Page 88 of Monster in Disguise

"I'll keep you and Claudia safe. I promise you. As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Thank you. Thank you." I keep murmuring.

I cry myself to sleep, with Marcello holding me so close Ialmostbelieve that nothing can harm me.

I wake up a while later and look around me, feeling disoriented. I take a couple of seconds to remember everything that happened and the fact that I'm in Marcello's room. He's not anywhere in sight, though.

I frown.

Getting out of bed, I go to look for him in his study.

"I gave her to you to protect her, andthishappens?" My brother's voice booms from inside the study.

"I'm on it," Marcello replies, his voice clipped.

"Sure looks like it," Enzo replies sarcastically.

"Might want to check the basement," Marcello retorts. What does he mean by that?

"It's a declaration of war if I've ever seen one. And now they want us to go to their fucking banquet and pretend nothing happened?" Enzo curses, and my hand freezes on the doorknob.

"Which is why I'm not even considering bringing Catalina there."

I open the door.

"Where?"

If it's anything concerning me, then I should know it.

"Lina..." My brother groans, and Marcello purses his lips.

"What banquet?" I ask.

"You shouldn't have heard that."

"Didn't you say you'd discuss things with me?" I turn towards Marcello. "I have a right to know."

"Lina, it's not that simple," he replies, but I'm not having it.

"What banquet, Enzo?"

"The Guerras are having a banquet for the five families. The core leadership is expected to attend from each famiglia." He brings his glass to his lips and empties it.

"Why? Why now?"

"Keep your enemies close." Enzo goes to the liquor cabinet and fills his glass again. "It's a matter of perspective, really. They want a show of force, but they also want to gauge the competition. Both our families," he inclines his head towards Marcello, "have experienced a rather abrupt change in leadership. Marchesi is basically dumpster diving for power and DeVille..." he pauses. "They are as they've always been. Closed off."

"What happens if we don't go?" I ask, afraid I already know the answer.

"A personal affront," Marcello shrugs at the same time that Enzo says, "War."

"Okay, so we need to go."

"No, we don't."

"But that's the thing, isn't it? They expect us not to go. And that's one more reason for them to formally go against us."

Enzo smirks and tips his glass in my direction.

---