Page 31 of Reign of Hope

Leo had a talk with Victorio and told him why he was keeping him on security duty at his place. He took the news well and, according to Leo, continues to work out in the home gym and help Leo’s father-in-law, Giuseppe, around the house. Since Guiseppe retired and Leo’s taken over his role as underboss, he visits his daughter and grandchild often and, to stay active, does some work around their home.

I broke the news to Allegra that same day, and as expected, she was upset. Not as upset as Reno, but surprisingly, it was Reno who was able to calm Allegra down. He explained that this is bigger than a fucked-up gang making a move to bring a girl to heel. He told Allegra and Anna about the Triad. Anna didn’t look at all fazed by the news. I think that goes with the role of being Mafia queen forNostra Casa.

Allegra understands that this was never about her or Victorio. They were just a way to get to Raffaele. I’m not sure she feels any better about the situation, but she seems relieved that none of the capos are angry with her or Victorio.

Allegra has been quiet since yesterday. She mainly played with Samuele and Simona until it was time to go home. Once we got home, she was exactly the same. I decided to give her time to digest all the information we gave her. Allegra went to bed early, and when I came to bed, I found her curled into a ball. I wrapped my body around hers, holding her in my arms all night long.

This morning, I dropped her off at Lucia and Leo’s place. I didn’t want her hanging around our home all day, stewing in her own thoughts. Leo has a superior security system, and no one would dare make a move on his place.

Now, we’re on the way home, and Ally still looks like someone kicked her puppy. Well, I’m done with her forced smiles and polite responses. I want Ally back! My Ally! The woman with a smile that melts ice, who makes happy faces with blueberries on my pancakes. I need Ally back.

“How was your day with Lucia?” I ask.

“Fine. Little Joseph is a sweet boy. He gives the best hugs,” she says with a hint of a smile. Leo has a short list of people he would die for, which includes his brothers: Reno, Dante, and Sebastian. Although they’re not brothers in blood, they are brothers in every other way. And Lucia and their son, Joseph, are the others he would move the earth for. Marrying Lucia was his duty, but it turned out much better than he ever imagined. Then Joseph came along, and I’ve never seen the man happier than he is when his family is around.

A smile is a start.

“I was thinking we could pick up Chinese and have a game night,” I say casually.

“Game night?” Her brow furrows with curiosity.

“Why not? Mom and Dad used to do it with us kids, and I think we’d have some fun.”

She shrugs. “Um…sure, why not?”

I call in our order, letting her return to staring out the window. Once we pick it up, we go straight home. Reno’s had extra men around the building, and I recognize them immediately. I nod as Lucia and I move past them, heading toward the elevator. Once we’re safely back at our apartment, Ally takes the bag from me and systematically begins to unpack the takeout containers.

“Let’s eat in front of the television,” I tell her. She lifts her head from the bag.

“Sure. Sounds good.” Ally proceeds to lay down a couple of place mats, then the food, dishes, and cutlery on the table. I grab a couple of throw pillows and toss them down on the floor. “Would you like beer or wine with dinner?” she asks with her head in the fridge.

“Beer’s good,” I reply. She comes to me and drops down next to me, handing me my beer as she takes a sip of her bubbly pineapple-mango-flavored water. Normally, this would be when she asks me about my day, but she doesn’t. I know something’s off, and I want to know what it is. My usual form of interrogation includes torture. This comes complete with broken bones, at times severing digits and limbs, and is always quite gruesome. That’s not the tactic I can take in this case.

I go with the standard “What’s wrong? And don’t saynothingorI’m fine, because I know something’s up. Every night when I come home, you ask about my day, and tonight, you didn’t. And you’ve hardly said anything since the other night at all. We swore that if this marriage is going to work, then we’d be honest with each other. I get that yesterday’s news about the Skulls freaked you out, but shutting down isn’t who you are. So, I’ll ask again: what gives?”

Ally wasn’t expecting me to react this way, and she’s clearly stunned. Suddenly, she jumps to her feet and begins pacing the room. “This is how it started!” she cries. “There was an enemy, and Dad would come home, then go to his office. He’d disappear for hours. He changed. He wasn’t there for us anymore. They got to him. They tore our family apart.” She continues to pace, raking her hand through her hair.

She’s not making sense and is quickly becoming agitated. I stand and grab her by the shoulders, meeting her eyes.

“Let’s take this slow, baby,” I say calmly. “What does your father have to do with anything?”

“Dad would go out every day for work, then come home to us and be our dad. Mom would ask how his day was, and we would talk around the dinner table. Then he and Vic would watch a game or go do something together, and he would always come to tuck me in,” she says, her eyes filling with tears.

“That sounds nice, cuoricina,” I say, urging her to go on.

“Then, one day, he comes home and tells us thatUltimo Morteis at war. Mom would still ask how his day went, and he would ignore her. Then he stopped spending time with us, disappearing for hours in his office. Not long after that…” Her voice trails off.

“Not long after that, you found out he was working against Raffaele. And your life changed,” I finish for her.

“If I don’t ask you how your day is, then, maybe…” Her chin trembles. She’s on the verge of tears.

“I am not your father. If shit goes bad, we’ll deal with it. This is our life, Allegra. We defeat one enemy; another lurks around the corner. I’d like to tell you it’s smooth sailing all the time, but I won’t lie to you. Your father made his mistakes, and he paid with his life, and his family paid for them in other ways. I didn’t know your dad, but I’m going to assume he didn’t think he had any other choice but to get involved with the enemy. It was stupid, but we can’t wonder why or go back and save him. He’s gone.”

“I don’t want to lose you. I love you,” she blurts out, tears now streaming down her face. Even crying, she’s the most magnificent woman I’ve ever seen. I wipe the tears from her cheeks, cupping her face with my hands.

“It’s because I love you that I’ll always protect you. I’m not your father. I am Zano Ciello, son of a man who has taught me my worth and the importance of family. I know our world is full of insanity, and I’ll shield you from it as much as I can, but I need you to face these bumps in the road head-on with me. Closing your ears and eyes to what is will only make us weak.” I kiss her lips softly. “You, cuoricina mia, are anything but weak. Do you hear me? You are the wife I was meant to be with, and we’ll see this through together.”

Ally leaps into my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck to hold me tightly. I let her sob for a few minutes, letting her get it out of her system. I wait for her crying to subside, then whisper teasingly in her ear, “My spring rolls are getting cold.” Her crying turns to bubbling laughter, and her arms relax around my neck as she pulls back.

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