by Cora Reilly
“Where’s the meeting taking place?”
I knotted my tie. “You don’t know the place. It’s a nightclub.”
I could tell that Giulia wanted to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to talk business with her. I kissed her lips lightly. “Don’t wait up tonight. It’ll be very late.”
On my way out of the house, I called Faro again. “Everything set up?”
“Yes, everyone’s on their way.”
“Have our watchers said anything about movement in the clubhouse?”
“They seem to have a meeting. All the bikes are in front of the club.”
Now that Luca had destroyed an entire chapter in cold blood, the retribution of the MC was only a matter of time. They were volatile, bound by fewer rules than us. It was part of my life I didn’t want Simona, Daniele, or Giulia to be part of. I’d do my best to protect them from it.
After Cassio was gone, I grabbed my phone and sank down on the sofa. Simona was busy with a picture book that simulated animal noises, and Daniele sat on the blanket beside her, only half focused on his game while he kept throwing glances toward his sister’s book.
Loulou curled up beside me, and I began stroking her soft fur at once, hoping it would calm me. Since Cassio had told me about my uncles, my heart had been beating faster than usual. In the mob, falling from grace usually meant your death. I wasn’t sad about the death of my uncles. They had been bad men, even by our very twisted standards, but I was worried what it meant for Cassio, for us, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my poor cousin, Kiara, who was now an orphan.
I called Dad’s number. He didn’t pick up after the first few rings, which was unusual for him. He always made time for me. What if Luca had decided to get rid of him too? It wasn’t a secret that Dad wasn’t his favorite. Marrying me off to Cassio was supposed to guarantee Dad’s position, but would Cassio really protect him? They didn’t like each other very much. Maybe for me, Cassio would put a good word in about my father.
Finally, Dad took the call, and I slumped in relief.
“Giulia, tonight’s not the best time for a call.”
“Are you all right? I heard what happened.”
Dad sighed. “I’m fine. I can’t deny it, it’s been disturbing to hear about Luca taking down one family member after the other, but I’ve never done anything that could be construed as betrayal.”
“What’s going to happen with Kiara? Have you heard anything?”
“Matteo contacted us and asked if we’d be willing to take her in.”
Dad’s voice made it clear that he wasn’t fond of the idea. “She needs a home and we’re family.”
“Your mother and I have worked hard to improve our family’s standing, taking in a traitor’s daughter could ruin all our efforts.”
“Dad,” I said, shocked. “She’s twelve. She’s innocent. Please don’t tell me you’ll refuse to take her in because of something her father did. That would be exceedingly cruel.”
Dad was silent for a moment. It wasn’t that I didn’t think him capable of cruelty, but he preferred not to appear that way in my eyes. “Luca might not give us much of a choice anyway. With the way things are going, disappointing him could be too risky.”
“Then don’t risk it and give Kiara a home.”
“How are things between Cassio and you?”
“Good.”
“They are?” Dad asked as if he didn’t trust his ears. It saddened me, knowing that he’d expected the worst from Cassio and had still given me to him.
“They are. Promise to call me as soon as you know more about Kiara, okay?”
“I will. Your mother wants a word with you.”
I stifled a sigh. Knowing Mom, she was probably alarmed the recent development with Kiara might kill her social standing, and that meant she was already planning how to take countermeasures—ones that usually involved me or Christian.
“Giulia, how are you?” The forced cheer in her voice confirmed my suspicions.
“Okay. A bit worried about Kiara.”
“When can your father and I expect a grandchild from you?”
All right. That was her plan. “Simona and Daniele are both young. Taking care of them takes up all my time and energy.”
“They aren’t yours, Giulia. You have to make clever decisions. Having a child of your own will solidify your position, especially if you have a boy who might become Underboss.”
“Daniele will be Underboss, Mom. And if I ever want a child, it won’t be for tactical purposes.” Cassio and I hadn’t discussed children yet. He’d insisted I take the pill, which I would have done anyway because I definitely didn’t want to get pregnant at the moment. I wanted to be the best mother for Daniele and Simona, and a third child wouldn’t make the task any easier.
“Now that you’re a wife, you can’t afford being naïve.”
I sighed. “I need to hang up now. Simona needs me.” I didn’t wait for her reply. Lowering the phone, I watched Daniele push the animal images in the picture book alongside Simona. The cacophony of meows, mooohs, and woof-woofs caused them to laugh. I leaned back with a smile. Every day, they captured more of my heart.
I tried to wait up for Cassio, but eventually I drifted off, awkwardly curled up in the armchair in front of the fireplace.
I wasn’t sure what time it was when cold hands touched my arm, jerking me out of my slumber. It was dark in the room except for the dying embers in the hearth dancing before my tired eyes. Cassio hovered over me, smelling of gunpowder, smoke, and whisky. “I told you not to wait for me.”
“What time is it?” I slurred, my tongue and muscles heavy.
“Late.”
I tried to make out Cassio’s face to connect the tense note in his voice to his expression, but the darkness concealed his features. Reaching out, I touched his arm. The crisp fabric of his shirt stuck to his skin. It was stiff against my fingertips, crusted with something. Cassio pulled out of my grasp with a sharp intake.
I was momentarily wide awake. “Cassio?”
I sat up and Cassio took a step back from me, out of my reach. “Go to bed, Giulia. Now.”
I stood, moving toward him. The dying embers didn’t give off enough light to see much, but part of his white shirt was dark. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Giulia, to bed. Now.”
“No. I’m not a child, I’m your wife, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re fine.”
“Your insolence is driving me to the brink.”
“I think you like my insolence.”
He sighed and walked out. I followed after him. The foyer was dark too. My worry increased with every step and Cassio’s continued silence. When we finally arrived in our bedroom, I turned on the light switch. My heart dropped, seeing the blood on Cassio’s white shirt. Most of it had dried, only a small splotch on his arm looked fresher. Cassio continued into the bathroom without a word, but his expression conveyed his disapproval as I followed. “What happened?”
Cassio unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off, but one of his sleeves stuck to his arm. I cringed when I saw the wound it was stuck to. I grabbed a towel and dabbed it into warm water then pushed Cassio’s hand away. I soaked the bloody material of his sleeve, waiting for it to become unstuck from the long cut so there wouldn’t be further damage.
Cassio watched me almost curiously, no sign that someone had obviously used his forearm as a cutting board. I carefully unfastened his shirt, and Cassio gave the slightest twitch but didn’t make a sound. “Not your first rodeo, hmm?” I needed to make light of the situation before my worry for my husband drove me into a panic attack. What if something happened to him? What would I do with two small children, a huge house, and a slightly twisted dog?
“It’s only a shallow cut. I’ll survive.”
I laughed but it sounded forced. Once the wound was freed from the confines of his shirt, Cassio dropped the ruined garment on the floor. “I can handle this.” He took a first aid kit from a
cupboard beneath the sink.
“Won’t you tell me what happened?”
He cleaned his wound but when I didn’t look away, he sighed. “I’m not sure you should know the details of my business.”
“I’m part of your life, so let me be a part of it.”
The hesitation remained in his eyes. He looked down to his wound and patched it up with butterfly strips. “Luca’s been dealing with traitors as well as an MC that’s been giving us trouble.”
At the confused look on my face, he added, “Motorcycle club. They’re stronger in the south, especially Texas, New Mexico, and Florida, but chapters have been popping up around here. Luca asked me to see what the local chapter was up to. We captured one, a strong fighter. He got me with his knife.”
“Why would you get involved in this? Why don’t you send your men to deal with this? My father would never risk his life in an attack.”
Cassio smiled ironically. “That’s why your father isn’t the best Underboss. If you want your men’s loyalty, you have to show them that you’re willing to fight at their side.”
I shook my head. “That’s how people get killed.”
“Are you worried about me?”
I wrapped my arm around his middle and pressed my cheek to his chest. “Promise me to be more careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“The wound tells a different story.”
“Let’s get you into bed now. It’s—”
Simona’s cry rang from the speakers. “No bed for me.”
Cassio pressed his palm to my lower back and nudged me toward the bed. “You go to sleep and I’ll handle Simona.”
“You need to rest—”
“No. Let me handle her.”
I realized he needed to do it, to hold his little daughter. Maybe it was his way to remind himself of the good in this world.
“All right.” I sank down on the bed, feeling completely drained. Cassio kissed me briefly before he headed for the nursery.
I’d grown up in the mafia world. Death and danger were constant companions, but Dad had never come home injured. He knew how to stay out of trouble and let others risk their lives for him. I admired Cassio for his bravery. Yet at the same time, I wished he were a coward like Dad so he’d be safe. For his children… and me.
Daniele and I settled on the floor. It was bonding time, not just between him and me, but also with Loulou, while Simona had her afternoon nap. The last couple of evenings Cassio had come home late again, and I hoped it wouldn’t turn into a permanent thing. For now, I focused my main attention on Daniele, Simona, and Loulou. They kept me distracted enough.
Loulou trotted closer with a ball in her muzzle as she usually did when I sat down on the floor. I took the ball from her and rolled it over the floor. Daniele followed everything with curious eyes. After two tosses, I held the ball out to him. He took it and flung it away then smiled widely when Loulou chased her toy. We did this for a couple of minutes before I put the ball away and patted the spot in front me. Loulou came closer, her pink tongue lolling about adorably. I stroked her gently then crossed my legs and motioned for Loulou to come even closer. She curled up in my lap, and I stroked her ears gently, amazed at how silky this spot of her felt to the touch.
Daniele moved closer until his knees bumped against my thigh. I could tell how much he wanted to touch Loulou. I regarded her for a while to see if she was ready for more closeness. In the last few days, she hadn’t tried to avoid Daniele anymore. Now, she seemed completely relaxed, her eyes half-closed as she watched Daniele. “Do you want to touch her?”
Daniele gave a quick nod.
“Try to move slowly, so she can get used to your presence, all right?” Another sharp nod.
“She’s shy. She needs to get to know you and see that you’re her friend.”
I took Daniele’s hand and put it on Loulou’s back. Her ears twitched in curiosity and her eyes opened a bit more. Slowly, I moved Daniele’s hand along her side, staying away from her head for now because I’d read that dogs often felt threatened by a touch there. Loulou’s eyes drooped once more as she enjoyed the caresses. “See? You have to be careful. Loulou is small. Don’t tug at her ears or tail, all right?”
Daniele nodded, watching his hand on the fur, mesmerized.
I pulled away, allowing him to do this on his own. Maybe we were on the right path. Even Cassio had stopped complaining about Loulou. Simona allowed me to calm her at night often now, which gave Cassio the chance to sleep more.
I smiled, feeling a wave of optimism.
I was half asleep when Cassio returned home that night. A week had passed since the killings, and the kids and I had barely seen him.
I watched him get ready for bed. Then he stretched out beside me.
“When will you be home for dinner again?”
Cassio touched my hip, pulling me closer. His lips found mine but despite the rush of heat, I drew back. Our only interactions apart from a few exchanged words had been sex. He sighed. “Work is important. I have too much to do. I’m tired. I only want to take my mind off things when I get home and not argue with you.” He kissed me again, and this time I pushed him back, angry.
“You treat me like a nanny and whore, Cassio. I deserve better.”
“I would never treat you like a whore,” he growled. “You are my wife and I want you. If I remember correctly, you always enjoy it.”
I did. Cassio made sure I came before and during intercourse. “That doesn’t mean I don’t need us to form an emotional bond as well. I thought we were on a good path, but now you’re pulling back again. Is it really just because of your workload or is it something else?”
He was silent for a moment. “I’m trying to make sure you and my kids are safe. I need to be in absolute control of my city to guarantee your safety.” He kissed me again, softer this time, but I could feel the urgency lurking just beneath. “I’ll try to be home around dinnertime.”
Was it to appease me? I allowed him to deepen the kiss, to slide down my nightgown and awaken my body with his lips.
The next day, I browsed party ideas for third birthdays. Daniele’s special day was in a week, and I wanted to surprise him with a cake and a themed birthday party. Clutching the edge of the sofa, Simona pulled herself up to her legs beside me, grinning proudly.
“Good,” I cooed while I kept an eye on Daniele and Loulou. He was throwing her ball, and she dropped it in front of him every time. It was beautiful and I wished Cassio could see.
My phone pinged with a message. Surprise rushed through me when I saw it was from Christian, telling me he was in the area and wanted to visit. I hadn’t seen him since the wedding. In the past, I would only see him every two months because we lived in different cities, but now that had changed, at least until he returned to Baltimore to rule at Dad’s side—whenever that was going to be. I hurried into the kitchen to tell Sybil to prepare a few sandwiches and coffee.
Fifteen minutes later, his car pulled up in front of the house. “Your uncle’s coming to visit,” I told Daniele, who’d been following my every step all day. I carried Simona on my arm, despite her squirminess. She wanted to crawl but she was quick and it was difficult to keep an eye on her in the vast house.
Daniele’s eyes grew wide, a mix of shock and hope marking his face. His reaction surprised me. Cassio only had sisters. Had Gaia had a brother? I didn’t remember. The bell rang. Loulou stormed out of the living room, barking. She jerked to a stop in front of the door, scratching it.
“I’m getting the door!” I called before Sybil could come forward from the kitchen. Elia and Domenico could see the front step with the surveillance cameras surrounding the house so they’d know it was only my brother.
“No, Loulou,” I said sternly as I carefully pushed her to the side with my foot before I opened the door. Loulou tried to squeeze past me again, but I nudged her back again.
Christian wore a thick coat against the bitter cold December air and gave me a
curious look. “Of course you’d keep the dog.”
Daniele stared at my brother then turned around and rushed upstairs. Puzzled, I smiled at Christian as I kept Loulou away with my foot. She growled at Christian. We really needed to work on her treatment of guests.
“What’s with the kid?” he asked, indicating Daniele who’d disappeared from view.
I shrugged and opened the door wider so he could enter.
Christian came in and hugged me with one arm, trying not to crush Simona, who made a sound of protest at his closeness. The cold clung to his coat and seeped into me.
I quickly pulled back and closed the door. For a moment, I didn’t pay attention, and Loulou dashed past me, jumping at Christian with angry yaps. He glared down, not impressed. “Go away,” he said, shoving her away with less gentleness than I had done.
“Loulou!” She finally stopped and trotted a few steps away.
“How are you?” Christian asked as he slipped off his coat and hung it up at the coatrack. It was obvious that he’d been here before and knew where everything was. The worry in his voice was unmistakable.
I touched his arm. “I’m fine.”
His eyes narrowed. “I can tell that you’re lying.”
“I’m fine, really. Just a bit overwhelmed. Daniele won’t talk and barely eats. I’m trying to break through his walls, to find out what happened, but I don’t know how.”
I led Christian into the living room, even if I worried about Daniele. I’d check on him later if he didn’t come down soon. Loulou followed close behind, never letting Christian out of her sight. She was brave, I had to give her that.
We settled on the sofa where I’d had Sybil set up cake, sandwiches, and cookies as well as coffee. “The kid lost his mother. Of course he’s traumatized.”
“I know, but it’s more than that. He’s avoiding Cassio.”
“Maybe you should let the past rest, Giulia.” The way he spoke it was more a warning than advice, and his worried expression only affirmed my suspicion.