Page 89 of Daddies of the Underworld

Dante’s tone turned dangerous, and Matteo answered in rapid Italian.

And me? I walked the two most important people in our lives up the stairs. That was my grand contribution to the war. I was good with ledgers, bribes, favors, and making people smile. None of that meant a damned thing when Matteo commanded half the alliance and Dante locked down our side of Europe with a phone call. All I could do was walk Nina and Sofia away from the noise. So I did.

Three guards stood in the hallway outside the bedroom instead of the one we’d had in Chicago. Two stood near the stairs, one at the far end next to the service corridor. Enzo stood closest to Sofia’s room. I’d known him for a decade, and there were few others I trusted to oversee this floor. He nodded at me, the movement clipped. “Sir. Floor’s clear. Checked it myself.”

“Good man.” I opened the door to Sofia’s room, sweeping it with a look before I let them through. “Sorry, Enzo.” I shot him a smirk. “Not that I don’t trust you, but you did cheat at cards.”

He grinned right back. “Only because you did.”

Touche.

Sofia tucked her head into the crook of Nina’s neck. “Why is everyone standing weird?”

“Because Dante taught them.” I almost added that they had sticks up their asses, but other than the one joke with Enzo, I wasn’t in the mood to make light of their military stance. I followed them into the room, unable to help myself from giving it a thorough examination even though I knew Dante and Enzo had completed their own checks ahead of me.

Nina clicked on the small bedside lamp and lowered Sofia to the bed draped in purple sheets and a fluffy purple blanket.

I checked the wardrobe, then knocked on the frame. “All clear, Princess Unicorn.”

She wiggled beneath the covers, her frown breaking my heart. “I don’t feel princessy.”

“That’s because you left your crown downstairs.” I rested my shoulder on the frame. “What books do you want me to read tonight?”

Me reading to her was a new development, one I took very seriously.

Sofia sniffled and picked at the blanket. “Are bad guys coming?”

I moved to sit on the edge of the bed so Sofia could look me in the eye without craning her neck. Not that she was. She was too busy staring at the blanket and rubbing her palm over the fluffy material. “Bad men are making bad choices. We don’t know if they’re coming here, but we’re ready if they do.” I did my best to reassure her while being truthful. My little girl had a nose for lies, and it would be easier to keep her safe if I didn’t betray her trust.

Nina joined me on the edge of the bed. “You’re safe here, baby.”

Sofia pressed her face into Nina’s stomach. “I don’t like when phones ring anymore. It used to be fun, but now, every time one rings, everybody looks angry.”

Oh sweet baby. My hands tried to curl into fists, but I kept them loose and rubbed Sofia’s knee through the blanket. “We are angry, but we’re not angry with you or with your mom. We’re angry at the bad men. They’re messing up our plans for a perfect castle tour tomorrow. I have it on good authority that Rosa has planned to make raspberry pancakes in the morning.”

“Really?” That brightened Sofia’s glum expression. She lifted her head and looked left, toward the bookshelf and the rows of books I’d personally picked before our arrival. Her smile was tremulous but powerful. “Will you read the dragon bakery book?”

“Of course.” I opened the drawer to the side table and pulled out the notebook where we’d created her very own fairytale. She’d filled half of it with drawings of dragons, cakes and crowns, and I’d filled in the rest with the story. “Once upon a time, in a kingdom with too many rules and not enough frosting, there lived a dragon who owned a bakery.” I read until I went hoarse before Sofia finally fell asleep. I would read to her until my head fell off if it meant she fell asleep knowing she was loved and we would do anything to keep her safe.

Nina did not move for a long time, and neither did I. The floorboards in the hallway creaked as the guards made their rounds. After sitting in the dark for a half hour, Nina eased the covers beneath Sofia’s chin and kissed her forehead. I brushed Sofia’s curls away from her cheek and kissed her temple before I backed toward the door.

Nina looked up, mouthed ‘thank you’ and mimed that she’d be out in a minute.

I nodded and stepped into the hall, pointing at Enzo. “Nothing gets near this door.”

His jaw tightened. “Nothing. I swear it.” A fisted hand clamped over his heart.

Nina joined me in the hallway, pulling Sofia’s door almost shut until only a tiny sliver remained open. She swayed on her feet, and I caught her elbow. “Come on.”

She resisted. “I should stay with her.”

“You need to take two seconds to yourself and breathe.” I led the way to the kitchen. One floor down, one door to the right. Close enough we could almost hear Dante and Matteo in the library. “You’ve been holding your life together through coffee and stubborn maternal terror. Come drink something soft and decaf before your heart gives out.”

“You make it sound so romantic.” The snort in her voice told me she was rolling her eyes, but hearing her making a joke did wonders for keeping me sane.

The kitchen was empty except for Rosa standing at the counter with a tray of clean glasses. She’d worked in the villa since Matteo bought it, and we’d asked her to join us here because we trusted her and she and Nina had always gotten along. Rosa’s hair had gone steel-gray in the last few years, but her eyes were as sharp as ever when she looked Nina over. “I put chamomile in the warmer for your girl in case she wakes.”

Nina rubbed both hands over her face. “Thank you. I don’t think I can drink tea.”