“Where is Papa?” I ask.
“He’s in Naples. Vacationing with the Castigliones. He doesn’t know you’re here yet.” I squirm at the mention ofCastigliones—my sworn enemies, whom my father chose over me.
“Why didn’t you tell him?” I say, trying to shift the focus from the irritating politics of it all.
“And be at the receiving end of his anger? No, thank you.”
He’s right. Our father is royally pissed at me for disappearing without a word for two years. I heard he flips at the mere mention of my name.
“Chi cazzu?” Lorenzo says, his smile vanishing instantly as his gaze shoots past me and lands straight on the van behind me. He frowns as Gio and Julian open the door of the van to reveal Katarina’s sleeping figure inside. He walks up to the vehicle and stops in front of it.
“Gio, it’s good to see you.” Lorenzo hugs Gio, his eyes never leaving sleeping beauty.
His professional mask snaps back into place as he turns to me. Alessio, the granite-faced head bodyguard of his, steps forward to give Gio a back-pounding hug.
“Who is that?” Lorenzo asks when everyone’s attention falls back to Katarina.
“The only reason I’m back. She is in my care now,” I say. The gross understatement of the complication and danger she represents is not lost on me.
“You’ve never brought a woman here before. You treat your motorcycles better than women.” He merely scoffs, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “What family does she come from?” He adds, after a beat.
“No family,” I say firmly, trying to dismiss the discussion.
“Then why do you think she can be in here?” He broadens his shoulders and huffs his chest, an old gesture of his that I’m all too familiar with. He does this when he’s preparing for a real argument.
“Because Nicolo Guidicelli targeted her under my nose. For what? I have no idea. But he wants her badly, so I think you’d be interested in keeping her too.” I tell him as I gently lift Katarina into my arms.
Lorenzo’s eyebrows knit together in both confusion and curiosity before he gives a stiff nod, a silent acknowledgment, and starts walking toward the house. We follow in a silent procession, moving into the cool foyer.
“The guest rooms are being renovated. Take her to your suite.” He says, leading us to a grand staircase that leads to the bedrooms.
“I’m surprised you kept my room, brother. I thought you and Papa would have burned it down already.” I tease, the words bouncing off the stone walls and tall ceiling.
“Someone’s got to keep up with the appearance of a united front since your antics nearly caused the other Dons to question our family’s leadership.” He states, voice flat.
I expected as much.
My sudden departure was a massive tear in the family's carefully crafted image of power. It must have been a hell of a conversation when the Dons figured out I left without a word, and it would have been a harder conversation to convince them not to send someone to kill me.
The Five Dons are the ruthless Mafia bosses in Sicily. My father, Don Massimo Cotrini, is basically their leader. Although their positions in the hierarchy are technically the same, my father is held in the highest regard because of the Cotrini heritage.My family has been part of the mafia for over a century.
Any signs of betrayal within theLa Famiglia triggeran investigation, and any conflict must be resolved before it becomes an all-out war. I know this by heart because my job used to be to pursue such betrayals and make sure anyone who turned on the Mafiaregrettedit.
My departure was definitely a betrayal, not only in my father’s eyes but in all of theirs. It would have made him look weak and could have been used to oust him from his high rank. The only reason no one has taken action on my antics till now is that they’re stillafraidof my father.
“At least they’ll be happy to know I’m back now.”
“You’re back?” Enzo asks, eyes hopeful.
I know what he means. And no, I don’t mean that kind of back. I’m only here until I make Nicolo pay and I find out why he targeted Katarina. After that, I’ll be out of here and never coming back, and I’m taking Katarina with me.
“For the time being,” I say as we reach my suite. The large, familiar space I grew up in still smells the same. I gently lay Katarina down on the crisp sheets, and Julian quietly settles the IV stand beside her before leaving.
“Isn’t she your girlfriend?” Lorenzo gestures towards Katarina once Julian closes the door behind him.
I don’t respond. I want to tell him yes, but I know that’s not simply true.
“That’s right, she’s the woman I saw you parading in the news. Isn’t she a celebrity?” he asks, tilting his head, scrutinizing her pale features.
