He’d been over seven feet of brawn and stupidity.
Ottavio had loved pushing Carlo and beating him into submission. Yes, Ottavio had been the stronger one when Carlo wasn’t in his right mind—something Ottavio had enjoyed.
He never would have been able to overcome Carlo otherwise.
To know what they’d planned, and to be part of it but unable to tell Arturo, had been the worst. Benedict, Carlo learned, had been part of that. He’d used magic to bind Carlo from speaking on what he knew and to help increase his confusion.
Until Carlo was sucked into the maelstrom of the Chaos Realm and he could breathe for the first time. The pieces connected, bonds of magic shattered, and warmth surrounded him until he could speak what was truly on his mind.
It had saved Dominic and Zoey.
Made sure Romano had a chance to meet his mate.
It had altered Carlo’s course as well. He’d become Arturo’s second, found the family he’d been looking for, and soothed the frayed edges. But he couldn’t help the sense of loss in the pit of his stomach either. When he’d returned from the Chaos Realm, he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d left behind something important.
“Dominic will meet us in Greenwald now.”
Carlo blinked, coming out of his memories. “Okay.”
No, he wasn’t sure what he’d lost, but he’d find it.
One day.
“I want you to pay close attention, Isadora. You’ve got speed, and we want to let you have as much fun as you can, but listen to your wolf. She can tell you things, share information on the wind, feel the earth beneath her paws. If she tells you to stop, do it. If she tells you to go left, you follow,” Carlo explained.
Dominic had brought a change of clothes for his daughter so now she was in black leggings and a t-shirt. He’d also taken the time to pin her mass of hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, the bright-green strip making little swirls in the design. Watching the Alpha struggle through the process had been hilarious.
“‘Kay.”
“We’re going to play chase. I want you to catch Car-car.”
“You want my fucking daughter to catch a car?”
What? “No, Dominic. That’s what she calls me. I’m Car-car. You’ve become jumpy in your old age.”
“Can it, Carlo. We’ve had enough shit on our plates lately. Who could blame me?”
Carlo couldn’t argue with that. “I’m going to run around, but I’m sure both of you can follow close enough to keep an eye on her. Just let her use what she’s got. No help from either of you.”
This was said more to Arturo, but Carlo wouldn’t put it past Dominic to trip Carlo up if he could. Her daddy and grandfather were suckers for the violet-eyed beauty.
“Deal,” Dominic agreed.
“I won’t need to help her,” Arturo argued.
Nice vote of confidence.
Carlo turned to Isadora. “Ready?”
“Catch Car-car.”
He sped off. Her tinkering laughter filled the woods, and he could smell her coming after him. She hadn’t needed to be told to get on with it and chase him. He leapt over the thick roots of a massive tree, staying on two feet instead of four to let Isadora get a feel for the game.
She was fast, even at such a small height.
He wasn’t running at full speed, but even with the handicap, he was sure it wouldn’t take long before she wouldn’t need it. The girl was a beast, in the best sense of the word. Carlo darted to the left, just missing a tree trunk and making sure his clothing didn’t touch.
There were many ways to track, and Isadora was going to have to not only use her sight but her nose, skin, hearing, and touch. Even a wolf’s tongue could pick up information. He didn’t expect her to get it all at once, but he knew she eventually would.
