Despite everything Dante told me, my heart reaches out for this man. I feel bad for him.
I have no clue why he's telling me all this, but I know that the pain in his eyes is real.
"TheCamorraand theCosa Nostraused to be cordial to each other back in the day. But all of that changed after Rebecca," he says, his voice dropping. "We've been at war with each other ever since."
The pain in his eyes morphs before my eyes. It grows claws and fangs and wings, turning into a living, breathing monster.
"Did you get revenge?" I whisper.
"Yes," he says. "But it's not enough. It's never enough. Isn't that right, Dante?"
I look at Dante. The vein in his neck is pulsing against his skin. I've never seen him this affected by anyone. I've never seen him on edge like this.
"Yes," Dante replies.
“This was why I took Dante under my wing when he was only a child,” the Don says. “He reminded me so much of myself. He was filled with broken dreams and rage. I had to make sure he wouldn't end up making the same mistakes I did."
"We've arrived," Dante says.
I glance out the window. The Eiffel Tower glitters directly above us.
I've been so caught up in the conversation that I barely noticed the city around me.
As we leave the car and take the elevator to the restaurant floor, it strikes me just how many layers these men seem to have.
Dante’s words from earlier play in my head.
Enzo doesn’t exist. Don't mention his name before the Don.
I thought I knew Dante.
But maybe I don't know him at all.
32
DANTE
My Don is a methodical man.
He doesn't do anything without a plan. And if he brought up theCosa Nostra, it's for a reason.
All through dinner, he talks to Grace. He's always been charismatic, especially with the ladies. There's a reason he’s been married six times before.
"You found yourself a good one, Dante." He pats my shoulder. "I like her."
His eyes twinkle as he looks at Grace. She smiles back at him, already comfortable with him. She doesn't know him like I do. He can be charming when he wants to be, but he can turn it off like a switch.
“I know I don’t say this enough, but I’m proud of you,” he says. “You held up the fort while I was away. You kept the business running smoothly and increased our net profits. And that’s no small feat.”
I wait.
I know it's coming.
"You were a young man when I left everything in your hands," he says, switching to Italian now. "And you didn’t disappoint me. I know we made a deal that I would give you thenames of your parents’ killers in a few years, but I changed my mind.”
My body feels like it's on fire.
I don't know where he's going with this, but I know I'm not going to like it.
