Page 94 of Mafia Darling

This time was different, however. The other attempts on my life had been sloppy, easily avoided. Except for the car bomb, I saw them coming.

The sniper caught me by surprise. I hadn’t expected a coordinated attack to facilitate Enzo’s escape. I suppose I should have—he knew it was me or him, that one of us would end up dead—but I’d been shot on the street like a foot soldier. In front of my wife.

What had I been thinking?

I’d been careless, which was unforgivable. She was carrying my child. Nothing mattered more than the two of them, along with Giulio. I should’ve held firm and had Francesca cancel the appointment. Instead I let her manipulate me to get her way.

I would not make that mistake again.

Consciousness once more tugged at me and forced me awake. My brain swam toward the sounds until my eyelids fluttered. I hoped to find the beautiful face of my wife, who stayed here at night with me, but instead Marco was there. It was the first time he’d visited, at least while I was awake, since the shooting more than a week ago.

“Cugino,” he said. “They say you won’t be able to eat solid food for months.”

“Vaffanculo,” I whispered, my mouth dry.

He chuckled and helped me sip some water. “How do you feel?”

I gave him a pointed stare, not bothering to answer such a stupid question.

The doctors said Marco probably saved my life by packing my wound and stopping the bleeding in the car. I remembered nothing after dropping onto the sidewalk, but my cousin had acted quickly, apparently. I’d never be able to repay him for that. “Thank you.”

“You would have done the same, if the roles were reversed. And you’re welcome.” He lightly touched my shoulder. “I’m not ready to lose you, you stubborn bastard.”

“Have you learned who took the shot at me?”

“A professional, hired by whoever is working with Enzo. I saw the rooftop. It was a clean, patient job. They were there for a couple of hours, at least. They knew you were going to be there.”

Fucking Enzo. Killing him was my top priority once I was released from the hospital. And that shooter had better watch his back because I would slice him into tiny pieces the instant I learned his identity.

“Francesca?” I asked.

“A rock. She’s safe, working on the legitimate side with Toni. He says she’s very capable.”

“How is Giulio?”

Marco nodded, knowing exactly what I was asking. “He’s fine. Got a good head on his shoulders and he’s making all the right moves.”

This pleased me.

“Everything is in good hands, Rav. You don’t need to worry. Just get better.”

“No one can know.” I was so tired, I couldn’t finish the thought. But I knew Marco would understand.

“Of course, of course,” Marco said. “We’ve covered up most of the reports and bribed the staff to keep quiet. No one knows the full extent of your injuries. I convinced La Provencia to push Crimine back a week, but if you don’t feel up to going I can go in your place.”

We both knew this was a terrible idea. I needed to be at the meeting with all the other ’ndrina leaders, or I’d be seen as weak. Luckily I had a bit more time to recover before I had to make the trip, and the conference was in Calabria, not far from Siderno.

I raised my brows. “I want to come home.”

“They think by the end of the week, if necessary, but it doubles the risk of infection. No one is advising it, Rav.”

“I don’t care.” I would be safer, as well as hidden from prying eyes, inside the castello.

Marco held out his palms. “Your wife won’t like it.”

“She’ll be fine.” I would make her understand. Every day I lingered here made me and the entire empire vulnerable. If I had to build a sterile hospital room in the castello, so be it. I had to get out of here.

“Any problems?” I asked him.

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