With Luca home, I need to mentally prepare myself for the gathering this afternoon to honor Don Lorenzo Dante.
Pyotr clears his throat, leaning forward suddenly. "Stop here," he instructs the driver.
My head whips toward him. "What are you doing?"
"I need to make a stop. An errand."
"Now? Everyone's heading back to the estate. There's the gathering?—"
"I know about the gathering, Kat." He reaches for the door handle as the car eases to the curb.
I look where we are.
We’re riding through Great Neck, but there’s nothing Pyotr would need to do here. Unless…
Worry shoots through me.
Pyotr's been acting strange for weeks now.
Disappearing without explanation, taking calls in hushed tones, falling silent whenever I enter a room.
It reminds me of when he had his drug problem.
Is he using again?
"Alessandro will notice if you're not there." I grab his sleeve. "All the capos will be present. After Don Lorenzo's death, we need to show unity, strength."
His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see something like conflict flash across his features.
"This can't wait," he says, but there's hesitation in his voice.
"Pyotr, please." My grip tightens. "Whatever it is, it can wait. Don't do this now."
The unspoken message hangs between us—don't make yourself suspicious. Don't give Alessandro reason to doubt your loyalty.
"The Dantes need to see that we stand with them," I press. "Both of us. Especially now with Luca back and everything unsettled."
My brother stares at me for a long moment, then he gently removes my hand from his sleeve. "It won't take long." His voice softens, the familiar tone he uses when he wants me to stop worrying. "I made a promise to Don Lorenzo before his death. This is the last thing I can do for him."
But something in his words doesn't sit right. I've known my brother my entire life. I know when he's hiding something.
"What promise?" I lean forward, studying his face. "You never mentioned this before."
"Not everything is your business." His tone hardens, then immediately softens again. "I'm sorry. It's just… private. Between me and the Don."
The car idles at the curb, our driver's eyes carefully fixed forward, pretending not to listen to our exchange.
"You'll be back for the gathering?" I press.
"Of course." He squeezes my hand. "I wouldn't miss it. The Petrovs need to present a united front, as you said."
I nod, though unease pools in my stomach. "Go on, then. I'll see you back at the estate."
Pyotr gives my hand a final pat and then he's gone, the car door closing as he steps onto the sidewalk.
Through the window, I watch him walk away, his head down as he’s doing something on his phone.
The driver steers us back into traffic, but I crane my neck, keeping Pyotr in sight as long as possible.
