hadn’t brought this conversation to his grandfather’s home for fun. He’d pushed it because, if his fears were founded, the warning was necessary.
Perched on the edge of the corner seat of the sofa nearest her father, Santino’s mother leaned over the arm and a pleading frown bent her lips. “Papà, I’m sure Tino wouldn’t suggest something so horrible if he didn’t have good reason.”
Santino felt his eyebrow twitch. “Mamma,” he said, sharpening his tone more than he liked. She’d gotten out of the habit of using that childhood nickname in public, thank fuck, but she just couldn’t stop herself it seemed when she was alone with family. And he knew exactly what she’d say in response to the implicit lecture.
She blinked over at him, her eyes slowly widening before a sheepish smile lifted her lips. “Oh, sorry, sweetie. It just slipped out.”
Like he was fucking five. All the time.
“Corinna,” Nonno said, “stop babying him. He’s head of the family now; you’ll only make him look bad.”
Santino fought not to drop his head into his hands as his mother returned her attention to his grandfather. The words were true enough, but the whole direction of the conversationwas a distraction they didn’t need. He should never have asked her to be part of this.
“It’s just the three of us here, how does he look bad? He’s my son. I’m not going to talk to him like some stranger!”
“You should learn to use his proper name,” Nonno replied. “Like I do for you.”
“I do—”
“Enough. Both of you.” Santino stood and paced to the center of the room, where they could more easily see him. The movement also gave him more space to gesticulate as he spoke, his arms sweeping out and up in wide arcs. “Mamma, for the last time, we’ve talked about this. You said it would offend you if I used your given name, so I don’t. I’ve asked you to use mine, and you conveniently forget on a regular basis. Stop doing that.” He switched his focus to his grandfather. “Respectfully, Nonno, I’m not asking for your input on whether or not this information is valid. I came here to give you a warning, because ifanyoneon the Segreti side is betraying us, you could be in danger. Before I leave, I’ll be tightening your home security, too. Non-negotiable.”
Anger darkened his grandfather’s face and again he curled his fist until the bones of his knuckles protruded.
“As you said,” Santino continued, finally tucking his hands into his pockets and rocking back on his heels, “I’m head of the family now. That means I make the final decisions.”
Nonno’s chest heaved. “Lorenza would never betray us, boy.”
