Page 85 of Gin & Trouble

“Trapani,” Marco said.

That singular word left me gasping for breath. “I can’t go back to Sicily.”

“You’ll only be in Trapani long enough to get from the plane to the harbor. My brother, Giancarlo, will escort you to the safe house on Alicudi.” Nico glanced between us. “Please feel free to make yourself at home in the villa. I have clothes there. Help yourself to anything you need.”

“Thanks. I don’t suppose there are phones or computers in the villa?”

“For now, it’s best you don’t have contact with the outside world.” She lowered her gaze as if embarrassed by the answer.

“I know the drill.” Knowing it and liking it were two entirely different things. Still, I counted myself lucky to be alive.

Marco clasped his hands. “Dante filled me in on what you do at Marchionni Corporation and what you had hoped to gain from working there. But I’d like to hear it from you.”

Straight and to the point. I liked him. Except for the whole shipping me off to an undisclosed location and keeping me prisoner until he decided if I’d tried to kill his brother.

I looked him in the eye and told him the truth. “Originally, I hoped to find proof your family was continuing your illegal operations apart from the Cosa Nostra. I’d hoped to blackmail you into helping me and my sisters.”

Nico frowned. He nodded. But neither spoke.

“After several months, it became clear to me there was nothing to find.”

Nico tilted her head. “Why did you stay?”

I hitched a shoulder. “I liked the work I was doing there, and my access to Dante’s software allowed me to keep tabs on Tommaso.”

Marco drew a slow breath. “How did Sophia fit into this?”

“After our father died, we fled Sicily together and ended up here.” By accepting his help, I’d put my life in his hands. There was no sense in lying to him. “Sophia was convinced Enzo was our half-brother and rightful heir to the Abruzzo throne.”

He glanced at his wife, then back to me. “Have you gotten the DNA results back yet?”

The walls around me pressed in and it felt like he’d sucked all of the oxygen from the room. “How did you know?”

“Enzo mentioned missing bloody bandages. Is it true? Is he an Abruzzo?”

I nodded.

Marco sat back and dragged his hand over his face. “Christ.”

Nico fidgeted with her hands. “We became suspicious when my father ordered me to marry Enzo, but claimed I’d married my brother after Marco and I eloped.”

He laced his fingers with hers. “Lazio was convinced Nico’s mother had an affair with my father, which would have made Nico half-siblings with me and my brothers. Except Enzo.”

“After Lazio made his accusations, Sophia put two and two together. Our father died before she could confront him, but our mother confirmed he’d had an affair.” I’d never stopped to wonder if any of the Marchionnis had come to the same conclusion.

Nico winced the moment I mentioned my sister. Understandable, considering the Marchionnis believed she was responsible for Joe’s death, but I had the feeling there was more to it.

Marco squeezed her hand as if to signal for her to keep quiet. “Would you consider leaving Enzo out of this if I agreed to help you and your sisters?”

“What can you do? Tommaso is forcing Valentina to marry Miquel Salvo. The union will split theFratellanzain half.” Given his marriage to my cousin, I assumed the Lazios would side with him. That left the Riccis as the tie-breaker and I had no idea which way they would vote.

“Tommaso has stepped on more than a few toes. He’s also disobeyed theFratellanza’sorder, forbidding your family from coming to New Orleans.” Marco gave me a pointed stare. A stare that let me know in no uncertain terms how he felt about my brother.

My throat went dry. “Sophia and I did the same thing.”

“As far as I’m concerned,youwere here seeking protection.” He stretched his arms across the back of the sofa and grinned. “We offeredyousanctuary and a job. A chance to start a new life apart from the Cosa Nostra.”

I didn’t miss his emphasis on the wordyou. “And Sophia?”

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