Page 8 of Where Dark Hearts Devour
Though there’s only one year between me and Sera, I know more about Papa’s business than anyone else in the family. While he hasn’t been sworn in as a made man, Papa’s a valued associate of the Di Santo crime family. As the owner of Castellano Shipping Co., he runs one of the city’s biggest ports, which has been of some interest to the Di Santos for as long as I can remember.
Until Mama was killed, I was blissfully ignorant of exactly how involved in Mafia activities our family business was. Afterward, I wanted answers, and I found them in Papa’s office. Turned out we shipped a lot more than “consumables.” Unless you put firearms, ammo, and cocaine into that category.
“It’s too risky. Especially now Gianni is dead. Papa has to reestablish himself with whoever succeeds the former don.”
Sera strokes a thumb over my palm. “Who do you think it will be?”
I shrug. It’s not as if I’m an expert on all things Mafia, but there are a few names I overhear often in Papa’s conversations. “Augusto Zanotti? Benito Bernadi?”
Sera wrinkles her nose. “Isn’t Benny Bernadi their consigliere?”
An image of his scarred face and iron-rigid jaw crosses my lids, and I suppress a shudder. A consigliere usually advises the family on legal matters, but it’s obvious when looking at Bernadi he takes the law into his own hands—literally.
“I think so. And Augusto was Gianni’s second-in-command. He’s perhaps the more likely option.”
“Not his son, Savero?”
I hadn’t thought about him. He generally keeps a low profile, so I don’t even know what he looks like.
“Maybe,” I murmur. I don’t actually care.
“He was here yesterday,” Sera says, watching warily for my reaction.
“Who was here?”
“Savero Di Santo.”
A chill raises the hairs on my skin. “When?”
“While you were, um ... out.”
My pulse thumps, and a bad feeling settles in my gut. “Why was he here?”
“I don’t know. I tried to eavesdrop, but Allegra shooed me away. He was in Papa’s office for at least an hour.”
“It must be something to do with the port,” I say. “That will be it. There were contracts ...” I don’t want to say too much. I don’t want Sera to worry about our family’s livelihood like I now do. “Maybe Savero just wants to be reassured business is continuing as normal.”
“That makes sense.” She seems appeased—until her brows knit together. That look on Sera is never good.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Last night was a solar eclipse.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes. Astrology is her language, and though I don’t understand it, I respect the way she uses it to make sense of the world.
“What does that mean?”
“New moons often signal new beginnings,” she explains. “But an eclipse is particularly powerful.”
“Maybe Papa has signed a new contract,” I suggest.
“Hmm. Maybe.” Her focus drifts.
“You don’t have to stay with me, Sera. I’m going to be fine.” I know she’d rather be alone in her room surrounded by textbooks and tarot cards.
“You sure?”
I squeeze her hands. “I’m sure. And thank you.”
