Page 34 of Dario

“No,” I said shaking my head. “Absolutely not. Both of them.”

Sofia stared at me then shrugged. “Fine, but breathe a word and the kid boards the party boat.” And with that, she whirled around, completely ignoring Imelda and her coffee, and strode to the house and presumably her car.

I stood, rooted to the spot. But I knew. Maybe I’d always known. Rocco had never been the power in that marriage. He was cruel but completely ruled by his cock. Even the morning Dario had dragged me into Rocco’s study, the gardener’s daughter had been on her knees sucking him off.

Just like— No, I didn’t need that in my head today.

Elisabetta had seen that, barely reacted, and I imagined had been humiliated countless times over the years. She not only wanted something different for her daughter, she wanted revenge. She had to have known my mom was pregnant. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she had broken the maid’s arm herself to make sure my mom went with her, and then somehowmy mom had been persuaded or forced to give up my brother. I would never know.

And now what?

But even as I asked myself the question, I knew I had no choice. I had to remind myself that Dario wasn’t some white knight ready to rescue me and carry me off to a happy ever after. And Sofia was right. The family was always misogynistic. Men were men and women should be seen and not heard. And that made me fit where? I had no wish to drink whisky and smoke cigars with the rest of the old boys’ club. Dario had promised me a role, but as what? I wouldn’t fit in either camp.

And there wasn’t just me anymore. I had a brother to protect. Mom might be safe today, but my brother definitely wasn’t.

“Alessandro? Renaldo’s here.”

I smiled at Imelda, sorry that I would never see her again after tomorrow. I would miss Nonna as well, but as I’d told myself, she wasn’t my grandmother, much as I might wish it, she was Dario’s.

These people weren’t my family. My mom was. And somewhere a little boy was alone, terrified, and in danger. He was my family, and tomorrow I was going to save him.

Dario had been a fantasy. This was real life. I hooked Imelda’s arm and walked back to the house.

17

Dario

Iwas furious. So furious, people were going to die. I stormed into the house and had Alvize pinned against the wall with my gun to his head before he’d had a chance to take a breath. “What did I tell you?”

He didn’t say a word. Didn’t tremble. Just looked me in the eyes.

“Dario.” I heard Alessandro behind me. “Alvize was outside patrolling the back when my half-sister called for a coffee.” He walked toward me. “She actually invited me to lunch tomorrow. I’m dumbstruck. She said we had to learn to work together for the good of the family.”

I was so stunned at his words, I let Alvize go and turned to him. “Lunch?” I spat incredulously. Alessandro nodded.

“Unless we had plans? She wants to discuss fundraising to add a wing to the pediatric unit. Not exactly what I had in mind but it’s a start. I think there’s six of us going, but of course if you’d rather I didn’t...”

I stared at my husband in utter disbelief. I’d agreed to this. But with Sofia? Was he insane?

He came right up to me and whispered. “I think she’s up to something, but there’s not much she can do at Gia’s partner’s restaurant.”

I frowned. “You’re going to Bella Mia?” It was Josephine’s restaurant, and I had access to the cameras.

He nodded and hooked my arm, shocking me even more. “Nonna has been cooking all morning while I simply tried on clothes. Are you eating with us?”

I let myself be led into the kitchen and Alessandro let go as Nonna wrapped her arms around me. It had been Nonna who had called me, which she never did. I’d listened to the torrent of mixed Italian and English and simply walked out of my meeting. Unfortunately, I was over an hour away at the time.

“Lucio, you must join us,” Alessandro continued. “Nonna made Chicken Piccata.”

“Stop.” I turned on my heels and steered him into the study before he got a chance to object. I closed the door behind us. He’d said one enticement too many. He was up to something, and I didn’t like not knowing what.

“What’s going on?”

There, just a flicker of something in those gorgeous eyes, but not something I wanted to see in them. I was sick of suspicion. Sick of wariness. Not that I blamed him.

“Sofia’s a bitch and gives me the creeps,” he muttered.

“Then don’t go.” There, that was simple enough.

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