Page 52 of Dangerous King
"Working on it," I reply, taking a bite, trying to ignore Shadow as he paws for the treat.
"What do you mean?" Dante won't let go; he's like a shark on a blood trail.
"Since when do I owe you explanations?" I say, chewing slowly.
Dante lifts his hands, smirking. "Just trying to gauge how close we are to war with the Orsi family. You know, for planning purposes."
"We're not," I mutter, though even I know it sounds half-hearted.
Marcello Orsi is a wild card. He was recalled from Sicily only a year ago. Before that, his brother Angelo was supposed to take over his father's empire. Angelo was a piece of work. But at least everyone knew where they stood with him. With Marcello, not so much. But he didn't hesitate when I called for a favor. Angelo would have. He would have let me dance like a puppet on strings. Not that I would have called him in the first place.
"Marcello's protecting her family in Sicily. That's all that matters right now." I fill Dante in.
My mother's gaze sharpens. "And what matters after?"
I look up from the plate. "We'll see."
She exhales, but lets it go. For now.
Shadow yips quietly and stretches against my thigh, little paws pawing at the bacon on my plate like he has a right to it. I tear off a corner and hold it down to him. He snatches it gently, eyes bright with triumph.
"Great," Dante says dryly. "He's already got you wrapped around his paw."
"He's persistent," I reply, which gets a grunt of agreement from Dante.
Movement by the large open archway catches my eye, and I glance up. Catalina. She's barefoot, tangled hair, eyes too wide, and I know what she's going to say before she even opens her mouth. "I can't find Shadow."
Her voice is raw with panic. She scans the room like she's expecting a body, not a puppy, and only when she sees him on my lap does the tension melt from her face.
"Oh, thank God."
Shadow perks up at the sound of her voice, tail thumping the chair.
"I took him out," I say, nodding toward the balcony. "Didn't want him pissing on your floor."
"Enrico Santori, language," Mamma scolds.
Cat's gaze swings to me, then my mother, then Dante. She freezes halfway into the room, clearly just having realized she's in nothing but sleep pajamas and a T-shirt. My mother rises from her seat, gracious but cool. "Good morning, Catalina. Please, join us."
"I… uh…" Catalina stumbles for words in her embarrassment. "Sorry. I just—when I woke up and he wasn't there?—"
"It's fine," I say, cutting her off gently. "Sit. Eat."
I push the chair beside me out with my foot. She hesitates a second longer, then nods and slips into the seat, still holding Shadow close like he's the only anchor she trusts in the room.
My mother passes her a plate. "It's still early in the morning; nobody expects you to look your best yet." She keeps her voice low, amusing me, because usually, a drill sergeant could take pointers from her. But not with Cat. With her, she's like a mother hen. Judging by the amused wink Dante sends my way, he's just as surprised by our mother's sudden change as I am.
Catalina gives a faint, respectful smile. "Thank you."
"She needs more clothes, Enrico. Take her and Izzy to Maison Étoile."
Maison Étoile is a mall more secure than the Pentagon, and the place where I should have taken the girls yesterday.
"I would love to, mamma, but I have?—"
"We have a meeting with Roberto and Edoardo to see how we can clean up the mess your son made," my father enters the room like a storm that's already passed but still leaves everything wet and splintered.
Catalina stiffens beside me. I see it, the way her fingers tighten on Shadow, and my eyes land once again on her hand. On the missing pinky. A detail so small, yet it screams louder than anything at this table. A flood of ice-cold fury rushes through my veins. I imagine Giovanni's screams. His breath ragged. His body broken. I imagine taking my time.
