Page 90 of King of War

Rafael smirks. “Enzo planned it all. He went to two bakeries to get your favorite bread and pie.”

The laughter stops.

“Luca made the fettuccine,” Enzo says, like he’s trying to divert attention from himself. “Rafael picked the ice cream to go with the pie. Micah set the table, and Angelo brought the glass jars and arranged the flowers.”

“Yeah, Enzo’s been barking orders at everyone all afternoon,” Angelo says with a grin.

“Don’t be thinking he’s gone all soft though, Rayne. He did almost kill a florist today,” Rafael says deadpan.

My eyes widen and I stare at Enzo. “You almost killed a florist?”

Enzo rolls his eyes. “That’s a tad hyperbolic, Raf, even for you.” Then he gives me all of his focus. “I merely suggested that he should find a way to get me the pale pink roses, not the deep pink, if he wanted to remain in business.”

Micah points toward the flowers. “And it worked.”

“Because pale pink roses are your favorites,” Angelo says.

“Not deep pink, which remind you too much of the time you threw up after drinking too much vodka cranberry,” Enzo adds.

Something tightens in my chest. “You remembered that?”

“I remember everything, cuore mio.” He brushes his thumb over my knuckles. The faintest touch, but intimate enough to make my stomach twist into a knot. “I remember how much you used to say you wanted a family of your own. But you already have one, Rayne. We are your family, and we always will be. In all our messy, fallible, florist-hating glory, we’re always here for you, no matter what.”

I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness that my heart feels like it’s going to burst right out of my chest. I stare at him for the longest time. The man who broke my heart. The man who still looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world worth having.

Luca’s fettuccine was delicious, and another stark reminder of the life we all used to share. It’s been like old times, sitting here with all five brothers and simply enjoying pleasant conversation. It’s too much, yet somehow not enough.

When Rafael starts talking about the cherry pie, I take the opportunity to excuse myself to get the ice cream and take a much-needed moment to pause and reset. Enzo’s surprise was wonderful and unexpected. Because it wasn’t some extravagant gift like jewelry or a new car, to tell me how sorry he is. No, this was personal. Human. The kind of gift only someone who truly understands me would think of.

So, where does that leave us now? I leave tomorrow, and I find myself wanting more than ever to stay. To be a part of this family again.

I’m aware of footsteps behind me and I spin to find Luca in the kitchen with me.

“Hey.” I flash him a smile.

He nods in greeting. Always a man of few words.

“This evening has been lovely. Your fettuccine is delicious, by the way. Almost as good as your mama’s.”

That gets me a half smile. “She was the best cook.”

“She was,” I agree. She was an incredible woman in so many ways, and I miss her terribly.

Luca sucks on his teeth, staring at me like he wants to say something, but for whatever reason, won’t. Or can’t.

I grab the tub of ice cream from the freezer. “Is there something on your mind, Luca?”

He hums, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Don’t you wonder why Enzo stayed so loyal to Carmine for all these years? A man he could barely stand?”

“Enzo has always been a man of honor and principle. Carmine was the don, so Enzo was loyal.”

Luca shrugs. “Dons can be challenged. Replaced. The only reason Carmine remained in power for so long was because he had Enzo at his side.”

I’m confused, or I’ve drunk more glasses of wine than I thought. “Clearly I’m missing something here, so why don’t you just tell me what that is instead of asking me questions I don’t know how to answer.”

“Can’t. Enzo swore us all to secrecy. But I can tell you that Carmine and our father wanted you dead. They claimed it was because you disgraced the Medici name, but now we both know better, don’t we?”

Panic and indignation bubble up in my throat, but I swallow them down. Luca’s not accusing me, and he’s also no threat to me. But while it’s no surprise that Carmine and Giovanni wanted me dead, it’s still no picnic hearing Luca say it so callously. “Well, I always suspected as much.”