Francesca lifts her head off my chest; her brows knitted together in confusion. “I hate him sometimes, but I don’t want to think about his death.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“He did a bad thing in the eyes of the mafia, and he wasn’t a good father, but I think he was a coward at heart, too weak for this life. I don’t want anyone to be killed.”
“Then I suppose I won’t tell you when I find him.”
“But Carlo…” She trails off, evidently seeing something in my eyes that reminds her who she’s married to, a monster with a soul as black as tar. The only light that’s permitted to creep inside comes from my family. And from her now. “Do you still want my brother dead?” she whispers.
“It’s what was decided by the Tribunal three years ago.”
“Ronan was always a good brother to me. He’s committed no treason.”
“He fled from the Trio after taking the oath.”
“Because they were going to kill him.”
“Ronan knew he’d live and die for our cause when he spoke the words, but he ran away.”
“He was only seventeen, and you all wanted him dead! Any sane person would’ve done the same! He’s spent years trying to rebuild a connection to the only other people he thought…”
“The Black Rose Gang in Boston,” I finish for her. Her mouth hangs open. “Yes, I know he’s been working for them.”
“But you haven’t acted?”
“He’s good at hiding. He must’ve learned that from your rat of a father.”
She bites her lip, looking conflicted. “It’s unfair for Ronan to pay for our father’s sins. You know it is, Carlo.”
“Perhaps so but since when is life fair?”
“If that’s how you feel, then shouldn’t I be punished, too?” The hesitance in her voice belies her bold words.
“No one will ever punish my wife… except me.” I give her ass a firm pat and flash a quick smile. It doesn’t ease the tension like I’d hoped. “It’s late and you have school tomorrow. We should sleep,” I say, not wanting an argument.
I turn off the lights, but I can still see her outline as her lips softly brush the skull tattoo over my heart. “I won’t say anything about my father, and I know I can’t control what other men do, but please don’t be the man who kills my brother, Carlo.”
“If he stays out of sight, it will be easy to honor your request.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
She already knows the answer so there’s no need to reply, but the unwanted tension suffocates our earlier contentment.
***
An hour later, I wake to my wife thrashing. She whimpers the word ‘no’ over and over. It tears at me, hearing her so frightened. Flicking on the light, I curse Rocco and Silvio De Luca, wishing I could bring them back to life so I might kill them slowly over many long days. Ipull her close to comfort her. “It’s alright, Frankie. You’re safe. They can’t hurt you.”
But it isn’t her cousin or uncle haunting her sleep. “Ronan,” she gasps before she sits up, clutching at her chest.
Lead settles in my stomach when her eyes turn to meet mine, full of fear and mixed with guilt. With a heavy sigh, I climb out of bed. “Let me get you something to help you sleep.”
38
Francesca
“Cat, when you dooral thingsto, uh…”
“To Alessio?”
