Page 153 of Dagger in the Sea

“The Adri you know and the Adri I know are very different,” I said through gritted teeth. “She can do this. She’ll want to do it.”

“If you say so,” muttered Alessio.

“He wants to see her cry, be desperate, weak,” I shot back. “She’s not going to give that to him. No fucking way.”

One by one, our fangs retreated and we slunk back into our corners, our black thoughts simmering in our heads, like boiling potions in a cauldron.

“You were very convincing, Luca,” I said, breaking the silence.

“I’ve been doing this shit for my father since I was a teenager. Convincing people with my words, my gun, a knife.” Luca let out a rough breath and trained his eyes out his window.

Violence, threats, murder, and shakedown made up family memories of growing up for Luca Aliberti. He didn’t seem impressed with himself. It’s just the way it was.

“He’s always been good at this,” said Alessio. “Some of us are made for it. Some of us aren’t.”

“How does your father feel about that?” I asked.

“He thinks I am playing at some sort of hobby. It doesn’t matter so much to him that I got featured in ItalianVogueor an English rock star wears my jewelry on his concert tour.”

“He is very proud of you, Alessio. Don’t ever doubt that,” said Luca. “He does not show it easily. He’s difficult, it is his way. You know this.”

“Hmm. I am lucky I have Luca and our brothers Emilio and Vittorio who are committed to the success of the dynasty, so my lack of direct participation is not so much of a sore point.” He twisted his lips.

“Not so much,” murmured Luca, that grin of his breaking his handsome face into something sly and self-satisfied.

“I suppose this is what drives me to succeed,” continued Luca. “To prove to my father that I can do something of my very own and be a success and on my terms. My uncle Gennaro in America, he did this too with his hotels. He has built his own empire. I admire him very much.”

His own empire.Alessio driven to succeed on his own terms and making it happen. At the end of the day, he had a father and brothers who had his back. I couldn’t say the same for me.

“And you?” Alessio’s voice filled the car.

“Me? What?” I took in a breath.

“What you have now with Guardino, is that good for you?” Alessio asked. Luca’s eyes slid to me. “You like it?”

“Why do you care?” I said.

“Curious,” said Alessio. “You’ve come all this way to clean up a mess of his son’s. He must trust you. That’s good, yes?”

“Yeah.” I pressed a thumb down the cuff of my shirt sleeve. “He trusts that I’ll get the job done.”

“My uncle did not agree when you spoke, did he?” Alessio asked.

“It was our first conversation, but I think now he’ll be more open to it.” I met Luca’s gaze.

“Once all this is done for Adri and her brother, I will help you with him so you can go back to Chicago with good news for your boss,” said Alessio.

“I appreciate it,” I murmured, a chill razoring through me.Back to Chicago.

A little over a week ago I would have been pleased as fuck to hear those words. Now they filled me with a cold heaviness in the pit of my stomach, like a hefty piece of Greek marble had settled in my gut. Because back to Chicago meant the weight of that same fight, that same unresolved tension between me and my father.

Because back to Chicago meant no more Adri.

An ache sprinted over my skull, and I ran a hand over my scalp to chase it off. “Is that where you’d prefer me to be, Alessio? Back in Chicago?”

He made a face. “I’m impressed you put yourself out there for Adri. Helping her, supporting her. You two have grown close,no?”

“That’s fucked with your plans, has it?” I bit out.

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