I’m also starting to think that however her mother was treated by her pack may have impacted Lark’s view on being a mafia queen.
That would explain her mother running off with Bjorn—who wasn’t part of her mother’s original pack. Her other two alphas have stayed behind to help Giovanni run the empire, similar to how Laz’s elders have remained toadvise.
“I just hope she’s finally happy,” Lark adds in a quiet voice. “Or happier, anyway.”
“The offer stands,” I murmur. “If you want to know how she’s doing, I’ll find out.”
She nods. “Maybe I’ll call her instead. I don’t know. It’s been over a decade since we last spoke.”
“That’s a long time.” At least it feels that way to me. But my mom and I talk a few times a week. She’s always checking in. My dad, too. “Do you miss her? Or your father?”
Her lips twist. “I don’t know. It’s hard to miss a parent who was never really there.”
She turns her focus to the window, watching as the nightscape passes us by. There isn’t much to see since the moon is covered with clouds and the lights out here are minimal.
“Gio basically raised me,” she whispers. “But our father wasn’t a bad alpha. He was like Lazarus, I guess. A don. Always in charge. Always demanding something from someone.” Sheshrugs. “It’s a big job. I respect it. But I left for a reason.” Her brow furrows. “Rather, I didn’treturnfor a reason.”
I wait for her to say more, but she falls silent, her gaze still on the darkness outside.
So I decide to comment on something she said, something I feel needs to be clarified. “Having met your father, Lark, I can promise you—Laz is nothing like him.”
She scoffs at that. “You’re right. He’s worse, isn’t he?” She looks at me. “He’s pretty well known for his ruthlessness.”
“He is,” I concede. “He’s also passionate, loyal, and exceptionally strategic. Your father was someone who expected everyone to bow to him and work for him. Laz is someone who expects everyone to pull their own weight and workwithhim. He’s not an authoritarian. He’s a leader. There’s a difference.”
She stares at me. “And you? What kind of alpha are you?”
I huff a laugh and shake my head. “Truthfully?”
“That would be nice, yes.”
I nod, deciding to give her honesty. “I’m not an alpha at heart. Physically, yes. But I always thought I would present as a beta.” I lift one shoulder in a partial shrug. “As for who I am, I’m also loyal. However, I’m less strategic than Laz. I love puzzles, though. Especially technical ones.”
Lark’s expression is masked by the shadows, but I think I see her lips curling a little. “I like puzzles, too.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all. You’re quite talented with a computer, Ms. Bianchi.”
“Likewise, Mr. Greco,” she returns. “But I’m going to clean up this phone.” She holds up the one I gifted her. “And then I’m keeping it for good.”
I smile. “You won’t have much to clean up. I already told you—all I did was make it untraceable, primarily so your brother can’t find you. Though, your location isn’t much of a secret. If he decides to visit, Laz will let him enter.”
“He will?” She sounds surprised.
“Of course he will.” I frown at her. “Laz isn’t the monster you believe him to be.” Well, actually, that’s not entirely true. So I amend with, “He’ll never be that way with you, I mean. For you, maybe. To you, never.”
That’s a very distinctive difference, one I hope she understands.
“He said he’s going to destroy me,” she mutters. “That’s pretty straightforward.”
I lean over to press my lips to her ear. “He meant that sexually, Lark.”
She freezes.
“He wants to destroy you in the best way, sweetheart,” I add, then brush my lips against her temple. “We all do.”
Maybe it was bold of me to say.
But the fresh wave of brown sugar and honey filling the car tells me it was also the right thing to say.
