Page 41 of Little Dove

“That’s what we originally thought,” Nico agrees. “But I’ve been thinking that that is far too big of a job for a man like Marco and the meager force he has following him to accomplish. Gallo has six children, along with a brother and brother-in-law that are heavily involved in their business. If he takes out Gallo, he’s as good as dead. And while he might marry Gallo’s daughter, there is no way they’re going to trust him enough to be privy to anything in the family business for a long damn time. I’m thinking that Marco is with the daughter to get access to Gallo’s men, with the promise that when Gallo helps him overthrow his father, Marco will then clear the way for Gallo to run their business through the De Luca territory, essentially doubling their ability to do business, and doubling, or even tripling, their profits.”

“And once that happens, they go after Ivan or Nico, and before long they’re running the entire city themselves,” Alessiofinishes with a hard smile. “The key to all of this is marriage being part of the deal to make it happen. Gallo wouldn’t just help Marco out of the goodness of his withered heart. He’ll want assurances, and he’ll want to make sure he can control him somehow. If that’s through his daughter, even better.”

“I doubt that girl can be controlled.” Dante scoffs. “Sinead is one of the colder of the girls. She’s well known for being cruel, and while her father lets her have some rope, he has her in a very tight grip to make sure she doesn’t go so wild that he can’t fix any damage she causes.”

“And he thinks marriage to Marco would fix that?” Urso asks doubtfully. “You can’t fix that type of madness by force.”

“Could be he’s hoping that if she’s married and pregnant soon after, she’ll have no choice but to slow down and settle,” Alonzo argues. “The Irish are big on marriage and family. Divorce is not an option. If Sinead is married to Marco, Marco will never have a way out. He can’t go back to his family; there will be no leaving her, and Seamus will have Marco under his thumb until he dies.”

“I’m surprised he is willing to let his daughter marry an Italian,” Pietro muses. “These kinds of alliances and marriages are rare for the Irish back home. They normally marry other Irish families and keep things close. Some will marry their children to other crime families outside, but not often. They want strength in numbers if shit hits the fan. More marriages means more children, and more soldiers. It also usually means far more loyalty from those under them. If you marry someone from another crime family, that loyalty will always be in doubt, and it’s expected that they’re going to try and get information out to their family.”

“America seems to be laxer on that, probably because there aren’t as many options here as there,” I suggest. Nico and Dante nod their agreement. “But all of this just proves we need to beready for anything. One of them is going to make a move soon, and with how much time they’re taking, it’s going to be a big one.”

“We need to prepare our soldiers,” Pietro agrees. “Nico, get your men together, and we’ll have our men join. We’re going to ensure that nothing will catch us by surprise.”

Nico agrees. “I’ll have Dante oversee it. I have a few businesses I need to check up on this afternoon.”

“I’ll go with you,” Alessio offers with a grin.

Nico ignores him. Aurelio offers instead, “Take Alonzo or Massimo with you. Both will be back-up if there are any issues.”

“You mean a larger target.” Zeno snickers. “At least with Alonzo, anyway. Massimo’s willowy in comparison.” Massimo flips him off, which just makes Zeno grin even more.

Nico doesn’t look pleased at the suggestion, but he must see the wisdom in it, because he gives a stiff nod. “We leave in fifteen minutes. Figure it out amongst yourselves who comes. But if any of you act like this fucker,” he jibes, pointing at Alessio, “then you’ll be coming back in a body bag.”

Alonzo and Massimo exchange smirking smiles, while Alessio pouts and moans. “That’s so hurtful, Boo Bear. So hurtful. You might be hurting, but there’s no need for insults.”

Before Nico can make good on the dark promise in his eyes, I jump in quickly. “I’ll handle the soldiers with Dante. Our men are in top shape, but it never hurts to keep them sharp.” I’ll also get to spend some time with the man messing with my sister, and if he just so happens to end up bloodied and bruised from training, well, it can’t be helped now, can it?

From the look in Dante’s eyes, he knows exactly what I’m thinking, but he wisely says nothing.

“Good,” Pietro agrees. “Zeno, Urso, I want you both working on finding out where the other women are. The faster we find them, the better. Alessio, you and whoever doesn’t go with Nico,figure out what supplies we need to get prepared and have them sent here as quickly as possible. I don’t want us caught by surprise for any reason.”

With everyone in agreement, the discussion ends, and we leave the room. “Hold up, son,” I hear my father say behind me. We step out of the way as everyone heads down the hall to their new assignments. “How is Amara handling everything?”

“I’d like to know this too,” Pietro says, coming to stand with us. “I plan to speak with her alone soon, but I’d like to know what to expect before I do.”

The idea of Amara being alone with Pietro sets me on edge, but I manage to keep it to myself. I know, rationally, that I don’t have anything to fear if she meets with him, but I don’t want him to upset her, or convince her in some way that she doesn’t need me. Amara is mine, and she’s not going anywhere. “She’s managing,” I finally say tightly. “She’s been through a lot in her past, and she doesn’t trust easily. She’s overwhelmed, but Rori seems to have helped her relax a little. Enough that she’s not running away screaming yet, at least.”

“And she trusts you,” Papa states, watching me knowingly.

“She does.” Not fully yet, but she will. I won’t allow anything else.

“From the little display you gave earlier, I take it that you plan to keep her around,” Pietro suggests, holding my gaze, brow arching as if daring me to deny it.

“I am.”

Pietro and Papa share a quick look. “At least you don’t have to guess with your sons,” Pietro laments with a chuckle. Then he looks back at me. “How does Amara feel about this?”

“She’ll come around. She’s wary of me, of all of us, but I’m one of the few people she trusts and feels safe around. I’ll take things at her pace for now, but eventually, we’ll marry.”

“You’re so sure that she’ll agree to this?” Pietro asks skeptically.

“Yes.” I say that a lot more firmly than I feel, but we’ll get there. We have an attraction that can’t be denied, and we can build from there. I saw it with my parents, so I know it’s possible.

Pietro regards me for a moment. “Alright. I look forward to getting to know her. Now, I’m going to make a few calls.” Then he walks away, not even glancing back.

I look at my father, who’s watching me closely. “You have a problem with my choice?” I ask. It’s a question, not an accusation, but my defensiveness leaks out just enough to have him arching a brow at me. Damn it.

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