Page 36 of The Secrets We Keep

“She’s right,” Luca confirmed. “My contact said much the same. They’re afraid of him. If you want to go ahead with a bribery plot, along with sabotaging these shipments, you’ll have to be careful about who you choose.”

“Is using this shit going to out your contact?” Dom glanced up at Luca.

“I wouldn’t think so.” Luca studied the candid shots of men with their mistresses or lovers or exchanging money with Gallo. “Anyone can run surveillance on them and get these kinds of photos.”

Matteo twisted his watch around his wrist. “We’ll start with the shipments next week, and I’ll see if Bonacci will make an introduction.”

“Who’s that?” Emilia asked.

“The mayor of Palermo.”

Emilia’s eyes widened. “You know the mayor of Palermo?” She shared a look with Dom. “Oh. You pay the mayor of Palermo.”

Matteo arched a brow. “We do. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, I just…” Emilia squirmed under Matteo’s cutting gaze. “No,” she replied softly.

“Lay off, Matteo,” Dom grumbled.

“Emilia,” Carina said, pushing out of her seat before Matteo could speak again. “Why don’t we go check on the kids, and I can show you that necklace I was telling you about for Bella.”

“Sure,” Emilia replied, relief evident on her face. “That sounds great.”

“You four try to behave while we’re gone. You,” she said, turning to Alexei. “Don’t stab anyone without me.”

“Of course not, lyubimaya moya,” he replied, giving her hip a squeeze. “You know I love to watch you work.”

Luca watched them go, wondering what it would be like to see Sienna with them. The three of them with their heads bent together in conversation. He hadn’t imagined what a future with Sienna might be like in so long. He’d forced thoughts of her and what they might’ve had out of his mind just so he could survive.

But it felt infinitely more possible now than it had three years ago. Every second he spent with her or talking to her or thinking about her made the future he’d written off a long time ago seem that much closer.

They could have more once this was all said and done. He wanted more with her. And once Gallo was gone, there would be no one to stand in their way.

Except maybe Matteo. And Luca didn’t give a fuck what his brother thought about his love life. If Dom could stand against him about Emilia, Luca sure as hell could stand up for Sienna.

“I don’t know what the hell your problem is with her. But you’re going to have to get over it,” Dom said, drawing Luca out of his thoughts.

Matteo rolled his eyes. “Last I checked, we didn’t read side pieces in on family business. As much as you might like to ride her, she isn’t family. She’s a liability. Those brats of hers being in my house are a liability.”

“She is not a side piece, you fuck. Unless you consider Carina Alexei’s side piece. I’m sure our baby sister would love to hear that.”

Alexei stiffened, gaze sharpening on Matteo. “Do tell us.”

“Of course she isn’t,” Matteo snapped. “They’re engaged. And Carina is one of us.”

“And without Emilia, we’d probably still be engaging Varda on the southern border,” Luca reminded them. “She’s never been anything but an asset to this family and our interests. You’re the only one determined to treat her like shit because she’s not what…Sicilian? Mafia born?”

“I have to put the family above everything else. Our safety, our future. It’s my job to protect the family’s interests from anything that’s a threat.” Matteo sneered. “Even if the threats are pretty redheads.”

Dom’s laugh was deep and mocking. “You’re so full of shit. You whip out the line about protecting the family’s interests whenever you’re trying to get your way. Emilia has more than earned our trust at this point. She’s mine, and she’s staying. And if you don’t like it, you can get fucked.”

Shoving out of his seat, Dom crossed to the sideboard to pour himself more wine. Luca watched Matteo debate with himself, eyes darting between Alexei and Dom, who’d both made it very clear that Matteo’s influence over them ended at their love lives.

Seemingly giving up for now, Matteo reached for one of the photos on top of the pile. Restivo tucking a thick envelope into his breast pocket while having lunch with Nero and Stefano Gallo.

“We’re going to start with Restivo, but once Gallo is dealt with, I want the rest on our payroll.”

“All of them?” Luca wondered. “The prefects too?”

---