Page 5 of Reign of Fate

“If you like. Do you want to have a seat on the bench and play a few notes?”

Her eyes grow wide, and she looks up at her father. “Can I?”

“Be careful. It’s not a toy, Adriana.” Ivo’s voice is calm but firm. He lets go of her hand, and Adriana hands me her stuffed animal.

“You can hold Penelope. She makes me feel better when I feel sad.”

My heart melts at her selfless gesture. I walk with her over to the piano bench and help her up. I show her where to place her fingers on the keys. Her hands are so small, they can barely stretch across. three keys. I show her how to play the scales. She does this over and over again. Adriana’s so happy, it lightens my mood.

I forget that Ivo is with us until I feel his presence behind us and feel the weight of his hand on my shoulder. The heat of his touch almost makes me jump. I look over my shoulder to see him looking down at me with a grin.

My heart flutters, and then guilt sets in. I am a grieving widow. What would anyone think if they could read my mind? I blink and take a steady breath. I quickly turn my attention back to Adriana.

“All this hard work deserves a cookie or two. What do you think?” I ask her.

Her face lights up like a beacon in the night as she whirls around to her father. “I told you Elisa would have cookies for us,” she announces, then shimmies off the bench and takes my hand. We walk through the house and into the kitchen, with Ivo close behind.

It’s not until Adriana is on her second cookie that Ivo says, “I must talk with Elisa. Stay put.”

Ivo pulls out my chair for me, then guides me gently with his hand at my elbow into Guido’s office. He shuts the door firmly behind us, and I know what’s coming next. He takes an envelope out of his jacket pocket. It’s stuffed full of money. He offers it to me.

“From Raffaele,” he says.

There’s no point in arguing. I’ve already tried to tell Raffaele this isn’t necessary, but he cut the conversation short. The first time Ivo came, I did the same, and he had the same reaction.

“Thank you.” I reach out and clasp the end of the envelope, but Ivo doesn’t let go, forcing me to raise my gaze and lock eyes with him. He takes my breath away. It’s not only that he’s handsome, but he’s self-assured and confident and embodies the epitome of power. He’s the kind of man you can’t miss when he walks into a room. Raffaele is the same, but Ivo does this without knowing it. “Is something wrong?” I ask when he doesn’t let go.

He loosens his grip on the envelope, letting me take it from him. “Adriana likes you.”

“I like her. She’s a lovely little girl.”

His voice lowers, and he scans my face. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” I reply automatically.

He studies me curiously, then says, “I’ll ask once more, how are you doing?”

I exhale and look away, then gaze around the room. This entire room holds memories of Guido. This was where he came to find quiet. He would be in here for hours. His chair, his desk, his books; everything reminds me of him.

“I’m better,” I breathe out. “Guido was angry for such a long time. He couldn’t understand that without legs, he was still important. He just stopped living. It was breaking my heart to see him give up. He was becoming more and more removed from me.” I pause to walk behind his desk, where I pick up his favorite pen, the one I got him for his birthday, that I had engraved for him. “When he said he was going out with the guys, I was thrilled. I thought, maybe, you know, he was bouncing back, finding a new purpose. And now he’s gone, and I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Guido was a soldier, and to be perfectly honest, he died the way he would have wanted. His illness was making him powerless, and for a man like Guido, that’s the worst way to die. As horrible as it was that he was murdered, he would have preferred that to the alternative. He’s finally at peace,” Ivo says as he comes closer to me.

“Peace by death,” I whisper.

“In Guido’s case, this is exactly true.” Ivo extends a hand for me. I reach out to take it. “Raffaele and I would like to make sure you’re looking after yourself. He’s asked me to invite you over for dinner.”

It would be foolish to refuse your capo, and I’m aware that Raffaele’s held my father at bay for the last several months. By this time, my father would have insisted that I move back home, but my father admitted that Raffaele has spoken to him, and Dad is giving me time to process my husband’s death.

“That would be very nice,” I respond, and I even manage a smile.

“I’ll be by to pick you up Friday night, around six. Evangeline is planning dinner, and I recommend you come with a healthy appetite. She cooks enough for an army,” he teases.

“I can drive myself. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.” I’m having a hard time breathing, and I’ve only been alone with him for a few minutes.

“I’ll be here at six, and you’ll be ready for me, right?” he asks with a mischievous smile.

I look into his eyes. I was married for four years, and never once did Guido look at me the way Ivo is at this moment. I don’t know what to make of it.

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