Page 19 of Code Name: Dante

“Maybe.” I owed her honesty, even if it meant admitting I had no idea what the message meant.

“The shop is so much more than a place to get a cup of coffee or tea. My grandmother built something from the ashes of what your family destroyed. It serves as a symbol of resilience. Refusing to be beaten.”

“You’re right,” I said, turning onto the final stretch leading to Canada Lake, where the trees opened up to reveal glimpses of water in the afternoon light.

“After everything that happened with the factory, she still found a way to create something meaningful. Something that speaks both to today’s community but also to the city’s history,” she continued.

Her words reminded me of the safe and its contents. As soon as we arrived at the camp, I’d check in with the guys still there to see if there had been any luck getting to it. “I hate that our family destroyed so much of Gloversville and that, even now, they continue to do so.”

“If this is your brother’s doing, I honestly can’t understand why he’d bother. The fire was decades ago. Gram was six years old when it happened. It isn’t like she poses some kind of threat. As far as the city itself, Gloversville began its economic decline long before the fire. That hurt our family personally more than it did the area’s economy.”

“Earlier, I was thinking there’s a chance it’s a smokescreen designed to distract me.”

She thought it over for a minute, then nodded. “You and your brother…”

“Don’t see eye to eye?” I chuckled, but not because I thought it was funny. “Long before he found out I became an informant for the DOJ, he hated me.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never known for sure. Maybe because, until I came along, he was an only child. He turned thirteen a couple of weeks before I was born, and probably never considered he’d have a sibling.”

“How old are you?” she asked.

“Thirty-two.”

“Six years older than me.” I watched as she counted on her fingers. “Your brother and my mom are the same age.”

“Wow,” I said under my breath. “It’s weird to think about in those terms. It’s like he and I are from different generations.”

She absorbed this in silence as we pulled up to the camp’s gates. Security teams were already in position—discrete but thorough, exactly as I’d requested, again not wanting Lark and her grandmother to feel as though they were prisoners like my brother was.

“I still want to keep the shop open as much as possible,” she said as we parked. It wasn’t a question or a demand, just a simple statement of fact.

“I know.” I turned to face her fully. “We’ll figure it out. That’s a promise. But first, let’s get you and your grandmother settled.”

She studied me for another long moment, her blue eyes searching mine for something—truth, maybe, or proof that I was different from the other Castellanos who’d tried to control her family’s fate.

“Okay,” she said finally. “But no more unilateral decisions on my behalf.”

I nodded, knowing I’d just made a promise I might not be able to keep. Because while I wanted to be honest with her, to treat her as an equal, some decisions had to be made in the moment, some choices couldn’t wait for discussion or debate. If it came down to her safety or her autonomy, I wasn’t sure I could choose the latter. The question was, when this was all over, would she understand why?

The great camp emerged from the afternoon shadows like something from another world. Built in the grand Adirondack style, its massive logs and sweeping rooflines spoke of old money and quiet power. Stone chimneys rose above the tree line, and wraparound porches offered views of the lake from every angle. Despite everything that had happened today, the familiar outline of the camp brought a sense of comfort. It had been a sanctuary during Admiral and Alice’s wedding, and now, it would serve as one again.

“Welcome back,” Alice called from the front steps, hurrying down to meet us as we pulled up. She wrapped Lark in a tight hug.

The second vehicle, carrying Mrs. Gregory, arrived moments later. “Well, this is quite something,” she declared as Tank helped her from the car, waving off further assistance with her cane.

“Wait until you see inside, and welcome,” Alice said warmly, moving to greet her. Admiral was right behind her, embracing both Lark and her grandmother.

“I’m not an invalid,” she spat at Tank, although I noticed she didn’t refuse to take the arm he offered. While her cane provided some balance, the ground was uneven enough to be precarious.

“Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” Alice continued, leading us inside. The main floor opened into the familiar great room dominated by a massive stone fireplace with a hearth large enough to stand in. Exposed beams crossed the ceiling, and comfortable furniture in rich leather and warm fabrics created intimate seating areas throughout the space.

“The lower level has its own entrance and kitchen,” Alice explained, motioning to a wide staircase. “Plus a private patio overlooking the lake. I thought you might like having your own space.”

Instead of Alice leading us down the stairs, Admiral motioned to a doorway I hadn’t noticed when I was here before. When an elevator was revealed, I waited for Mrs. Gregory’s reaction, covering my mouth with my hand to hide my smile when she scoffed but got inside anyway when Admiral motioned for her to follow.

As Alice had said, the lower level, which I hadn’t seen before, proved to be a completely self-contained living area, with the same attention to craftsmanship as above. Large windows brought in the natural light and lake views, while thick stone walls promised privacy and security.

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