Chapter Fifteen #3
I glance over at Elio, wishing he hadn’t heard any of this. He drops his gaze and goes back to reading blueprints when I look at him, but I know him too well. There’s obvious strain on his face now.
“The grumbling will die down,” I say, pulling my gaze from Elio. “These men are comfortable. They like their income, their houses, their boats. Starting a war costs money and it spills blood. None of them have the appetite for it. Mark my words, they’ll complain over their wine and do nothing.”
“I hope you’re right.” Carlo rubs the back of his neck. “You’re probably right. You usually are.”
“I’m definitely right. No one has the spine to move against me. I have more men, more money, more territory than any two of them combined. They know the math as well as I do.”
Carlo picks up his bourbon and finishes it in a long swallow. He wipes his mouth. “Obviously, it’s your call.”
“It is.”
“I just thought you should know.” He stands. “What kind of a second would I be if I didn’t come to you when I hear things?”
“I appreciate the heads-up. I think it’ll blow over. Keep your eyes and ears open, of course. Let me know if you notice anything else. I trust your instincts, Carlo. I’m not brushing you off. I simply don’t want to make a move if I don’t have to.”
“I know.” He smiles. “I’ll keep watching the assholes just in case they grow some balls.” He turns and addresses Elio. “Looking good, kid. You’re putting weight on. It suits you.”
Elio frowns. “Are you saying I’m getting fat?”
Carlo laughs. “Nah, I just complimented you, didn’t I?”
“Who wants to hear they’re putting on weight?” Elio grumbles.
Waving his hand at Elio, Carlo says quietly. “Well, it’s understandable, in your condition.”
Elio mutters, “Just, keep your opinions about my fatness to yourself, please.”
I laugh. “You stepped into that one, Carlo.”
Carlo sighs. “I meant it in a good way, Elio. I swear.”
Elio looks unconvinced, but he says, “It’s fine. I am getting fat. No point in pretending otherwise.”
Carlo grimaces. “I’m gonna just keep my mouth shut from now on.”
“Smart man.” I smirk.
Carlo leaves and I go to sit beside Elio. His worried expression is bothering me. I take his hand in mine.
“It’s okay, mio, don’t look so anxious,” I say.
“But, the families are upset with you because of me,” he says quietly.
“It’s just noise.”
“Carlo seemed truly worried.”
“He’s a worrier by nature.” I smooth a stray lock of hair off his forehead. “I’ll keep my eyes open, don’t worry. But I don’t think there’s any real threat from those families.”
“But there might be because no one understands why you did what you did.” He studies me. “I don’t understand your world, but I do understand human nature. People panic when they see something they don’t understand. Perhaps you should come up with a reason why you took the ports.”
I scowl. “I don’t have to explain myself to them.”
“But if it would help calm them, why not do it?” He frowns. “I’d be destroyed if anything happened to you because of me.”
My heart softens and the anger fades. “Don’t blame yourself. The Luccheses drew first blood, not me.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t just tell people that.”
“Because it makes me look vulnerable. I don’t want people thinking they should give it a try too.”
He says quietly, “Okay, but what if… what if it’s not just grumbling?”
“Then I’ll handle it.”
“How?”
“The way I handle everything.”
“You’ll kill them?”
“Tesoro, stop worrying about this stuff. It doesn’t concern you.” I make sure my voice is soft and reassuring. “You’re stressing out about stuff you don’t need to. Didn’t the doctor tell you not to stress?”
“Yes,” he says grudgingly.
I smile. “Listen to me. Nobody is going to make a move against me. I have eyes and ears in every family, on every dock, in every room where decisions get made. If someone so much as thinks about coming for us, I’ll know about it before they’ve finished the thought.”
“You didn’t know the attack on me was coming,” he says softly.
I grimace. “That was different. That was… personal. It was a mother operating on her own, to avenge her son’s honor. She misunderstood the situation and was upset for her child. It wasn’t a coordinated attack. Do you understand how that was different?”
He nods, although he doesn’t look convinced.
“Trust me,” I say.
“I do trust you.” He leans toward me. “But I can’t help but worry. If I lost you… I don’t even think I could go on.”
“You’re not going to lose me,” I whisper, kissing him softly.
He slips his arms around me. “I love you too much, Marcello. Sometimes it terrifies me.”
“I feel the same.” I stroke his back, kissing his hair. “But it’s going to be okay. I won’t let anything hurt you or our family. Trust me.”
He sighs. “I do.”
Later, after he’s fallen asleep in our bed, he stirs restlessly against my chest. I can tell from his jerky movements and the frantic sounds he makes, he’s having one of his damn dreams.
I hold him tighter, hoping, even in sleep, he’ll realize he’s safe in my arms no matter what. Nothing is going to harm him or our unborn child. If I have to tear down the world to protect them, I will.