“No. He has his opinions about the matter, and I’m sure he’ll give them to you the first chance he gets.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
He'd been leery when I married her. He was even more so after her meeting with her brother. The listening device has convinced him Frankie means to betray me. If Faro’s proven right… that’s not something I want to think about.
***
“Carlo Vicini, do you pledge your life to our cause tonight?” Luca asks, holding the blade to my palm as three dozen men watch. Renato stands by his side, holding a lit candle.
“I do.” A quick slash and the candle flickers when I make a fist, letting my blood drip into the pool of hot wax. “May I burn in hell if I betray our family,”I recite in Italian. I put the flame out with my palm and smear my blood over my Trio tattoo to complete the oath. I took the same one when I was fourteen. I renew it today as their Don. I mask my emotions better than my brothers manage to, but the same undeniable sense of pride fills me that I see in their eyes.
“Alla tua salute, Don Vicini,”Russo says, the first to congratulate me. I hope his best wishes for my health are sincere. He took his change of position with good grace. His daughter will be my brother’s wife, and his son will someday become Underboss of a major city after him this way. “Perhaps we might celebrate a wedding betweenour families by this year’s end?” he adds, always keen to advance himself sooner rather than later.
“Luca will not marry an underage girl. A couple of years will be soon enough. It will give my mother and your wife plenty of time to plan.”
With a bow, he steps back so the other men may step forward. I catch Luca’s scowl, knowing what he thinks of his future father-in-law all too well. That may be a battle for another year but not today.
***
I’m nearly home when Faro calls. “Our informant was right. The rat bastard suggested she might help them. There’s more-”
“Come over.”
“Bene.I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
I end the call. Considering the listening device, it’s best we avoid too much chit-chat over the phone for the time being even if I’d rather be alone with my wife.
It’s quiet when I enter the penthouse. The piano is silent. The kitchen is dark. The guard on duty is seated on the terrace. He gives me a nod and leaves, knowing from my expression that’s what I want. I’m at the top of the stairs when I hear the shower running… and the soft sounds of my wife sobbing.
My hand grips the banister as anguish like I’ve rarely known tears through me. Only that miserable handful of hours when I thought she might have cheated hurt quite this way. I thought we’d turned a corner after our reception, but perhaps she was only pretending. What choice does she have except to pretend she’s content in this marriage I forcedon her? She knows I’ll never let her go. Unless she sells me out to the Feds, escape is unlikely.
I force myself to keep walking. Broken heart or not, I’m not a fucking coward.
I’m standing in the doorway when the water shuts off and she reaches for her towel. She yelps in surprise then surprises me by hurrying across the marble floor, wet and naked with fresh sobs choking her. Worry overwhelms my crueler nature. I wipe away her tears and pull her into my arms. “Are you hurt?” I ask.
She shakes her head, noticing my palm. “You’re the one who’s bleeding. I’ll get your shirt wet,” she adds between sniffles.
“I don’t care about the shirt. I want to know why you’re crying.”
With a final sniffle, she squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. “I have to tell you something… and I’m scared you’re going to hate me once you know.”
Love and hate can be strangely linked, but I could never hate her.
Taking her hand, I lead her into the bedroom and seat her in my lap, wrapping the duvet around her shoulders as I cradle her close. I’d like to enjoy her sweetly innocent lavender scent while she confesses her sins.
“Wait… that’s all?” I ask once she’s told me the entire tale of Harper and the confrontation with the FBI.
The outsider was everything I should fear, but it doesn’t matter. I could kick myself for discounting the potential threat a female agent might pose. I won’t do that again.
I committed murder practically under her nose,I think, not sure if I should be more alarmed at my rash actions with Chris or amused that the young agent missed the opportunity to catch me in the act.
“All? It’s horrible. They wanted to use me against you. My father thought I’d help them for his own selfish reasons. I feel so used and manipulated.”
“Francesca,” I say, catching her chin with my fingers. “I'm sorry if you’re wounded by this, but what did you tell them about my business specifically?”
“Well… nothing. I don’t know anything, but I wouldn’t do that to you. I know who my father is, and you probably don’t believe me for that reason, but I wouldn’t betray you, Carlo. Most people would condemn all of us for the lives we lead. I’m not most people. This is my life, my family, and I’m loyal to them and to you.” My heart fucking leaps in my chest.
“Loyal. Yes, you are.” I gently kiss her forehead and then nuzzle her neck, wanting nothing more than to make love to her after the stress and exhaustion of these past two days.
