Valentina nods. "So Luca stays, right? Watch for any unusual patterns. If Victorio was working with anyone else inside our organization, we need to know."
I look at each of them in turn. "You want me to stay?"
"Don't look so shocked," Adriano mutters. "You proved yourself useful."
"More than useful," Valentina corrects. "You saved Alessandro's life by exposing Victorio before he could try again."
Alessandro's jaw tightens as he pours himself coffee from a tray on his desk. "And you dealt with him efficiently."
I search their faces for any hint of manipulation.
For seven years, I've been the family pariah, the exile, the mistake.
Now they're asking me to stay, to help, to be part of the united front.
At the same time, they seem shocked that I killed Victorio the way I did. “This isn’t my first rodeo, you know. In fact, the way I dealt with Victorio is the sort of behavior that got me banned. And now you want me to stay?”
Alessandro sucks in a breath. “That was Dad, and… you’re still unpredictable, Luca. It makes you dangerous, not just to our enemies but us as well.”
I nod. “Then I’ll go?—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Adriano rolls his eyes. “Will you stay until this is finished or not?”
"And after the month?"
My siblings exchange glances.
"Let's see where we stand," Valentina says carefully. "Things change."
It's not a promise of permanent reconciliation, but it's more than I expected when I first came home. I think of Katerina sleeping in my bed, of Enzo's small hand in mine yesterday.
"One month," I agree. "We do this as a family." After that, I need to go back to Chicago, but perhaps with the family relationship restored, we can work together.
"We'll need to increase security on the estate," Adriano says, moving on.
I nod. "Chances are good the Bratva will have a problem with losing another informant. If they plan something, it will likely be big and they’ll do it soon.”
"Already on it," Alesandro confirms. "Doubled the men at the gates."
"Good. And keep eyes on anyone who had close contact with Victorio,” I add.
For the first time ever, my brother and I are on the same page when it comes to business.
As the meeting wraps up, my thoughts drift back to the cottage where Katerina and Enzo are probably waking up.
She'll be making his breakfast, listening to him chatter about whatever six-year-olds find important.
I realize that even if all the threats disappeared today, I wouldn't want to leave.
Not without them.
The idea of returning to Chicago without them feels wrong.
But what choice do I have?
My life and business are there.
And while I might have a truce with my brothers, they still don’t quite trust me enough to ask me back.
