Page 95 of Gin & Trouble

Giancarlo handed each of us a bottle of water. “I have wine if you prefer?”

“Grazie, but Ari and I can’t stay.” Mia glanced between us and lowered her voice. “We’re going south to stay with…” She curled her lips into more of a snarl than a smile. “Friends.”

I had a feeling her lack of specifics had to do with her not trusting me. Not that I blamed her.

Ari practically bounced in her chair. “Frankie, open your gift before we go.”

“But it’s not Christmas.” She held the tiny package tighter as if afraid it would vanish.

“Now, Francesca. Every minute we wait is a minute closer to the grave.” Mia’s sour expression reminded me of my mother’s after I’d failed English in the third grade—only with less love. “And take that God-awful wig off. You look ridiculous.”

Once again, Frankie didn’t seem bothered by her bitchy sister’s comments. After removing her wig, she gave the package a little shake before methodically loosening the ribbons and folding the plain brown paper.

Mia rolled her eyes. “At this rate, I could have finished a bottle of Giancarlo’s wine.”

Frankie opened the lid on the black velvet box and gasped. Tears brimmed her eyes as she glanced between her sisters. “Papa’s St. Christopher medallion?”

“He would want you to have something of his.” Ari helped her baby sister fasten the gold chain. “Buon Natale.”

“Merry Christmas.” Frankie embraced her again. When she pulled away, she turned to Mia. “I know you are angry at me, but it is good to see you.”

Mia’s reply consisted of a curt nod and an even curter tone. “Arianna, we must go.”

Giancarlo pulled me onto the deck while the sisters said their goodbyes. “Do not share this with Frankie until you’re off shore. But I plan toinsistthat Mia and Arianna stay in Trapani. They will be safe in the Lazio compound.”

“Why not tell Frankie?” It dawned on me a moment too late.

He doesn’t trust her.

“The fewer people who know where they are, the better.” He glanced through the windows at the women. “Francesca has been out ofthe lifefor too long. She should have known better than to tell anyone her travel plans. Even if it was to get a message to her sisters, she has put us all at risk.”

While I felt like an ass for assuming Giancarlo thought she was up to no good, I disagreed with him on one fact.

Frankie might have spent the previous decade away from Sicily, but when she needed something, she used the mafia playbook as well, if not better, than the rest of us.

29

Frankie

I watchedmy sisters walk back to their car and drive away with an odd sense of relief. When I’d asked Iris to get a message to them, I never thought she’d tell Mia and Ari where I was going. Nor did I think they would show up in Trapani. Not only was it reckless, it was out of character for Mia. Anyone with eyes or ears could tell she didn’t care for me.

Why did she come?

There had to be a reason for the visit, and I doubted it had anything to do with giving me our father’s medallion. My sisters weren’t the only ones who’d showed up unannounced. I’d been so hyper focused on them I hadn’t realized the man with Giancarlo was Dante. In my defense, he was wearing dark glasses and a ball cap.

While part of me was so happy to see him, I wanted to throw myself into his arms and beg him to come with me, the saner part knew it was a bad idea. We were in mafia country. Any one of the men on the docks could be in my brother’s back pocket. If someone recognized us…

Stop catastrophizing what you can’t control and focus on what you hope like hell you can fix.

I paced the solarium, but rather than admiring the sleek black leather couches and polished teak, I couldn’t take my eyes off Dante and Giancarlo.

They stood beside the yacht with their heads together as if sharing secrets. Secrets, I suspected, that involved me.

I hadn’t missed the hard set of Dante’s jaw or the accusations in his sea-green eyes. I also hadn’t missed his concern when he’d asked about Mia’s crappy attitude. And I definitely caught the way he kept staring.

Giancarlo gave Dante a quick hug. “Ciao.”

“Ciao.” Dante waited until he’d walked away before turning and glancing over the boat.

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