Page 39 of Under His Protection

“Because he wants to date me.” I shot her a flat look that warned her that I wouldn’t say another damn word about it.

15

DANTE

Dante

Franco joined me at one of the family’s restaurants, and I wondered when I could plan to bring Nina here. Ever since that night at Escott’s, I wanted another opportunity to take her out. To be seen with her. To have an excuse to show her off and demonstrate that she was my woman.

I’d damned myself by reminding her that we only had to “put the show on” when others were near.

All week long, I’d been going out of my way to see her. To pass her by. Even a quick hello in the house.

That night at Escott’s changed something. Not because I’d killed those men for touching her.

But because she’d offered herself to me and I turned her down.

“Romeo should be here any minute,” Franco said as our drinks arrived.

I shrugged. I wasn’t Romeo’s keeper. He was my second in command and never failed me. However… “He’s still out of sorts about Mario betraying us.”

Franco’s sigh was heavy and long. “I don’t think he’s upset and guilty about Mario turning rat. Only that three soldiers were killed and he wasn’t quick enough to save them.”

I nodded, angry and proud at the same time. I loathed losing good men too, but I wanted Romeo to move past it all somehow. I was glad I’d done a decent job raising him on my own. He was always so serious, but big-hearted too. If he’d dismissed those deaths like they meant nothing, then he’d be nothing more than another cold-blooded killer.

He showed up, halting us from talking about him any further. “Sorry.” He shook his head. “Stopped by the house and got delayed.”

The house? Did something happen with Nina? “How come?”

He rolled his eyes. “Eva.”

Enough said. My niece could get into a mother-hen mood no one was spared from.

“Did you see that message?” Romeo asked Franco.

Franco grimaced, showing me his phone. “I did. Look, Dante.”

I glanced at the small screen, seeing the same image that another soldier had already sent to me. “I was updated about this already. Those goddamn bikers,” I groused.

A Constella soldier had captured video and still images of a biker speaking with one of Stefan’s leading capos.

“They’re talking about that guns distribution route,” Franco said. “That’s gotta be why they risked meeting up like this.”

I shook my head. We would have absolutely nothing to do with it. No matter how many rumors Stefan spread, he wouldn’t include me. I wouldn’t enter any deal with those bikers.

“I looked into them,” Romeo said with a glance at me. “After Nina mentioned them in passing, that Ricky was friends with them…”

Fuck. Did he know? Romeo wasn’t stupid, but he had yet to ask me about Nina being at the house.

“They’re a nasty bunch of assholes,” he summed up.

“We already knew that when they declared war against the Domino Family,” I reminded him.

“Declared war and won,” Franco added. “Maybe they’re scheming with the Giovannis to attack someone else.”

I met and held his gaze. “If they make us their enemies…” I shook my head. “They won’t survive.” The Constella Family had reigned supreme for too long for some newcomers like filthy, gritty bikers to throw us out of power.

“All the more reason to track their meetings and keep up on spying on them,” Franco said. “I’ve already delegated more men to the threats.”

---