Page 23 of Silence and Surrender

“From all that brooding,” Allegra teased, but her eyes were assessing me. Nothing got past her—it never had, even in the days when she’d been patching up Cooper’s smuggling-related injuries. “Though I’m sure the ladies of London appreciate the effort.”

I rolled my eyes exaggeratedly, earning a giggle from Clara. “The ladies of London are more interested in their investment portfolios.”

“Speaking of which,” Cooper leaned forward, “how’s the bank? Really?”

Something in his tone made me look up. My brother had always had good instincts, it was what had kept him alive during his criminal days. Now those same instincts were telling him something was off.

“It’s—” I started, but Clara chose that moment to scramble off my lap, declaring it was time for her stuffed animals’ dinner party.

“Go ahead,mon coeur,” Allegra told her. “But stay where we can see you.”

We watched as Clara set up an elaborate tea party on the lower terrace, her dark curls bouncing as she assigned seats to each toy with careful deliberation.

“She gets that bossiness from you,” Cooper told his wife fondly.

“Says the man who reorganized our entire pantry because I stored the Bordeaux next to the olive oil.”

“The temperature fluctuations affect the wine, angel. There are limits.”

Their easy banter wrapped around me like a warm blanket, familiar and yet somehow painful. This was what they’d built together, this life of wine and sunsets and a daughter who arranged her toys with adorable confidence. My brother, who used to move art and antiquities across borders with creative ingenuity, now spent his days nurturing vines and planning legitimate shipments. Helping his wife manage her wellness center.

He’d found his peace.

I took another sip of wine, letting the complex notes roll across my tongue. Cooper’s newest vintage; he’d probably want my opinion.

“The wine’s good,” I said, more to fill the silence than anything else. “Better than the last vintage.”

“Higher tannins,” Cooper agreed. “But that’s not what’s on your mind.”

Allegra rose gracefully, her hand squeezing Cooper’s shoulder. “I’ll check on dinner. Clara, help Mama with the bread.”

Clara bounced up the stairs, abandoning her stuffed animal soirée to follow her mother inside. The setting sun caught the highlights in her curls. She was the perfect blend of them both, sporting Cooper’s mischievous smile and Allegra’s classic features.

Once they were inside, Cooper turned to me. “Talk.”

“Nothing to talk about.”

“Right. That’s why you’ve been staring at your phone all evening like it might explode.” He leaned back, studying me. “You forget I know what it looks like when someone’s carrying weight they can’t share.”

I bit my lip, a nervous tell I thought I’d trained away years ago. “It’s work stuff. Legal complications.”

“Must be some complications to drive you to five-day-a-week gym sessions.” He swirled his wine, the gesture casual but his eyes knowing. He used to drink nothing but hard liquor, but he’d changed here in Italy. I, on the other hand, could barely tolerate a beer a few years ago, yet now I was the one who needed at least two stiff drinks just to fall asleep.

“Just an…annoying coworker. She brought me a problem I’m trying to solve.” I rolled my shoulders, feeling the pleasant ache from this morning’s session. The gym had become my sanctuary these past months, a place where problems had simple solutions. Add more weight. Do another rep. Unlike the tangled web of shipping manifests and temperature-controlled cargo holds.

“What kind of problem?”

“I can’t discuss it.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?”

I met his gaze. “Both.”

He nodded slowly. “Dangerous?”

“Incredibly.” The honesty slipped out before I could stop it.

“I don’t know why I asked…you’re preparing like it is.” He gestured to my changed physique. “The suits hide it well, but you’ve put on what—fifteen, twenty pounds of muscle?”

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