Page 47 of Redemption

Dante strokes his fingers across his chin. I am not entirely sure he believed my lie. “Hmm. Well that is not entirely why I’m here.”

“Figures,” I mumble under my breath.

“I need you to do something else for me.”

I stand abruptly from the table, slamming my hands down on the tabletop. “I am not a part of this family. You know I don’t do this shit.”

“I am sure I can find motivation to get you to do things.”

I shake my head and start to walk away but one of the men from before is standing behind me, blocking my path. I didn’t even hear him move.

“There is a small shipping trade happening at the port in Augusta a week from today. I just need you to be a distraction.”

“A distraction?”

He nods and sips his whiskey.

“That’s two and a half hours away. It’s a school night.”

“Well, I suggest you find a babysitter.”

“Why not find Ezio and have him do this?”

Dante tsks. “Ezio is handling other things.”

I scoff. “You mean you still don’t know where he is.”

“Ezio has…” Dante trails off as he looks at someone behind me.

“Mama,” I hear Aria shout from behind me.

I freeze. Dante and Giancarlo haven’t seen Aria since she was a baby. I fake a smile as I turn to face my daughter as she throws her backpack on the ground next to me.

“We got a new project for science class and I am so excited. We get to—” She stops midsentence as she turns to Dante. “Who are you?”

“I’m Dante, sweet one. I’m your mom’s cousin.”

She purses her lips. Then breaks into a grin. “I’m Aria. Nice to meet you, Dante. But if you are my mom’s cousin, why haven’t we met before?”

“I am a busy man.”

I bend down so I am eye level with Aria. “Why don’t you go tell Magda all about your science project?”

“Okay!” she shouts before throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me on the cheek.

She starts to run into the restaurant. “Backpack, Aria.”

She skids to a halt then turns around and fetches her backpack before running inside.

“What an adorable kid you have.”

I ignore him. “I’m not doing this, Dante. I told Giancarlo I would drop the envelope but that’s it.”

A sinister grin crosses his face as he looks toward the door Aria just ran into and then back at me. “I think it would be wise you do as I ask.”

“Why?” I ask, even though I feel every ounce of my skin freeze over with his look.

“I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your daughter.”

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