“Yeah, boss?”
“Nobody touches them. They’re under my personal protection. Make that very clear to everyone.”
“Crystal clear, boss.”
I hang up and drain the rest of my Scotch.
Tomorrow she arrives. Tomorrow I see her face again. Tomorrow I meet the child who’s probably mine.
Tomorrow I find out what she knows about that night.
And tomorrow everything changes.
I stand and walk back to the window, looking out at the city I’ve conquered through blood and violence and being more ruthless than anyone else.
But none of it matters right now.
All that matters is that she’s finally coming back.
This time, I’m not letting her go.
9
SCARLETT
“Mama, when we get to New York, will there be pizza?”
I look at Luca buckled into the cream leather seat across from me, his legs swinging because they don’t reach the floor yet. His eyes are bright with excitement, completely oblivious to the fact that we left our entire life behind this morning with just two suitcases.
“I’m sure there will be lots of pizza, baby.”
“And the Statue of Liberty? Can we see it?”
“Maybe. We’ll see what my friend has planned.”
He grins and goes back to looking out the window at the clouds passing below us. So trusting. So innocent. Five years old and the world is still full of adventures instead of dangers.
I wish I could keep it that way forever.
The private jet is beautiful in that excessive way that screams wealth and power I can’t begin to comprehend. Everything is cream and gold and polished wood. The seats are softer thanmy bed at home. There’s a flight attendant who keeps offering us gourmet sandwiches and fresh fruit and asking if we need anything else.
This is Dante’s world. This luxury, this excess, this casual display of money that most people will never see in their entire lives.
And I’m flying straight into it with his son.
My hands won’t stop shaking.
I press them flat against my thighs and try to breathe steadily. Try to keep the panic off my face so Luca doesn’t notice.
“Mama?” He’s looking at me now with those storm-grey eyes that are going to give everything away the second Dante sees them. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just a little nervous about the flight.”
“But it’s so smooth!”
“You’re right. It’s very smooth.”
He studies me for another moment, then seems satisfied and goes back to the window.
