“Colluding with the Bratva though? That would be fucking ballsy for Antonio.”
The youngest guard from my father’s household arrives soon after, ending our discussion. “Are you here to pick up our mother, Primo?” I ask.
He bobs his head, nervously. Dante and I have that effect on several of the soldiers, and while the boy’s father was tough as nails, Primo reminds me more of a lost sheep than someone who should be marked with the three-headed wolf. “I’m to fetch Signora Morelli and the girl from Sicily.”
“Very well. I’ll let them know.”
Dante leaves as I head upstairs. My mother has been indispensable, caring for the babies whenever I couldn’t since they were born, but that will change with my father’s diagnosis. Climbing the steps, mybody reminds me how long it’s been since I’ve had a solid night’s sleep. I could ask Mother to take the children for the night, but it feels like another failure any time I’ve caved and done so. I can’t rest not knowing first-hand they’re safe either. Besides, I don’t want Matilde alone with them.
Outside the nursery, I pause when I hear someone sobbing like the world is ending. It’s not my children for once. Just another child,I think, clenching my fists in frustration.
“It’s alright, sweet girl.” Through the crack in the door, I see my mother consoling Matilde. She’s been more emotional since Cat’s marriage and the babies were born. Of course, she’s soothing the nanny who’s supposed to be responsible for my infants. Fucking ludicrous.
“I’m sorry. Nothing here is like I thought, and I miss Caterina and Sofia tonight,”the girl whimpers in Italian.
“Gia lives here,”Mother offers.
“Yes, I like her. I like you.” Mother makes more comforting noises. Matilde will soon have her wrapped around her little finger playing the lost girl.
The story I was given of a foreign exchange student, capable of childcare and in need of housing, sounded terribly convenient. Too convenient for my taste, especially when she came from Silvio and she’s too beautiful for words.
“Primo is here to drive you home,” I clip, stepping into the room.
Matilde staggers out of my mother’s embrace like she’s been caught stealing, but Mother smiles warmly. “We’ll get out of your hair then. Come, Matilde, let’s get you settled, and we’ll look into getting you registered for school in the morning.”
School.Not even finished with high school when my children need a mother. I should turn her away and hire some grandmotherly sort, a soldier’s widow perhaps.
But watching Matilde hurriedly wiping her eyes and knowing I’m at least partly to blame for that causes an unexpected heaviness to settle in my chest. What the fuck? The unwanted sensation doesn’t pass until they’re gone and I hear the quiet click of the front door.
I pull out my phone to set the alarm, but as I turn to leave the nursery, a mewling little cry comes from Lucia’s crib. I close my eyes, and Amadeo answers his sister’s call with an angry howl. “So much for sleeping tonight, eh?” I murmur.
Shedding my coat, vest and weapons, I roll up my sleeves and place my knife beside the rocking chair where I’ll spend the next several hours, attempting to soothe the colicky twins.
6
Matilde
“Matilde! Primo is here to take you to school!” Zeta calls from the bottom of the stairs a few weeks later.
Dragging my bookbag with all the enthusiasm Idon’tfeel, I head downstairs. It’s not that school is bad. Between the credits I already had and their placement tests, I’m set to graduate in December, more than a year earlier than I would have in the Sicilian school system.
Which is good because I doubt I’ll hold the position of nanny for long if Nico can find a replacement.
He hates me. He was cold and scary the day we met. The few times we’ve interacted since then haven’t given me reason to hope things will improve. Everything I do is wrong. Every word out of his mouth is a critique. Every glance breathes suspicion. It’s unfortunate that I find him attractive because he’s an asshole. How can a man like that have such a kind mother and sister?
“Dante often wore that expression when it was time for school,” Zeta chuckles, cupping my face. “Are the other girls still being difficult?” Every touch, every smidgeon of affection she gives leaves me craving more. Zeta is quickly becoming the sort of mother figure I never realized was lacking in my life.
I shake my head in response to her question. She shouldn’t be worrying over mean girls at school when her husband is dying.
Not to mention all the rest that’s happened since I’ve been in Chicago.
Nico and his brother Dante traveled to New York for Sofia De Luca’s arranged marriage to the Don’s son, but there was no wedding. Sofia ran away from her faithless groom. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. She's still missing. I pray she’s safe.
The events afterwards were just as shocking, culminating in Alessio killing his own father. I can’t lament Silvio’s death, and I’m glad I don’t have to spy for him, but how am I to find my sister now? Gia flew back to Las Vegas to be with her family, so I can’t ask her for advice.
Zeta studies me closely, seeking the truth behind my lie. At last, she sighs and pats my shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t mind handling the twins this afternoon?”
"You go with Signore Morelli to his appointment. Don’t worry.”
