Page 45 of Reign of Hope

Zano is with me, and all is well. I feel my eyes droop, and sleep takes over.

* * *

Ishouldn’t be shocked when I look at the time on the clock when I see that it’s coming up to noon, considering we didn’t get to sleep until early morning. I’m even more surprised when I see that Zano isn’t in bed. He’s already dressed and must be downstairs.

I quickly go to the bathroom and do my best to make myself presentable for the day. As I come down the stairs, Anna is chasing Samuele, who is already rushing toward Reno’s office to see his dad.

“Daddy’s busy. We mustn’t interrupt him,” she tells him, reaching out for him to take her hand. Samuele is stubborn and crosses his little arms over his chest, and at that moment, he is a carbon copy of Reno Viale, with the dour expression and all.

I can’t help but laugh. Samuele jerks his head to the stairs and sees me. He runs over and asks, “Can you go tell my dad to come play with me?”

“Hmm, well”—I tap my finger on my chin—“it might be a better idea if you and I play for a while and let your father finish his work. Then once he gets it all done, he’ll have the rest of the time to spend with you.”

Samuele isn’t exactly excited about not getting his way but concedes and takes my hand. I follow him to the playroom. Simona is already there, sitting at the children’s art table, drawing and coloring in her picture book.

“Did you sleep well?” Anna asks.

“Once Zano came home, I slept like a log,” I admit. “I’m sorry I didn’t get up earlier to help out,” I say, feeling guilty because Anna went to bed when I did.

“Simona would have happily read stories in my bed. It’s the mini Reno that has me running in circles.” She giggles, then pulls her son in for a hug. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Samuele breaks loose from his mom and notices that Vic has come into the room. Samuele immediately loses interest in me and his mom and goes to greet him. Vic has always been great with kids and comes down to his haunches as Samuele climbs up on his back for a ride.

“Reno said they won’t be long. Hopefully, things will settle after today,” Anna says. She takes the coffee carafe and pours us each a cup, including Victorio. “We’re going to need plenty of coffee today,” she jokes. “We’ll eat as soon as the men join us. I know Zano is itching to get home. I saw him this morning as he was going into Reno’s office.”

“Do you know what’s happening in there?” I ask, glancing over at the closed wooden door to Reno’s study.

“All I know is that last night all went well, and they’re hoping to have better news this morning,” she replies. “Reno only shares what he thinks I need to know. It’s his way of protecting me and the kids.”

“Zano hasn’t said anything at all.” I sigh.

“He will. I’m sure of it.” Anna goes to save Victorio from Samuele climbing all over him, using him as his personal jungle gym.

Last night, I only cared that Zano came back to me in one piece. Today, I’m curious to know if they found Drake and Spike. Are Victorio and I still in trouble? What happens to Tony? Zano told me all about his situation, and my heart breaks for him. Zano has been forthcoming with what he could share, and we promised to be honest with one another always from the very beginning. I guess I’ll have to be patient.

* * *

Zano

Reno is as impatient as I am, and between the two of us pacing the floor, he’ll need to buy a new area rug soon. We’re not the only ones who are waiting to hear from Raffaele; Dante’s called twice, Sebastian once, and Alessio has called three times. Marco has been silent since we spoke last. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. It doesn’t concern me; however, I can see that Marco was struggling with the decision to let the man they call Eros get involved.

Maybe it’s not only patience that I’m lacking; I’m wired because there’s a bigger and stronger enemy coming for us, and as of yesterday, we didn’t know much more than when we started.

Reno’s phone rings, and he picks up immediately.

“Yes,” he says. Reno usually has more finesse than that, but obviously, not today. “One second,” he says sharply and puts the phone on speaker. “Ready.”

“I don’t know what he fucking did or said, but the guy Marco sent got it all. Drake gave a description, Wan Kwok’s alias in the city, the other families he’s going after, and his last known location,” Raffaele tells us.

“How did he manage that?” I ask, curious to figure out how Eros succeeded when a slew of trained men couldn’t get Drake to talk.

Nero’s voice comes on the line. “Eros has his ways.”

“You were there, weren’t you?” Reno adds.

“Eros has a method, and he does this alone. He told us to leave the room, and an hour and a half later, he came out with everything he could get. Then told us he left a gun with a single bullet in the cell. Not ten seconds later, Drake shot himself,” Nero explains.

Okay, I’m impressed. I want to meet this guy and buy him a drink. With Drake gone, Allegra is safe, and that means Victorio is too. Well, at least from the Skulls.Nostra Casahas to find Wan Kwok and his crew and make sure he’s no longer a threat to the family.

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