Page 55 of One Savage Union

Displaying my best face of guilt, I apologize. “I’m sorry, mia cara. Work got so busy, but we can have pancakes today if you like!”

“No! That’s OK. I already had breakfast. Daddy came and got me yesterday, and we rode on the big plane.”

“I look at Enzo and try to read the worry etched along his face. Something significant must be happening if he thought he needed to bring Aria from Chicago to Ravello. Leo might be causing mischief earlier than I thought.

“Well, I for one am happy you're here, and I have someone significant for you to meet.”

She steps on her tippy toes to look over my shoulder and eye Lucia. I turn and watch Lucia give her a small wave and her beautiful smile.

“Is that your wife, Uncle Rocco? Daddy told me you got married. Is she a Princess?”

I laugh. “No, darling, you're a princess. She's a queen. Would you like to meet her majesty?”

“Oh yes!’ she giggles.

I pick her up and walk her over to Lucia. “Lucia Fieri, meet Aria Bianchi; the love of my life.

Aria scrunches up her nose and hits my shoulder. “I can’t be the love of your life, silly.”

“Why not?”

“Because your queen has to be. Aren't you the king?”

While I’m at a loss for words, Lucia raises her eyebrows and laughs. I quickly changed the subject. Lucia is critical to me.She’s my wife and someone I want in my life for the long haul. She’s the woman I want to bear my children. But love? There’s no space for love in our arrangement.

“Aria,” I say. “Why don't you tell Lucia all about your American Girl Doll Collection while your daddy and I talk?”

Lucia steps right up. “Hi Aria. It's very nice to meet you. How many dolls do you have? As Lucia reaches out her hand, she shoots a glance at Mario and me to make sure everything is okay. Enzo nods, and I do too, and when Aria takes her hand and starts blabbing about her latest doll acquisition, I slip out with Enzo.

“What's going on?” I asked brusquely.

“Leo attacked your uncle's house last night. We barely got the don out, and he’s badly injured. That's why I had to rush back to Italy. I can't have Aria in danger. Her nanny got killed in the blast, but she doesn't know it yet.”

“Fuck, and you think this was Leo? “Does he even have the balls to blow up his father’s home?”

Mario looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Rocco, if the man has balls enough to hire mercenaries and plot the demise of his own father. He would blow his house up. We even got some footage of Leo’s car leaving, along with more mercenaries he has hired. Once again, they're all Armenians.” Mario rubs his head and exhales. “This is getting bad. I feel like he's getting closer to us.”

I shake my head. “If he knew where we were, he would attack us, not my uncle.”

Enzo crosses his arms across his chest. “I'm not so sure about that. His actions feel like a diversion of sorts. I have a feeling Leo knows exactly where we are butis waiting for the right moment to strike.”

I scoff. “Leo doesn't have that kind of self-control. If he knows where I am, and he knows what I'm planning, he’s attacking. There’s no way that hothead would wait. Is the drugswap setup? It's supposed to go down in three days. If anything, he's preparing for that.”

Enzo shakes his head. “Rocco, you have a blind spot when it comes to Leo. You think the drugs and power are his prize, but it’s deeper than that. This is personal for him. He hates you and his father. That kind of hate can focus a man.”

I leanagainst the door and look at him carefully. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I'm talking about the fact that you still think of Leo as your idiot cousin who's been your rival since he was sixteen. However, you need to realize that you’re both grown up now and have matured intomen. He may be more of a psychopath, but he's a smarter one than he was ten or twenty years ago. I’m pretty sure he knows we have Lucia, but I don’t think he cares. If we’re all babysitting her out here in Italy, then he can wreak as much havoc as he likes back in Chicago. He doesn’t need her to get Ricci's attention if he takes out the head of the Romano family.”

I stare at him. He may be right, but I’m not ready to admit that Lucia may be a diversion.

Enzo paces in front of me. “Look, I think someone else is advising him. It’s all too coordinated, and he must be getting the money for all these men from someone with deep pockets. Something about this doesn't feel right, Rocco and I feel like we're missing agiant piece of the puzzle.”

I straighten up and approach him. “Well, brother, isn't it you and Mario’s job to put the puzzle pieces together? Lucia and I can take care of Aria today. We will keep her busy and safe. You two need to go and shake some trees and find out what my cousin is up to. It's time to put an end to this. We may need to reach out to Matteo Ricci and push up the date of our plan.”

Mario looks towards the door. “Are you sure we can trust him? Can we trust her?”

“Yes, “I growl. Lucia is trustworthy. Her father wants her to be safe. Don’t question her loyalty again, Enzo. She’s my wife, and she doesn't have a dog in this fight. Not really. We will take care of your little girl. Just go and bring me back some news.”

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