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I looked over at Leonardo. “She doesn’t know I’m here. She’s no threat to you.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Fausto said coldly.
I ignored him and focused on Leonardo. “I’m grateful for your hospitality and any offer of employment. I am. But if the price of a job with your family is information about her, then I’m going to have to ask that your men take me back to the airport.”
Leonardo watched me like he was weighing my soul. He reminded me very much of Dario at that moment. “And why is that? Why won’t you tell us about her?”
“Because… despite it not working out… I still love her.” Admitting that felt like a needle slowly pushing through my heart. “And… no disrespect intended… I don’t want her to be tracked down by men in the Cosa Nostra.”
The temperature in the room immediately dropped a couple of degrees.
Not from Leonardo, who continued to look at me neutrally –
But from Fausto.
The consigliere stood up. “Well, Signor Andersen – or Henriksson, whichever you prefer – thank you for coming. Niccolo, if you’ll show him to the door – ”
“No,” Leonardo said.
Fausto looked at his older brother in shock. “‘No’?!”
Leonardo ignored Fausto and focused on me. “You loved her deeply, didn’t you.”
“…yes, sir.”
“I can see it in your eyes.” Leonardo nodded almost absentmindedly. “I greatly admire a man who protects the woman he loves, even if she’s ended things with him. And Dario is an excellent judge of character. If he says you are to be trusted, then I don’t require any further information about this woman.”
“Leo,” Fausto growled, like Come ON!
“I am your don in this matter, not your brother. And your don has spoken, consigliere,” Leonardo said simply.
Fausto looked irritated… but he sat back down in his chair.
“Now that we’ve broached the subject,” Leonardo said as he gazed at me, “tell me what Dario said to you. About the job, I mean.”
“Well…” I said hesitantly, “I had some reservations about working for your family. No disrespect intended.”
Leonardo smiled like he was amused. “None taken.”
“I would like to be placed in a position where I’m not required to… break any of my personal rules of conduct,” I said.
“Oh?” Fausto sneered. “And what would those rules of conduct be, exactly?”
“I never hurt women or children. Never.”
Leonardo dipped his head in respect. “Good rules.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m assuming you killed men in the military, though,” Leonardo said.
“I did.”
“How many, if I might ask?”
“When I was a sniper in Afghanistan, I had 31 confirmed kills. Probably another six on top of that that couldn’t be verified.”
Niccolo glanced over at his father and uncle.
