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“You really should rest,” she says.
“I can’t.” I can’t get the image of Niko out of my head. The way he looked at me and talked to me. There’d been a moment when I thought he was disappointed and hurt that I hadn’t told him about the pregnancy. But his reaction changed my mind. He didn’t want me or the babies. He wouldn’t even talk to me about it. Killing my father was more important than anything else. I should have known that. How had I talked myself into thinking he could be more than the Soldier of Death?
“If he succeeds, maybe he’ll change his mind.” Lucia holds my hand, trying to comfort me, which is idiotic since she’s the one who just lost her husband.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I lean my head over on her shoulder. “I should be asking about you. How are you holding up?”
She sighs. “I’m okay. I mean, I’m sad. I’ll miss him. But I know now that one of the reasons he let me come here, insisted Icome when you didn’t show up like you said you would, was that he knew his time was coming. He didn’t want me to see him like that. He’d want me to remember the good times.”
"Good times? I was so worried when Dad sent you away. I was afraid he’d be mean to you. I’m so glad it turned out to be the opposite.”
“I was lucky. Giuseppe never asked for more than my company. He’s definitely a rarity in our world."
For a moment, I thought Niko might be a rarity. “When do you have to go back to Italy?”
She turns within my embrace, facing me, her eyes rimmed red but fierce. "Luca wants me to stay here in New York. It's… unsettled times when a Don dies."
"Luca? That’s Giuseppe’s son, right? Is he kicking you out of the Family?” I figured if Giuseppe was a rarity, his son could be like the rest.
"He says I'm still Family, that I can return if I choose to." Her hand squeezes mine gently. "He said I could bring you with me. He’ll protect us. I think he’s grateful for all I did for his father."
I think about Niko saying I would be free. Funny how just a few weeks ago, I’d have been elated at the prospect. “Does he know about the babies? About them being Niko’s?”
“Yes. He has no problem with that.”
“Niko wants me to get a new identity.”
“What Niko wants doesn’t matter once he decides he doesn’t want you or the babies.” Her voice is gentle, but it still hurts.
We sit in silence. Decisions need to be made, but not at this moment. I figure I have until tomorrow to decide what I want to do.
A commotion sounds near the door.
“In here!”
Lucia and I startle, jumping up from the couch.
Three of Niko's men storm in, their faces etched with lines of urgency.
“What’s wrong?” All I can think of is that Niko is dead.
“We need to go. You have five minutes to pack. Both of you,” one says. I remember him from the office Niko has at the pizzeria.
“Where?” Lucia demands.
“Why? What happened?” I ask.
“Giovanni set a trap. We need to take you to the compound. Now.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Lucia's grip on my hand tightens.
“Where is Niko?—”
“We don’t have time for this. Pack so we can go!”
“No.” I step forward with bravado I don’t really feel. “I demand to know what’s going on.”
“If they’re moving us, Niko is probably fine.” Lucia puts her hand on my shoulder.
