Page 2 of Angelo

What could be running through his mind?

Instantly, Elyse went to his side. He glanced away. She placed a hand on Alessandro's stubbled cheek, gently guiding his gaze back to her. An earnest, unwavering green searched a turbulent brown and blue-gray. "Tell me what you need, and I'll make sure that it gets done."

His jaw ticked beneath her palm. Her offer fell on deaf ears. In a tight voice, Alessandro made it clear that he didn’t want anything from her and asked instead, "How did it go with Mariposa?"

There was no anguish on his face. He didn't look like a grieving son. He was all business. She could sense the wall he was building between them. Elyse retracted her hand from him. Gently, she replied, "She agreed to help us."

"Good."

"Alessio, are you alrigh—"

He interrupted, "Are you meeting with Antonia later today?"

"Well, I was thinking about rescheduling since—"

"Do not reschedule," Alessandro insisted, cutting her off again.

She cast a worried look in her husband's direction. "Are you sure?"

"I need to know where the Svizzis stand. We cannot lose their support, especially at this time."

"I understand, but I'd rather stay by your side today. I'm sure the Svizzis would understand if we took some time to… grieve."

With an indifferent expression, he muttered, "But there is nothing to grieve.I feel fine."

Was he telling the truth? She couldn't read him. Elyse wanted nothing more than to ease the distance between them, but, if Alessandro wished to focus on business right now, then they'd talk business. After a moment of hesitation, Elyse inquired, "If that's how you really feel, would you like me to take the lead on the funeral?"

Unfazed, her husband gave a brusque nod. "Per favore."

"I'll get on it right away."

Before Elyse could say another word, he clipped, "Grazie."

The finality in his tone suggested the conversation was over. Her husband seemed to have no interest in discussing his dead father's funeral. Alessandro cleared his throat, abruptly shifting subjects, "By the way..."

She eyed him expectantly.

"Are you still visiting your grandfather this weekend?"

"Yes."

"Take me with you."

"You're welcome to join us," Elyse said after a slight pause. "Although, I'm curious. Are you coming for chess? Or did you want something else from him?"

With an unsettling smile, he revealed in tones that felt too pleasant for a man who’d just lost his father, "My recent chat with Aberto was… enlightening. There may be rats among us. I thought it might be fun to share the names with Benedetto, so we can remove the little fuckers together."

"I see," Elyse hummed. More dead bodies were about to pile up. But there was onlyonecorpse that she cared about at the moment. Her worries flitted back to the funeral. "Alessio?"

"What?"

"Should I invite Carmen and Valentina to attend the service?"

Alessandro's handsome face darkened. "Carmen will stay in Salemi.Indefinitely. Valentina will be given a choice, though."

"What kind of choice?" Elyse asked uneasily.

"She can swear her allegiance to me and marry Gaspare De León as a sign of good faith," he explained, "or rot in Salemi alongside her mother.Without my protection."

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