Page 15 of The Broker

Ice drenches my spine. Antonio wants me to escort Valentina to headquarters and doesn’t want me to leave Angelica alone. The precautions can only mean one thing.

Valentina and Angelica are in danger.

Agnese, Antonio’s housekeeper, takes Angelica under her wing as soon as we arrive. “I’m baking a cake,” she says. “You can help me, can’t you, cucciolina?”

Valentina forces a smile on her face. She knows, as well as I do, that something is up. “That’s a good idea. Thank you, Agnese.”

We file into the padrino’s office. He’s already there, as are Joao, Tomas, and Leo. There are two empty seats, one on Antonio’s right and one at the other end of the rectangular table.

Valentina makes a beeline for the far seat. I sit down and glance at Antonio. He’s good at maintaining a poker face, but I’ve worked at his side for ten years and can read his emotions.

Antonio is worried. Badly so.

“I have some new information about Verratti,” he says, “that confirms our suspicions. The Bergamo mafia has run out of money. Salvatore urgently needs to raise some cash. Without an infusion of capital, he won’t be able to pay off his creditors, and worse, he won’t be able to make payroll.” He leans forward. “He needs his deal with the Russians to go through. He cannot survive without it. And I will not let it happen.”

The padrino’s worry makes sense now. He has a girlfriend, someone he cares about. Antonio has nerves of steel, but it’s a lot harder to do what you must if you’re putting your loved ones at risk.

“You think he’s going to target you?” I ask.

“Not just me. Everyone in this room is in danger. Verratti will do everything he can to destabilize us. If we’re in crisis, the Russians might be able to sneak their guns into Venice without us finding out.” Antonio looks around the table soberly. “He’s desperate, and desperate men do desperate things.”

Across from me, Valentina’s face is bloodless.

“Even in winter, Venice is teeming with tourists. It’s a security nightmare.” He straightens his shoulders. “Until this situation is resolved, everyone stays in Giudecca.”

Giudecca is an island without many tourist attractions, with only one ferry in and out. Securing it will be challenging, but Leo can handle it.

But Valentina and Angelica don’t live in Giudecca. They live in Dorsoduro, a neighborhood awash with students and tourists—busy, noisy, and vibrant.

Dorsoduro isimpossibleto secure.

Antonio’s thoughts are running in the same direction as mine. “Valentina, you’ll have to move,” he says. “You and Angelica can stay—”

His words cut through my fear. I lean forward, propping my forearms on the table. “With me,” I say firmly. “They’ll stay with me.”

She stiffens. Antonio glances at her. “Valentina?” he prompts. “Are you okay with this?”

I glance at her, daring her to protest. For a long instant, she doesn’t reply, and then she nods. “Yes, Padrino.”

So much for avoiding Valentina.

My feelings don’t matter. Whatever the cost, I will make sure that she and Angelica are safe. I failed once when I let Roberto hurt Valentina.I will not fail again.

She’s never stepped foot inside my house. Now, she’s going to be living with me. Driving me to distraction with her glasses falling down her pert nose, her yoga pants hugging her round ass, the scent of her frankincense and jasmine hand lotion in my nostrils, her hair in every color of the rainbow. . .

I foresee a lot of cold showers in my future.

10

VALENTINA

Ihave a theory that the way you really get to know someone is through their homes.

Your home says a lot about you. My daughter is my priority, so my apartment is strewn with her toys and craft supplies. Rosa lives and breathes fashion, and her place is filled with fabric swatches, patterns, and half-finished garments. Her walls are covered with design sketches and old Vogue pattern envelopes, and stray pieces of thread cling stubbornly to the carpet. Lucia’s apartment is empty except for a blowup air mattress and one solitary chair. Her space screams that she is here temporarily and is not planning on staying. However, given her relationship with Antonio, I predict that’s going to change.

Dante’s been a hovering presence in my life for almost ten years. I’m pretty sure I know everything important about him. He never loses his head in a crisis and is probably the most infuriatingly even-tempered person I know. He’s terrifyingly competent. He pays more attention than I think he does. (Exhibit A, knowing coffee helps with my migraines.)

Women throw themselves at him all the time, but he doesn’t take any of them seriously. He goes on dates every other month, but it’s always with a new woman. No repeats. The last time he dated someone seriously was two years ago. Marissa was a baker, friendly and kind. I don’t know why it didn’t last.

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