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My sister smiled, but her eyes filled with sadness.
“Where’s Giada?” I asked.
“With Cirillo and Mira.”
I ground my molars. I watched what I said in front of Savio. He would learn on his own that his mother was a cunt. After Luca’s death, she’d relegated her responsibilities as Savio’s mother to my sister. Anna had even moved into Luca’s home near the sea to be closer to Savio.
I squatted in front of Savio. Tears moistened his cheeks. “It’s okay to cry,” I said and wiped away the wetness with my thumbs. “I need you to be strong and brave.” I focused on his eyes. “Show me your fierce face.”
His face pinched, lips pursed, and his brows furrowed. His small hands clenched into fists.
“Good. I need my capos to protect our family. I need you to protect Anna and your momma while I honor your nonno. Yourgrandpawas brave, and now we need to be like him.”
Savio nodded. “I’m brave.”
I stood. “I need to talk to Anna.”
She scooted Savio to the door. “Find Luna and Lucia.” Cirillo’s twins, a boy and girl the same age as Savio. “There are cookies in the kitchen.”
Savio cast a long glance across the room to me.
“Go now,” I softly said. “I’ll see you later.”
He turned and bustled out of the room.
“Close the door,” I said, ensuring we wouldn’t be overheard.
“He doesn’t understand.” She rested a hip on the arm of the loveseat.
“He’s five.” But he would grow to be a mafia capo.
“Too young to know so much death,” she said.
Death came to all of us.
I spun the lion ring on my finger and inhaled a deep breath. “Someone in the family betrayed us.”
Anna crossed her arms over her chest, gripping her biceps as if shielding herself from the truth. “I know.”
I slid my hands into my pockets. “His killer is in this house.”
Her neck flexed with a swallow. “Please, no.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do? I can’t trust anyone.”
She launched to her feet. “You trust me. You trust Orlando, Stefano, and you trust Ant.”
I rolled my shoulders. “I need to speak with Giada.” I hated needing her help, but she spent her time at my father’s side. She’d know if he had any recent visitors.
My father had trusted her. But she was a vindictive bitch, and right now, she had leverage over me. She knew who my father was spending his time with.
“You’ll have to play nice with her.”
“I want information, Anna, but I won’t give her what she wants.” Or rather, what she didn’t want. She didn’t want me to marry Allegra. A wife threatened her position in the family. With my father gone, she’d shifted into survival mode.
“She’s protecting her son. Savio needs a dad in his life.”
I spun toward my sister. “It won’t be me.”
