Page 145 of Fall Before Her Throne

“I’m sure, dummy,” Chiara replied. “Stop asking. Everything is fine.”

We couldn’t stay here for long. We were meeting up with our reinforcements after this. I gave Leona a pointed look, urging her to conclude her goodbyes.

“Okay, fine.” Leona huffed. She gave me a look in return, which made me smirk. She was stalling, and we all knew it, but Rossi would keep Chiara safe and out of the Camorra’s hands. I didn’t want to rush them last night, but the sooner we could refocus, the better.

“Time to go inside,” I said. Cas, Leona, Chiara, and I all exited the vehicle. The rest of my brothers would wait in the car. Rossi’s men met us in front of the restaurant. It was the same group that had met us the last time we visited Nonna’s, and they’d shaken us down at the door in some sort of intimidation attempt. Leona had wiped the floor with them.

“Anthony,” Leona said with a sweet smile. “So good to see you again.”

He swallowed and nodded tightly. “Miss Vero. Excuse me, Donna Vero. The Don says you can go right inside.”

“I’m sure he did,” Leona muttered. Chiara elbowed her in the side, which Leona returned quickly. Cas and I went first, ushering the girls inside while the rest of the Don’s men stayed behind.

The last time we were here, this restaurant was bustling. This time, it was completely empty. No patrons, only Rossi’s men stationed around the room.

Leona whistled. “Business must be bad.”

Rossi stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel before he handed it to one of his men. “Business is fine. We’re closed for today.”

“Your website says you’re open every day,” Leona said.

“We’re closed for today,” Rossi repeated with a smile, but his eyes flicked again and again to Chiara. “Special occasion.”

“Oh, you mean our prisoner exchange,” Leona retorted.

Rossi ignored Leona’s comment and extended a hand and a warm smile toward Caspian. “Cas.”

“Enzo. Good to see you again so soon,” Caspian said. “Any trouble around here recently?”

“Nothing we can’t handle,” Rossi answered. Even though he was talking to Caspian, his attention was clearly fixated on Chiara. She completely ignored him, looking around the restaurant instead. Her body stretched and tilted to get a better look into the kitchen, where at least some waitstaff were still moving around.

“Rossi,” I greeted, extending a hand. He gripped it firmly and then returned his dark stare to Chiara. Clearly, he had a single-track mind.

“These introductions are super fun, but how about we speed this up?” Chiara interjected. She faced him head-on. Her nose upturned and her voice went frosty, much different from any words I’d heard her speak in the last twelve hours. “Enzo.”

Rossi nodded stiffly. He waited for her to extend a hand or nod or apparently do something, but she didn’t. “Chiara. Thank you for coming.”

An awkward silence spread between us.

“Rossi, are you sure you can keep Chiara safe?” Leona asked, breaking the tension.

“Of course.” He snapped his fingers, and a set of three servers immediately came out of the kitchen carrying plates of food.

“Oh, we can’t stay,” Leona said, eyeing the food. She swallowed and then gave me sweet, round eyes, but I shook my head.

“The food isn’t for you,” Rossi said. He held open a chair and gestured for Chiara to sit down. “Thank you. We’ll speak later.”

Chiara rolled her eyes. “Ignore him,” she said to Leona. “He’s very dramatic.”

“You’re bribing her with all of her favorite foods, but she’s too smart to fall for that, Enzo.” Leona pulled Chiara in for another hug. “Last chance.”

“I’m hungry. I think I’ll stay for lunch.” Chiara released the hug and smiled. “I’ll text the group chat.”

“Keep me posted.”

“Will do.”

“Oh, before you go,” Rossi said quietly, stepping closer to both Leona and me. “Greco is hosting a party at an upscale social club near Central Park. It’s supposedly a fundraiser gala, hosted by a shell corporation of his for the new mayor. But the word on the street is that this is his play at buying her loyalty. I thought you should know.”