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“Don’t worry, Chiara,” Cardo said, taking her hand in his. “I’ll be there.” I smiled as he reassured his little sister. The bond they had was unlike anything I’d ever seen.
“And me and Mateo will be too.” I stroked her hair, feeling the bumps of her braid over my fingers.
She nodded, gripping Cardo’s hand and pushing closer to me. She was only four, but her mind was so much more mature than that. It had to be with what she’d lived with for the first years of her life. But now it was time for her to just be a kid. To play. To laugh. To not worry about what she’d find in her apartment when she got home from school.
Mateo may have ignored me and slept on the sofa for the last two weeks, but with Cardo and Chiara around, I filled my time making memories with them. Memories they’d never gotten the chance to make. I didn’t want to be their mom, but I wanted them to know I would always be there for them, no matter what happened.
Chiara gasped as we pulled up at the gate and I grinned. I’d felt like that the first time I’d seen the place too.
I pulled some cash out of my jeans pocket and handed it to the driver. “Thanks.” Popping open the back door, I then slid out, and held my hand out for Chiara. Her little hand was swallowed by mine, her big eyes staring at the two men on either side of the gate. She was scared, but there was a note of intrigue shining in her beautiful eyes.
“Whoa.” Cardo’s voice echoed around us as he jumped—literally—out of the car. We stayed put as it reversed away from the gates then drove off. “Who are they?” He pointed to the two men whose stern faces were turned our way. I wasn’t sure how to answer Cardo because I assumed they were part of the organization. How was I meant to explain to a four and seven-year-old what the Mafia was?
My eyes widened as I realized I’d brought them to the house of a Mafia boss. Dammit. What if Mateo didn’t want them here? He hadn’t introduced the kids to Aida, maybe there was a reason behind it?
Either way, it was too late now because we were already here.
I pushed my shoulders back, holding my other hand out for Cardo. He took it without hesitation, then I walked us up to the gates and told the man on the left, “Aida invited us.”
“Name?” he barked.
“I’m Luna, this is Riccardo and Chiara.” I paused. “Caputo. Luna Caputo.”
He blinked, his mouth popping open. I hadn’t thought about the fact that he’d know the name Caputo, but of course he would. Mateo had told me he was a captain, that meant he was someone of importance. Not to mention, he was always with Lorenzo and taking Aida wherever she needed to go. He was close with them—like family.
“Go right in,” the other soldier said, and a second later, the gates creaked open.
We walked through the open spot, up the driveway, and passed the water feature. The kids were quiet, probably taking it all in. It was a beautiful house, one that I was sure people got lost in.
“Knock on the door,” I told Cardo as we halted in front of the huge wooden doors. They were just as grand as the rest of the house. We stood there, waiting for someone to answer, and after a couple of minutes, I wondered if something was wrong. Aida had told me what time to come, and we were only a few minutes early. “Knock aga—”
The door flung open, Aida’s grinning face appearing. “You’re here!” She darted forward and wrapped her arms around me but I couldn’t do it back because both kids were holding my hands in bruising grips now.
“We are,” I replied, my voice muffled by her hair in my face.
She pulled back, her gaze drifting lower to Cardo and Chiara. “Oh my God.” She crouched down, teetering on the heels she was wearing. “Hi.” She lifted her hand, waving, her grin still in place. “I’m Aida, and this is my home.” She paused, but only to inhale a breath. “You must be Chiara. Your hair is so pretty.”
Chiara glanced up at me, her little cheeks blushing. “Luna did my hair. She’s the best at hair.”
“She is,” Aida said, smiling at me then turning to Cardo. “And you must be Riccardo.”
He puffed his chest out, his usual confidence coming back full force. “I am.” His gaze flicked around the mansion. “How much did this place cost?”
I choked on a laugh, surprised by his blurted question.
“Well…” Aida bit down on her bottom lip, clearly trying to keep in her own laugh. “I—”
“My dad bought it for two million about forty years ago,” a new voice said. My body automatically froze at the sound of it. I couldn’t help but have a reaction. “You want a tour, little man?”
“Erm…” Cardo looked at me, then Chiara, his eyes lighting up. It was clear he wanted to go, but his protective instincts were keeping him in place.
“Go,” I told him, letting his hand go. “Go and explore. Chiara is fine with me.”
At my words, his face lit up. “Let’s do it,” he said, stepping toward Lorenzo. “What’s your name?”
“Lorenzo.”
“Cool. I’m Riccardo, but all my friends call me Cardo.” He paused as he walked beside Lorenzo into the house. “That’s what you can call me.”
