Page 57 of Mafia Darling

The two of us moved silently through the old house. “Why can’t I take the girls to a club?” he asked. “You don’t think I can keep them safe?”

He had pride like mine, so I had to tread lightly. “Of course I do, but I promised Mancini his daughters wouldn’t leave the estate.”

“Ah. Well, tell me next time. You made me look foolish in front of everyone.”

The old instincts reared up, but I beat them down. He was right, as much as I didn’t like explaining myself to anyone. “I’m sorry. I will try to keep you better informed.”

My son drew to a halt and I did the same. He was studying me oddly. “What?” I asked.

“I can’t believe I got an apology out of you. She is really having some effect on you, il Diavolo.”

“Watch your mouth,” I growled, then set off for the dungeon again. “I’m still your father.”

He came up alongside me. “Has she answered you yet?”

“She told you I asked her to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“What did she say?”

“You know I can’t tell you. It wouldn’t be right.”

Irritation tightened in my gut. I didn’t like that he was so willing to take her side over mine, as she’d done when she kept his secret from me. But I needed to come to terms with it. The two of them were close, part of my family, and I reminded myself to be grateful that they had each other. Loyalty to family was important, even if it didn’t include me.

He continued, “If it helps ease your mind, I did call her la bella matrigna.”

That drew a laugh out of me. “I bet she hated that.”

“Give her time, Papà. She’s put up with a lot over the last few months.”

“I know. And I am. Even though it is fucking killing me.”

“It’ll be worth it in the end.” He clapped my shoulder. “At least one of us will be happily married, no?”

“Giulio—”

He held up his hands as if to stop me. “Please do not tell me marriage won’t be so bad again. I have been in love, and I have also seen you and Frankie. I know what true happiness looks like. What I will have is so far from that it’s a joke.”

He walked ahead of me as we passed through the dungeon door, and I pushed my son’s suffering out of my mind for now. I had Enzo’s to concentrate on instead.

* * *

Francesca

“Wait a minute,” Gia said, shaking her head as if clearing it. “You were kidnapped at gunpoint, held for a week in Naples, before Fausto busted in like some action hero and saved you?”

“Yes,” I said. “That is about right.”

“The fuck, Frankie?” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

We were in my old room, which is where Emma was sleeping, with Gia just on the other side of the hall. I decided, after the comment about Naples during dinner, to tell them the truth about Enzo and the kidnapping. “I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Why did this other mafia don kidnap you?” Emma asked, always the practical, level-headed one.

“He was trying to blackmail Fausto. I’m not sure over what, but it sounded like a slice of the drug trade.”

“Fausto deals drugs?”

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