My hand toys with my fork as I consider. “An alliance of some kind.” My stomach twists thinking of the future Santoro-Altera alliance that I’ll be the pawn for making. “All parties involved collectively benefiting from the peace.”
“Stronger together rather than fighting each other, don’t you think?” She arches a brow.
“You’ve definitely given me some things to think about.”
Pride flashes through her eyes before she lowers them and resumes eating. After the third course is served, I see her stifling a yawn.
“How long have you been up?” I ask.
Her brows furrow as she calculates the length with the time change. “More than twenty-nine hours, I think.”
“What are your plans tomorrow, Gina?” Vincenzo asks, pulling her attention away from me. “I’d love to tour the city with you.”
“She doesn’t know San Francisco, Vincenzo.” I instantly hate the idea of him spending time with her.
Silvio kicks me under the table, and Marco presses his lips together, giving me a ‘what the hell are you doing?’ look.
“I think that would be lovely,” Emanuele says, cutting into his fish. “Tommaso and I can catch up on Don-related things.”
My back molars grind.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Caruso chimes in.
Gina leans forward to look down the table at him. “I have no idea what sites to see or where to go, Father. This is the first time I’ve been in this city.”
He tuts, dismissing her, and I’m rigid with anger at him disrespecting her and for putting her in an uncomfortable position.
“I’m happy to accompany you two,” Silvio, bless his soul, cuts in before I erupt and raise more questions for my strange behavior tonight.
“We don’t need a chaperone.” Vincenzo smiles, but there’s a tightness to it. “We’ll be fine.”
“Actually, that would be great, Silvio,” Gina says at the same time.
“I’ll take you two to all the tourist favorites,” he promises.
And I’ll make sure I take Gina to all my favorites that are less known or less frequented by tourists, like the family-run restaurants around Baker Beach, the best Italian bakery in the city, and the ruins of the Sutro Baths, to experience them at night under the moonlight.
Silvio sips his drink and smiles. “And I’ll protect you while we do.”
Vincenzo bristles. “We’ll have my men with me.”
“But you and your men won’t know which areas you shouldn’t venture into, now will you?” I challenge.
He can’t argue with that, especially with the conflicts and tension growing between the five strongest factions within the city.
Gina looks uneasily around the table and asks me, “Will I be in danger?”
“It’s known that your father is part of the Santoro family,” Marco cuts in, “so you need to be as careful as you’ve always been.”
Her lips press together and twist slightly, but she nods.
Vincenzo puffs his chest. “As I said, my men will be with us and are able to protect us.”
“But not you?” I can’t help but challenge him again.
His eyes snap to me. He’s about to say something, but Emanuele chuckles softly. “Put your peacock feathers down, boy, and eat.”
Vincenzo’s face turns red. His look aimed at his father’s bowed head is murderous, but for only a moment before his mask is back in place.
