Page 83 of Little Deer
“Are you sure he didn’t have a journal or any place in the house himself that he liked to use where no one would disturb him?” Gia asks him.
“I searched the entire house after, including any of the smaller rooms and never found anything. Most of the time he spent in his office or out with his mistresses. I had their places searched as well, and I paid them to get the hell out of town. I didn’t want them around. We found nothing at their places either.”
“I don’t think he would have been quiet about if he’d known,” Gia adds. “I always remember my father and uncle mentioning that Nico’s father had a wicked temper. He was more into psychological torture, but he had no patience. He got his territory by brute force when he took over from his father. He expanded it and took the biggest two, while my grandfather fought to keep him out of De Luca territory. If he knew about all of this, he’d have tried to take it over or he’d have killed Nico’smother and probably his uncle for daring to hone in on his territory and give him nothing out of it.”
“She’s right.”
“Then we’re right back to what we know,” Alessio remarks. “Esposito, Nico’s mother, Leonardo, Giovanni, and Seamus were all working together to set up these routes and make piles of cash out of it. But I’d bet everything I have that Esposito was just playing the long game. He had everyone in the palm of his hand, and he could pull the plug and rule the entire city when the time came right for what he wanted. We just butted in and fucked it all up. Dante rejected the contract for Gia, and Marco and Giovanni started doing shit behind Leonardo’s back.”
“What I don’t understand is how Esposito is running this entire thing without Nico’s mother around,” Amara huffs. We all look at her expectantly. “I mean, look at this operation. This is sophisticated, and she was the record keeper. Esposito and the others aren’t numbers guys, right? They leave that to someone else to do. So who is doing it now? Who’s been doing it for the last few years since Nico took over and killed his mother?”
“My mother.”
We all whip around at Dante’s cold voice, and we still when we see him standing in the doorway, a woman at his side that I’ve never seen before, but looking at the blue of her eyes, it’s clear who she is. There’s a look in her eyes that borders on terror, but there’s also relief, and she grips Dante’s arm like she never wants to let it go.
39
LUCY
I lookin shock at the older black woman walking in with Dante. She’s stunning, with long braids that fall down her back, bright blue eyes like her son’s, and a face that looks downright serene. I don’t know how she manages it, but I want to perfect that look. She looks unbothered by it all until you really look into her eyes.
Sofia is the first one to recover from the shock and steps forward. Her shoulders are straight, but if you look closely, you can see the slight hint of nerves. Is this her first time meeting Dante’s mother? “Ms. Abara,” Sofia greets her, holding out her hand.
“Ada, dear,” the woman says with a warm smile. She looks up at her son. “You told me she was beautiful, but your descriptions were not enough, son.” Then she looks back at Sofia. “My son tells me that you are the one that keeps him sane. I thank you for that. Especially considering what he’s now finally told me.” Shegives him a mild look of rebuke, clearly displeased that he hasn’t told her what’s been happening here.
I need her to teach me that look too. Damn, I have a feeling I’ll need that one when Soren’s older.
Dante gives her an exasperated look, but even from here I can see the relief in his eyes. Like he’s just glad that she’s safe.
“Men do tend to do that, don’t they?” Sofia returns with a conspiratorial wink, ignoring Dante’s eye roll aimed her way. “Come have a seat. I’m sure Dante just whisked you away and you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. We can introduce you to everyone and then Dante can explain.”
It’s a bit hectic for the next few minutes, and I try to wrap my head around adding one more person, and one more piece of the puzzle, together. Soren, thankfully, is finished eating, and I hand him off to Kida while righting myself. Kida burps him, but then scowls when Massimo comes over, hands outstretched for him. “No, he’s staying with me,” she tells him firmly. There’s also a tone there that I know too well. She’s pissed at Massimo, and I’m going to shut that down quickly.
“Kida,” I tell her softly, but give her a warning look when she looks at me. “We’ll talk later, but don’t be upset with Massimo.”
The angry look comes into her eyes again, but she just gives me a stiff nod. “I’m still keeping Soren with me for now. It seems you two have some things to figure out anyway.” A bitter sound tinges her tone, and I narrow my eyes at her.
“Don’t mind her,” Zeno says as he comes to stand close to us. “She’s just upset that you snuck away and we didn’t get to.” He says it so casually that at first I don’t comprehend what he’s just given away. Then Kida flushes in embarrassment and it clicks, even as she glares angrily at Zeno.
Wait, my sister and Zeno? What the hell has been going on with these two? I thought they didn’t even like each other. I give Kida a wide-eyed stare, which she studiously ignores, insteadturning her full attention to getting Soren to burp. Massimo snickers, claps his brother on the shoulder, and moves to sit on my other side, his arm on the back of the couch.
Okay, I need to talk to Kida as soon as I can.
For now, though, I force myself to tune back into the conversation happening now that Ada has been introduced to everyone. Dante stands protectively behind his mother’s place in Amara’s salon chair, though I clearly see Sofia next to him, a silent show of support. And if I’m not mistaken, that is her hand in his hidden behind the chair. You can’t see it except from this angle, but when I glance at Massimo, I can see that he’s realized it too, but instead of scowling like normal, he looks more thoughtful.
Progress maybe?
“Ada, perhaps you can tell us what you know,” Pietro asks gently, giving her a warm smile. “Any information is helpful, no matter how small.”
Ada nods, but I can see the slight tremble in her hands. My heart aches for her. She must be terrified of this entire thing. Dante puts a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, and she touches it quickly before dropping hers and giving Pietro her full attention.
“It started a few years ago,” she begins, her accent thick enough that I have to work to understand all the words. “Gregorio is obsessed with image and power. So angry that he is viewed as smaller, weaker, than others. Especially Nico’s father. Nico’s father wanted nothing to do with him other than the basics. He gave him some power, but only over small things, while he had his own men handle the big things. Things that Esposito felt should be his. He was infuriated when Nico’s mother got pregnant. He felt that she had betrayed him, giving her husband a son to pass on the territory to. If she hadn’t borne him any children, it would by rights go to Gregorio since Nico’sfather was an only child himself and didn’t have any other male relatives. If she had borne a girl, he wouldn’t have cared. He raged for days.” Her eyes are haunted.
“You had Dante before or after Nico?” Pietro asks her.
“They were born months apart. Nico is only two months older than Dante.”
Pietro nods, smiling. “Did you know that Dante was promised to Gia De Luca?” He gestures to Gia, who smiles shyly at the woman.
