30. Cristiano

C ristiano

My footsteps are quiet as I walk through the hallways, and I take advantage of the silence to search for any sound of Trilby's voice. She lives here now. In my childhood home. With a brother I hardly know anymore.

I notice the doll's eyes plant has been disposed of, as per my instructions. At least no future nieces or nephews will be at risk of plant poisoning. That's something to feel thankful for.

There's no sign of life anywhere. Even the staff seem to have disappeared. I round the corner to the terrace and see Savero sitting alone, looking out over the ocean. Not only are there no servants present, but there are no soldiers and no capos either.

I walk around my brother and join him in admiring the view. "Where is everyone?"

"The staff have got their work cut out preparing for the wedding reception, so I gave them a half-day."

"And Nicolò? Beppe?"

"There are some issues with the union. I sent them down there to clear up."

"Both of them?"

Savero looks sideways at me. "They're pretty big issues."

I nod instead of probing further. He doesn't want me involved in this business—he's made that quite clear.

"Come." He stands abruptly. "I told Trilby we'd meet her in the kitchen. I know she'd like to see you before you go."

Something slams against the inner wall of my chest, almost taking my breath away. I close my eyes against the sensation of her unraveling in my arms, the sound of her screaming around her fist as I not only broke her in on these very grounds but gave my little one her first penetrative orgasm. It will be etched onto my brain for eternity.

"Sure." I fake nonchalance and follow him back inside.

There's something about his manner that doesn't sit right. I feel as though I'm being set up, much as that doesn't make any sense.

We walk into the kitchen, and my gaze searches for her. I don't have to look hard—she's standing at the end of the kitchen island as if she's waiting for us. She shifts from one foot to the other, her eyes lifting to mine and then darting away quickly.

I walk around the island and avoid her gaze as I graze a kiss across her cheek. "Trilby. Looking lovely as always. How are you?"

Her chest rises with a deep inhale, and her lips set into a thin smile. "I'm great, thank you. And you?"

"I'm doing good." I walk back to the other side of the island to put some distance between us. "Just stopped in to say goodbye. I'm sorry I'll miss your wedding."

She swallows, and I notice the outer edges of her eyes are red. She's either been crying or she hasn't slept.

"That's okay. We understand." She glances nervously at Savero, who has his arms folded, watching us both. She pans back to me. "I'm sorry, I'm forgetting my manners. Would you like a drink?"

"Sure. Thanks," I say. I'm not thirsty, but I could use something to occupy my fingers, otherwise I'm just going to stand here cracking my knuckles.

Savero hands me a glass of water and pours out two more for him and Trilby.

"No Dolly Parton mug?" I ask, wiping the smirk off my face with a thumb.

Instead of sharing in the joke, Trilby looks alarmed. Her gaze flits between me and my brother.

"So, what are your plans after the wedding?" I don't ask because I want to know—I'd rather poke out my eyeballs than torture myself with images that could haunt me for the rest of my life—but because it's what a brother would do.

Trilby looks to Savero for help, and I wonder if they've even discussed life beyond the wedding.

"I have to go to Mexico," Savero says with a shrug. "We have a meeting with some associates from the cartel."

Trilby looks down at her hands.

"Depending on when I get back, we might go to Rome for a couple days."

"Rome." I nod slowly.

Trilby looks up at us both through sweeping lashes.

"Nice."

"Yeah. It's about time I dropped in on some of the family."

We don't have any immediate family in Rome, so I assume he means the "family" we work with when it's mutually convenient to. And it's usually Cosa Nostra-flavored.

"That'll be fun."

Savero's gaze drops to my glass, then he tips his back and places it on the counter, empty. "I hear you paid Augusto a visit." He wipes a hand across his mouth.

"Yeah. Thought it strange he hadn't been around since Father died."

"He's not my biggest fan." Savero's lip curls. "That's why he hasn't been around."

I'm now certain I'm being tested. I get a fleeting sense of discomfort at the thought he might know what Father's plan was. But no, it isn't possible. Father took his plan to his grave, and Augie was so loyal to Father he would die too to keep that quiet.

"It's not like you need him. You have Nicolò, Beppe, Benny ... And Donato is a good capo too. Some good guys have stuck around."

The corner of his mouth ticks up slightly. "Oh, I'm not worried."

I raise the glass to my lips, then a thought occurs to me. "You know, I've been thinking a lot about that time you saved me from drowning."

A flicker of something passes over his expression.

"Something Tony Castellano said to me, actually."

Trilby's gaze flitters over me.

"You'd have needed one hell of a sharp knife to cut the boat rope my leg was tangled up in. What did you use?"

He blinks in slow motion before answering smoothly. "I used the penknife Nonni kept in the hold. We'd been carving pictures into the wooden boards on the deck."

I don't remember carving pictures, but it sounds like something we'd do. Besides, it was a huge trauma to experience as a kid; I was never going to remember every detail.

"That was some quick thinking, fratello ."

Trilby looks from me to Savero with one hand clasped inside her other.

He eyes me with suspicion. "So tell me, what did Augusto have to say?"

"Nothing." I shrug. "He just talked about Father. You know how close they were."

"Hmm. Too close sometimes." Savero tips his head back so he's looking down his nose at me.

"Why do you say that?"

"They were secretive. They kept things even from me."

He walks toward the window, and I move around the island to follow. With his back turned, I place my glass on the counter next to Trilby's and brush my fingers over hers as I pull away.

Just one last touch.

Her breath stutters, and a flame ignites in my belly at the contact.

"The connection between a don and his underboss has to be unbreakable—you know that. Hundreds of lives and billions of dollars are riding on it. They kept things from me too."

Sav stares out the window, his expression cold as he replies. "Even when I turned twenty-one, older than Father was when he became underboss, they still kept me in the dark. And don't think I wasn't aware of all the times Father begged you to reconsider your departure after Mama was killed."

I don't deny it. There's no point.

Savero speaks through gritted teeth. "He begged you more times than he ever confided in me."

"Why are you bringing this up now?" I rest my hands in my pockets, but I'm acutely aware of the gun I'm still carrying in my waistband and the trembling woman still standing at the kitchen island, listening. "Because I went to visit Augie? I've visited with him many times before now, and you've never had a problem with it."

"That was when Father was still alive and you were wedded to your life in Vegas."

I keep my heart rate steady as I answer. "What's different now?"

His head turns slowly in my direction. "You don't seem quite so keen to leave this time."

"I'm leaving now, aren't I?" I can almost feel Trilby's bones shaking. "I thought I was stopping by to bid farewell, not to get the Spanish Inquisition."

Savero spins suddenly and walks toward Trilby before stopping abruptly. She takes two steps back, away from the island. She looks fearful of him, which makes the hairs on my arms rise. Has he done something to her? That thought alone roots me to the ground. If I got even the faintest suggestion he'd raised a hand to her or threatened to, I don't think I could be held responsible for my actions.

Savero and I stand on either side of the island glaring at each other, and I wonder what happened to our brotherly bond. I don't remember the last time I felt it. I only remember feeling indebted. He once saved my life, which is why I still find the vision of Father holding him up at gunpoint at the side of the boat shed so disturbing.

"It's not the Spanish Inquisition." His smile is sudden and not authentic. "I'm just curious to know what you discussed with Augusto."

I let my shoulders drop. "Nothing of importance." I narrow my eyes. "Is everything okay here?"

Savero rests a hand on the island, and I notice Father's ring glinting in the late-afternoon light. "Everything's fine," he says serenely. "Isn't it, Trilby?"

She jumps a little but covers it up quickly. "Yes, Savero."

My heart squeezes painfully, and I suddenly feel tired and parched. I reach for my water and knock it back.

"I have to go."

Trilby sucks in a breath, but I can't look at her. I can't think while I'm here. I need to get away; get some distance. I've already asked Augie to keep an eye on her. I'll give a couple of Father's soldiers a call too.

"Of course." Savero's lips curl up at the corners. It's the most I've seen him smile since I came back. "Thanks for coming by."

He walks me to the door, making it easier to not look back at what I'm leaving behind.

"Safe travels fratello ." He holds me a little too tight around the face and kisses me on the cheek. "Don't leave it so long next time."

I shake my head slowly. "I won't."