Page 7 of Reign of Hope

When Dante is done, Zano comes to his feet, and that’s when I see a nasty scar on his stomach. Zano’s been hurt more than once. He puts on a clean shirt and buttons it up.

“Your mother’s going to be surprised. I’m not sure what’s going to rattle her more, the injury or the new bride,” Dante jokes.

“Or the future brother-in-law who needs to earn his place inNostra Casa,” Zano adds.

“If you’ve changed your mind—” Dante starts.

“No. I would never put our capo in that position,” Zano interrupts. “Allegra and I have given our word, and we’re keeping it.” He walks over to the seat across from me and sits down. “Right, Allegra?”

“Yes. I’ll do my best to make sure I don’t embarrass you,” I manage to say. But I feel it prudent to make sure he understands what he’s facing. “My father was a traitor.Ultimo Mortehas turned their backs on us. We’re not considered, uh…” I grapple for the words to finish.

“You have a clean slate withNostra Casa.”I didn’t even hear Reno return, but his deep voice rumbles as he speaks. “You cannot control the past, but you have a choice in your future. Trust will not come easy, and it is your job to prove to me that you deserve the right to be part of this family. A marriage gives you protection, not respect. That needs to be earned.”

“What will happen to Vic… Uh, Victorio?” I quickly correct myself, remembering how Reno chooses to address him. Personally, I loved the name Victorio over Vic. When my brother hit his teens, he decided he hated his name and shortened it. If he had the money, he would have legally changed his last name completely. He’s been so angry, and every day, he was becoming more and more distant. I was losing him, and today, if Zano hadn’t intervened, I’m sure Victorio would be dead. The Skulls would have taken him from me.

“Victorio will be attending the high school of my choice, and when he’s not in school, he’ll be working with my man Leo Conte,” Reno begins. Victorio snaps his head up. “I see you’ve heard of him. He’s fair and, next to me and my brothers, the most lethal man I know. If anyone can teach you discipline, it will be him.”

“I can become part ofNostra Casa?” Victorio asks tentatively.

“Theoretically, yes. The time, energy, and devotion you put in will determine whether you are accepted. All eyes are going to be on you. Some will talk about you. Others won’t care. If you can’t handle the pressure, then you’re useless to this family,” Dante says.

“I’m not useless.” Victorio gets his back up. I reach over to take his hand, but he jerks it out of reach.

“Allegra, don’t coddle him,” Zano says. “He needs to hear this, and so do you. I get that you both got dealt a shitty hand, but he needs to grow up.” I glare at Zano, giving him my angriest laser-beam stare that would burn his brain if I had real lasers, only to have him grin back. Hot or not, Zano is annoying me.

“You try living down the notoriety of what my father did, watching your mother die, then talk to me. Victorio was a child when this all happened. I did my best,” I say, defending myself and my brother.

“This is my fault,” Victorio murmurs, dropping his elbows to his knees and putting his head in his hands.

“That’s something,” I respond. “Taking ownership takes courage.”

Zano drops his head back, resting it on the back of the couch, and closes his eyes.

“Do you want something for the pain?” Dante asks immediately.

“Nah, just need to close my eyes for a while,” Zano replies.

“Call the doc. I want him waiting for us when we arrive. Call his father. He needs to know what’s going on,” Reno orders and takes the seat beside Zano.

“I’ve got to tell Elena,” Dante adds.

“Damn, she’s going to freak,” Zano says.

Dante leaves to the back to make his calls, Zano appears to have fallen asleep, and Reno is busy responding to messages on his phone. Victorio stares out the window at the billowing clouds, his jaw tight and in deep thought. I want to reach over and comfort him, but perhaps he needs this time to think about how we all got here.

* * *

The plane lands smoothly, and Reno is the first to depart. Dante takes one look out the door and glances over his shoulder at Zano. “All of them are here,” he says.

“Can you take Victorio down with you and introduce him? I’d like a word with Allegra, alone,” Zano tells him. Victorio stands by my side, reluctant to leave. “I could have let Spike take her. She’s safe with me,” Zano reminds him.

Victorio looks at me, and I manage a small grin. “I’ll be fine.”

He follows Dante down the stairs to “all of them,” whoever that might be. But I’m sure I won’t have long to wait. I’m left watching the men leave.

I feel Zano’s fingers under my chin, turning my head to look his way. Our eyes meet, and I see calm and serenity. His ocean-blue eyes give me a sense of peace.

“I think we both deserve a quiet moment before going out there,” he says. Letting out a heavy sigh, he rakes a hand through his dark, wavy hair. “My parents are good people. They work hard, and they love all three of their children. They’re going to treat you right because that’s who they are. My brother, Elio, is going to ask a shit ton of questions. He’s protective of me and Elena, my sister. I think that’s the role he bears being the oldest. But he’ll give you every opportunity to show him you’re good people. Elena is our baby sister; she’s also Dante’s wife. Dante and I are close. Our families are close.”

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