Page 78 of On Ice

“No, he didn’t,” I murmur.

Sofia’s astute gaze settles on me. “Your decision not to throw that game put Luca in a very difficult position.”

“No worse than the one he put me in.”

Her lips twitch. “I suppose that’s true.”

Isabella pours herself some more wine. “I love Luca dearly, but it’s good that you stood up to him. Nobody should get their way all the time.”

Tony snorts. “That’s rich coming from you, Isabella. You’re the most spoiled of us all.”

Isabella scowls, a rosy pink dusting her cheeks. “That’s not true.”

“Oh, no?” Tony shakes his head. “When do we ever tell you no?”

Her scowl slowly changes to an impish smile. “Hardly ever, and I love it.”

Sofia and Tony both laugh, and I find myself fascinated by their family dynamic. I’ve always had this image in my mind of what a mafia family might look like. Usually, Luca fits the billnicely, with his cold brooding glances and threats. But when I saw him with Isabella, he was suddenly just the doting big brother.

Nobody is all good or all bad. People are a mixture of both.

Perhaps Luca is right. It’s obvious this family loves each other. The horrible things they do are very real, but this side of them is also just as real. The Luca I met that first night was warm and charming. That was real. But the jerk he became the next day was too. The Barones aren’t all good or all bad. They’re a mixture.

The conversation pauses when a woman in a white chef coat enters the room, carrying two plates. She sets them down on the table and gives me a curious look. I smile politely, but she doesn’t reciprocate. Instead she gestures to the hand-painted plates. “The appetizer tonight is paper-thin prosciutto, fresh figs drizzled with honey, and fresh buffalo mozzarella.”

“Thank you, Giulia. It looks wonderful,” Sofia says.

“Ooh, you have to try this, Evan.” Isabella scoops some of the food onto my plate. “This buffalo mozzarella tastes so much better than anything you’ll ever find in the store.”

I’m starving and only too happy to try anything. I take a bite and almost moan as the delicious flavors bathe my tongue. She’s right, the mozzarella is delicious and it pairs with the figs and prosciutto perfectly. Because I’m on edge, I drink my wine quicker than I probably should. But I can’t say I mind the warmth that spreads through me because of it.

“How long will Luca be in Italy?” Sofia asks Tony.

Tony sets his fork down, squinting at the light fixture overhead. “I believe he said he’d be gone a few more days.”

“Did he go to Italy for a vacation?” I ask.

My question has all three of them falling silent.

There’s obvious strain on Sofia’s face as she forces a smile. “Unfortunately, no. A high-ranking member of the La Fratellanza Italiana syndicate, Don Fabrizio DeLuca, has been assassinated.”

“Oh, God.” I wince.

Tony rubs his shaved head, frowning. “DeLuca was a key figure who controlled the regions around Naples and held sway over shipping routes along the Amalfi Coast. His death has left a power vacuum. That’s always dangerous.”

“I wish Luca would let one of his captain’s handle that situation.” Isabella gnaws her bottom lip. “It’s too volatile for Luca to be there.”

Sofia gives her daughter a chiding glance. “He’s the head of our family, Tesoro. The other syndicates are looking to him for leadership. He can’t ignore the situation. That would make him look weak.”

Maybe it’s the wine loosening my tongue because I mutter, “He’s always so worried about looking weak.”

Turning to me, Sofia’s eyes are very serious. “Of course he is. Looking weak is the worst thing he could do. Not only would the other syndicates come for him, but his own men would turn on him.”

A chill shivers down my spine. “His own men?”

Tony chuffs. “Would you go into battle with a weak leader? Would you lay your life on the line for a leader who doesn’t knowhis own mind? There’s nothing worse than being perceived as weak in our world.”

Sofia nods, a proud tilt to her chin. “What’s happening over there right now has thrown things into turmoil. Multiple factions are now vying for control, and Luca’s support could determine who takes the reins next.”

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