Page 48 of Promise Maker

Father motions for him to get to it.

“I found Mathew,” he says. “I brought him toSicily. He’s in a secured location waiting for your retrieval.”

“Did you get any information from him?” I ask.

Santedelays,looking from me to my father.

“LucaFattore,” hereveals.

That name stirs absolute revulsion.

Father slinks back in his chair, rumbling. “Sohe’s emerged from his rathole.”

“Your cousin is looking to bring honor back to theFattorename. Leonardo stole that money for him. Itwasn’t about the trade.” He pauses a second. “As for Brigham, Luca learned ofyour friendship while scouting the states for business. Mathew needed someoneto carry out the hit, and Luca wants the shipping yard as payment. The plan isto force Solari Brigham to give him everything now that he knows she’s thebeneficiary.”

“Over my dead body,” I grunt, fists clenched.

“He knew she’d be with your family because Mathewtold him of her interest in you, Nico, and he heard Bishop mention the Martelliname before sending her through a secret passage.” He sighs. “Luca is planningan attack. I don’t know when. That’s all I could get out of Mathew.”

“He killed Bishop because of our friendship,”Father says in a low tone. “The shipping yard is a plus.”

It is the same revelation playing on my mind.

Solari would resent me if she knew. Her father’sdecision is already a block between us.

“Where’s Luca?” I askSante.

He shrugs. “Unknown. The last lead was in NewJersey, where he met with Mathew and arranged the hit on Bishop. But I’m surehe’s in Sicily by now, considering the recent attack at that café.”

“You did good,” Father praises, pushing up fromhis chair. “I’ll have Rodrigo retrieve Mathew. If you learn anything else.”

“I’ll inform you immediately.”Santeexits the office.

I turn to my father, asking, “What do we do?”

“Tighten security. Luca despises us for whathappened to his father. He’s lost respect among his mother and siblings anddesperately wants to reclaim it.”

“Grandfather started that war. We could try to endit by initiating peace.”

He narrows his gaze on me. “The only way to endwar among men like us is with death. You knowthat,Nico. Where did that come from?”

Irakemy hand throughmy hair, recalling what Solari said, that I could try to avoid killing.

“It’s nothing,” I tell him.

“Solari inherited everything. It’s no wonder Lucawants her. The only way to take control of Brigham’s shipping yard after hisdeath is with her verbal consent or marriage.”

That churns my stomach. “Did Bishop discuss itwith you?”

“Yes, but he’d still insisted that you stay awayfrom Solari.”

I huff. “Well, Bishop can rest in peace. Solariand I are honoring his wishes.”

In his wilted gaze and crumpled features, Idecipher genuine empathy. “But it’s hard for you, not being with her. I can seeit.”

“She will never accept a man like me.” I’m sure ofit because she hasn’t dared to mention going against her father’s decision. Ibet what she did for me the other night has left her mortified.

“Then let’s take care of Luca and give her back alife of peace,” Father snaps me out of my head. “I’ll arrangeitso she’ll have a fresh start in the states or wherever.Either way, it’s what Bishop wanted for his innocent daughter.”

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