Page 108 of Mafia Darling

A smile tugged at my lips. The first hint of one I’d felt since my meeting with Giulio last night. “Yes, that’s close enough.” I turned to Marco. “You will come with me.”

Marco nodded once. “What about Giulio?”

“No, he’s not coming.”

If Marco suspected anything, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he asked, “Think D’Agostino will attend?”

“Not unless he wants to die.”

“But he might kill you if you go,” Francesca interrupted to point out. “You can’t seriously be considering going.”

“I have to be there. It’s a sign of strength.”

“Let Marco go and be your sign of strength.”

“It doesn’t work that way, amore. We have to appear strong—I have to appear strong.”

“No.” She lifted a brow, much in the way I did when she was arguing with me. “I forbid it.”

That was a line too far. Even Marco realized it, because he stood and headed for the door. “I’ll give you two a moment.”

“We leave in three days,” I told him. “Make whatever arrangements are necessary.”

He nodded and disappeared into the castello. My wife didn’t wait for the door to even close before she started. Fire snapped and crackled in her gaze as it narrowed on me. “Do you have a death wish?”

“Of course not,” I said calmly. “But this is business.”

“This is not business,” she spat. “This is your pride. This is you not wanting anyone to think you are weak. Which is ridiculous! No one in their right mind would ever doubt you or your ability to lead, Fausto.”

And yet Enzo had dared to steal from me, to kidnap my wife. To blackmail one of my men. To try to have me killed. I would not allow another to get ideas.

Anyone who worked against me would pay.

“I will be going, Francesca. So make your peace with it.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” Her eyes grew glassy and she put a hand to her chest, dragging in a breath. “I just watched you nearly die. You were bleeding everywhere.” She closed her eyes. “Do not make me go through that again. I can’t take it, baby. I really can’t.”

“Come here.” I motioned with my hand.

“No. Do not try to seduce me into changing my mind.”

“I can hardly seduce you. I’m weaker than a kitten. Come here, piccolina.”

Scowling, she walked over and stood by my chair. I patted the desk. “Up.”

She slid her ass onto the wood and her shoulders slumped. “You said this was our life. That means I get to protect you just as much as you protect me.”

“Within reason, wife. I have responsibilities you won’t always understand, but you have to trust me. There are reasons why Crimine is important, especially this year. I cannot miss it.”

“Then let me come with you.”

“Absolutely not.” I set my hand on her thigh, caressing her through her jeans. “You are the most important thing in the world to me. I can’t lose you. I can’t bear to lose—” My throat closed and I couldn’t finish it.

I can’t bear to lose anyone else.

I would soon watch my oldest son walk out the door forever. If something happened to Francesca, I would never recover.

“Oh, paparino,” she whispered, her expression full of understanding. “Can’t you see I feel the same about you?”

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