“We’re just about done here,” Ben says. “We’ll be out shortly.”
“Good.” She blows him a kiss before leaving.
“For now, let’s keep this between you, me, and Leo.” He rounds the desk as I stand. “Reflect on it.” He clamps his hand on my shoulder. “And if you are still interested, we can start work as soon as you are ready.”
“Thank you.” I pin him with grateful eyes. “Your faith in me means everything, Ben.”
“I see a lot of myself in you, Alessandro.” His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat. “I know what you’ve been through, and you’re a survivor. I only want to surround myself with the best, and you’re one of the best. This isn’t charity. If I didn’t think you had the skills and ability to do this job, I wouldn’t be considering it.”
“I know that.” Ben doesn’t let emotion interfere with his business decisions. He isn’t at the top of his game without being a shrewd player and a smart strategist. “Just like I won’t consider formally accepting it until I have thought it through because I would never take a position I couldn’t fulfill to the best of my ability.”
Ben lets loose a wide smile, clamping me on the shoulder again. “That is exactly why you will make a formidableconsigliere.”
4
SERENA
“Iwant my papa!” Romeo cries, thrashing about in my arms as I attempt to dry him after his bath.
“I know, sweetie.” Wrapping the large fluffy white towel around his small body, I bundle him against my chest. “It’s okay to miss him. It’s part of grieving.” I wish I knew what was going on in his head so I knew best how to help him.
“Why did God take my papa?” he sobs, giving up fighting and pressing his wet face into my shoulder. “It’s not fair.”
I rub a hand up and down his back, holding him close as he cries, selfishly wondering how long this will last because it’s getting harder and harder to comfort my son when I feel such relief that Alfredo is gone.
He falls asleep in my arms, and I carry him into his bedroom, carefully dressing him in his pajamas and tucking him under the covers. I switch on his nightlight before I tiptoe to the door. Turning off the main light, I stand in the doorway watching my son as he sleeps. Romeo is such a sensitive soul, and I know that comes from me because there wasn’t a single sensitive bone in Alfredo’s body.
Not that I would ever begrudge my son his mourning, but it frustrates me sometimes because Alfredo didn’t give him much of his time, and he hated how “soft” his only son was. It was something he often threw at me in the midst of an argument, blaming me for the fact our son has no trouble expressing his emotions. Something that is not sought after in a made man. At least not in Alfredo’s generation of made men.
Slowly, I close the door and step away. I walk to Elisa’s room, halting when I hear Alesso’s dulcet tones. A smile ghosts over my mouth as I pause just behind the open doorway to listen to him reading my daughter a bedtime story.
Elisa is rather taken with Alesso. While I love she is forming a bond with a decent, kind father figure, I don’t want her growing too attached because Alesso won’t be around forever. He is young, skilled, and ambitious, and he won’t remain Sierra’s bodyguard for long. I doubt Ben wants to waste his talent, and frankly, I’m surprised he hasn’t already appointed one of the guards who protect the property as Sierra’s bodyguard now that she is living permanently here.
Alesso’s involvement in our lives will be short-lived. Something I try to remind myself of regularly when I find I’m at the risk of growing too attached.
“She’s asking for you,” Alesso says, appearing in front of me.
A squeal leaves my lips, and I jump, caught off guard by his unexpected presence. That’s what I get for daydreaming. “Oh my God.” I slap a hand to my chest, silently urging my rapidly beating heart to calm down. “You almost gave me a coronary.”
“Sorry.” He chuckles, sounding completely unapologetic. “But you know what they say about people who eavesdrop.” A cheeky grin slips over his mouth.
I purse my lips. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I didn’t want to interrupt story time. Elisa loves you reading to her.”
“I love reading to her.” The amusement disappears from his face, replaced with a sincere expression. “She’s a remarkable little girl. You must be so proud of her.”
“I am.” I step around him because the way he’s staring at me makes me uncomfortable, in a thrilling sort of way. “I better say good night.”
“I’ll pour the wine.” He waggles his brows before walking down the hallway toward my living room. I should probably squash this nightly tradition, but I enjoy his company too much. Besides, I like to keep my mind occupied so it doesn’t wander to topics I’d rather not think about.
“Hi, Mom,” Elisa says in a sleepy tone as I enter her bedroom.
I walk to her bed, perching on the side. Brushing dark strands of hair off her brow, I lean down to kiss her cheek. “Did you have a good day, honey?”
She nods, and her eyes light up in a way I have come to notice is associated with Caleb Accardi. Caleb is one of the twins who are Natalia’s stepsons. “Caleb let me watch some of the movie with him and Joshua, and he even made me popcorn.”
Hmm. I hope it was suitable.I thought all the younger kids were in the playroom after dinner, but Elisa must have snuck out to join the twins in the home theater. At thirteen, the boys are now made men and aware of everything that goes on in our world. They are nice kids, but I wish Elisa didn’t have a crush on Caleb because I want to keep her as far away from made men as possible. Which feels a little mean because Caleb is still a kid, and he is sweet to her, even though I’m sure it must be annoying for him to have an eight-year-old hanging off his coattails.
Despite how much I don’t want my daughter to have any association with made men, I’m not naïve. It’s impossible to shield her from this world. I know my sister shares similar concerns about Rowan. Sierra is married to a powerful don, and her son will always be at risk because of who his father is. Ben has sworn Rowan will have a choice as to whether he wants to get involved in the business or not. But I really don’t see how there is a choice. It’s the same with my children whether I like it or not. The thought pains me considerably.
