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“One of Irons’ buddies accepted a favor from him. Didn’t realize who he really was.” I made a face, knowing that could backfire. “Any suggestions?”
“Your buddy,” I used his American term, “shouldn’t have accepted that favor.”
Trigger rubbed his beard as he thought, and I could tell that some things weren’t sitting well with him.
“Collins and I have crossed paths a few times. I’ll make some calls, see what I can do.”
“Yeah.” He nodded and threw me a wave as he climbed on his bike. Tess drove up beside him and waved goodbye, then they headed off to a hotel before going back Florence.
By the time I got back to the car, Sienna was fast asleep. I pulled the extra blanket from the trunk and covered her then started the car. We had a long trip to Sicily in the morning, and I knew she’d need all the sleep she could get to help her make it through that one.
* * *
Syndicate Tour
Sicily
To say Sienna was off her game was an understatement. I’d known that leg of the journey would take a toll on her, but I didn’t expect her to shut down altogether. It was the reason I sent for Mama, not because I couldn’t handle it, but because I thought she needed some female strength around her before we left for the meet and greet dinner.
“Thanks for coming.” I kissed Mama’s cheeks when she came through the front door.
“Of course. Where is she?”
“Out there.” I motioned for her to follow me. “She’s honestly fine, just distant.”
I opened the patio doors and found Sienna asleep on a pool lounge chair.
“Bella, Mama is—”
“Thank you,figlio.” Mama turned to me and kept her back to Sienna. “I’ll take it from here. You go to your dinner and let everyone know Sienna needs a night off.”
“Mama, this is a really big deal. Not having her by my side will look bad.”
“She needs a night to herself,” she insisted. “Give her that.”
“Of course.” I shook my head and remembered Sienna always came first. I glanced over my shoulder as I shut the doors and saw my mama curl up next to her. I was so thankful she was able to come.
“With Mama, you got me.” Papa smiled as he approached me, and I would be beyond pleased if he could tag along. “How’s our Sienna holding up?”
“I think Sicily is proving to be too much for her.”
“Well,” he thought for a moment, “this dinner is mandatory for you. Why don’t I join you, and we can win them over together?”
“Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Papa.” I clapped him on the shoulder in relief. Then we both went upstairs to get ready.
Dinner was stuffy and beyond boring. If I never had to sit through another one of Cousin Diego’s stories about how he killed some guy at a corner store, I’d be just fine. Papa and I did our best to answer their questions. They showed little if any interest in Sienna. What they really wanted to know was how much money we’d absorbed from the Coppola family.
“There’s money coming in from many directions,” I explained. “We won’t really know the full picture until we’ve combed through it all.”
“I heard a rumor they were broke.” Diego whirled his wine glass around, eyeing me suspiciously, which only further pissed me off. “And that your partner, who seems to be MIA, was dating your fiancée before you?”
I licked the inside of my dry mouth and took a breath, not wanting to anger family, but he’d crossed the line with me in the past and was pushing his limits.
“Diego,” I gave him a dark warning not to push me too far, “you’re a smart man, yet you run your month in front of me, your Don. One would think you’d learned your lesson years ago when you crossed Niccola.”
“I just feel the people have a right to know who’s running the family business. A right to know if the woman you’re sticking it to is really in this for all of us.”
Red. I saw red.
