I showed respectful contrition. ‘Scusa.’
He nodded, then turned his focus on Rafa. Who stared at me for a long moment – making my gut clench hard – before dragging his phone from his pocket.
‘I had the same thought too, surprisingly. So I started digging. With a little help from our friend.’
My brows went up for the second time. ‘Nightowl is talking to you?’ I wasn’t jealous, exactly. I was just a little sceptical of someone I thought wasmyperson switching allegiances.
He shrugged. ‘Guess you’re not the only one needing answers.’
My spine stiffened. ‘Rafa.’
He held up a hand. ‘I’m toeing the line, as ordered. That doesn’t mean I can’t set the groundwork for when you finally come to your senses.’
‘So you haven’t been looking for her?’ I pushed.
His jaw gritted once. ‘No.’
‘Grazii.’
He exhaled, then nodded at my pocket. ‘You should check your phone,’ he muttered. ‘Looks like they’ve been talking to you too, so no need to get your panties in a bunch,’ he added.
I glanced at my screen and frowned at the message.
Ponder Papal Positions
‘Great. We’re into alliterations now.’
‘From the looks of things, we’re on the right track.’
‘Positions, plural? So more than one priest?’ I asked.
Orazio hummed. ‘I’m sending your father to Sicily, to see what he can dig up with Calogero.’
My surprise was reflected in Rafa’s eyes. ‘You are?’
‘This concerns your mother. He’s motivated. If there’s something there, he’ll find it,’ Orazio stated with complete confidence.
I couldn’t argue with that. So I didn’t.
And it turned out, there was. Something none of us expected.
Maddelena
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to talk to him first?’ I asked.
A week had passed since the tense meeting with Cesare and his family. A lot had happened since then, most of which I was still in the dark about, but not Cesare’s plan to meet with my grandfather.
He shook his head, then grinned fondly when he saw my gaze stray for the thousandth time to the ring glistening on my finger. The emerald cut, 15.2 carat Harry Winston diamond, bordered with platinum-mounted smaller diamonds was a cool sevenfigures, a part of a bridal set that came with a mid-seven-figure price tag. It was the most expensive thing I owned and I was very thankful I wasn’t allowed out without a small army or I would be terrified of being mugged.
Having my first anal experience right before an appointment at Harry Winston was… eye-opening.
Cesare had been as patient and gentle as he could be… up to a point. But eventually he’d broken, cursing loudly that myculu stritti biddicchiu– cute little ass – was too much for any sane man to withstand.
Which was why I’d spent the entire two-hour appointment guzzling champagne to soften the edges of my embarrassment and balancing sideways on one ass-cheek, glaring at Cesare every time his shoulders shook in silent laughter.
He was deadly serious now as he shook his head. ‘I can’t risk him doing anything stupid, baby. Let me gauge the temperature first, yeah?’
I wasn’t thrilled about Cesare facing him without me, but it made sense. After my call to Bonafacio and my flat refusal to come home, I wasn’t looking forward to talking to him anyway. And the news we planned to drop on him would send him into orbit. It was a little disconcerting that I was in the midst of what might be my last ever interaction with my grandfather, possibly my father. The rest of my family was debatable, but I didn’t plan to let my siblings go without a fight.
