“Then she will be married next summer.”
Silence descends because there is nothing else to be said on the subject that hasn’t already been said.
“What are your plans for the Barone?” Agosti inquires, refocusing the discussion.
Angelo drums his fingers on top of his desk. “No one lies to my face and gets away with it. It’s time we end this.”
“They have been problematic for a while,” Coppola supplies.
“Agreed. And while there has been no further attempt to kidnap my daughter, I don’t believe the threat has passed. Removing the Barone from the equation will help me to sleep easier at night.”
“I would like to talk to Don Barone before you take them out,” Accardi says. “I want to know who put them up to this.”
“I will agree to it with Don Greco, and I have reached out to DiPietro and Maltese. This needs a united show of strength to discourage any smallerfamigliefrom attempting to backfill the gap in the market.”
“When will the attack take place?” the capo asks.
“We need two weeks to plan a coordinated attack. I will keep you updated. For now,” Angelo says, standing, “we will keep this news contained to those who need to be aware. Oursoldatiwill be informed a few days beforehand of a big mission, but the details will not be revealed until the night of the attack.”
He must still be worried about moles within the organization. It is not unheard of and an ongoing concern, despite rigorous screening and surveillance. Curtailing the details to a small number of trusted men is smart. An operation of this size requires the utmost secrecy.
“Leave us,” Angelo says, nodding at Accardi as the rest of us get up to leave.
“Leo?” he calls out as I move to follow Mateo. I turn around. “I would like it if you stayed here until after we have made our move. Brando too. Take turns guarding my daughter’s room at night. I don’t trust someone won’t try to take advantage of our vulnerability at this time.”
“We will guard her with our lives. No one is getting near Natalia.”
17
Natalia
My eyes sting, my throat is scraped raw, and the pain eviscerating my chest is so intense it feels like I’m dying. I cannot accept this. I cannot accept I will never see Mama again. I will never smell the lavender scent of her perfume, hear her tinkling laughter as we cook side by side, or feel the comforting warmth of her embrace. She will never whisper words of reassurance or impart her profound wisdom.
Choking sobs travel up my throat, and I cry into my sodden pillow as the door creaks open behind me. I’m too heartsick to even check who has slipped into my room and too broken to care about the state I’m in. The door closes and footsteps approach my bed as I bury my face in my pillow, sobbing my heart out.
“Dolcezza, don’t cry,” Leo whispers, climbing up on the bed behind me.
“It hurts so much, Leo,” I rasp, leaning back into his warmth as he curls his body around mine.
“I know, baby.” His arms wind around my waist as he holds me close. “I’m here for you.”
My hands close over his as I sniffle, glancing at the clock through blurry eyes. It’s almost three a.m., and I haven’t slept a wink since I came to bed. “How are you still here?”
“We are sleeping here the next couple of weeks. Brando and me. To protect you around the clock.”
“Why?” My spine stiffens, and I turn around in his arms. “Has something happened?”
He shakes his head as his arms band around my lower waist. “There have been no new threats. This is just precautionary. Enemies always strike whenla famigliais weakened. Your father wants to ensure there are extra safety measures in place to protect you.”
“If it means you get to hold me every night, you won’t hear me complaining.”
He kisses the tip of my nose. “I don’t think this is what your father had in mind, and we need to be careful. But I couldn’t stand outside and listen to you crying any longer.” He presses my head to his chest. “It’s going to be okay,dolcezza.” He dots kisses into my hair. “I will take care of you.”
I snuggle into the warmth of his body, wrapping my arms around his back while listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. His citrusy scent envelops me in a comforting blanket, and I cling to him, siphoning some of his heat, letting it sink bone-deep. He smells like Leo. He feels like home, and his presence soothes some of my pain. “I love you,” I whisper against his chest.
“I love you too,” he whispers back, and my heart swells hearing those words from his lips for the first time.
Tears prick my eyes as I lift my head to stare at him, but this time, they are happy tears. “I wish I could stay in your arms forever.” I slide my hands up his impressive chest.
