CHAPTER 78 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
AS MUCH AS IT grates on me, I’ve apologized to Liam, but if he thinks he can milk it, he’ll regret it.
But that’s not why we’re here now.
I smile at Dario. He’s still in bed, but looks a lot better than he did. “So now we know it was definitely Luca behind the ring and the bug. No one else.”
Dario nods. “That is good news. As Luca gave the order to spy on you, and you say his main man onside, Larry, is no more, then...”
“Lar,” I correct. “Lar Renton.”
“Whatever.” Dario waves away his mistake. “It looks like the Eredità della Luce haven’t got a foothold, otherwise they’d be putting their weight behind Luca and calling the orders themselves.”
“You’re saying that because Luca ordered Dave to plant that shit, you think Luca is still working alone and this sect thing hasn’t brought him in at all?”
Dario shrugs his massive shoulders. “It seems likely. Not yet, anyway. The Eredità della Luce works in a certain way, and what’s happened isn’t how they do things.” He glances around the room. “Arianna not here today?”
“She is, but she’s with Maria.”
“She’s not actually. She’s here.” Arianna wanders into the room and perches next to me on the arm of the chair. “How are you feeling today, Dario?”
“Going stir crazy,” Dario grins. “I need to be up and about and doing something useful, not lying here.”
“You will be soon enough.” Arianna smiles, then stiffens as I begin playing with the soft skin at the nape of her neck.
After what was said about Maria and then that business in the cellar, there’s a lot left unsaid between us, and I wish there wasn’t.
I hate bad feeling between us, especially when I just want to take her to bed.
“I was just telling Dario about you being the one with the nous to get information from Dave.”
“No, you weren’t. You were discussing that the Eredità della Luce hasn’t formed a stronghold. You don’t have to butter me up, Red.”
Dario stifles a chuckle as Arianna effortlessly puts me in my place. She’s the only person that can - or rather who can and remain standing afterwards. But there’s more to her frostiness than the Eredità della Luce, and I don’t know what it is. “What’s wrong? Is it Maria?”
Arianna shakes her head. “No, it’s Papà’s allies.
I called them.” Her face sets somewhere between disappointment and anger.
“None of them are particularly amenable to having a meeting with me. They’ve agreed to come, but they don’t like it.
I don’t think they’re going to be on board with anything we need. ”
I exchange glances with Dario. I was half-expecting this.
I pull Arianna onto my lap. “Then you’ll have to convince them that their reticence is unfounded. You’ve managed it with the men at Galvatore headquarters, so you can do it with this lot.”
And if anyone deems to disrespect her, they’ll have to answer to me.
“I’m meeting them tomorrow. Oh, and regarding Maria...”
My heart sinks. “What about her?”
“She wants you to recommence her training.”
I rub my hand over my chin. “Things are a bit hectic at the moment, princess. Maybe I can give her more training at some point, but...”
“No, you don’t understand. It’s like a switch has been flicked and she’s seen the light.” Arianna looks as surprised as I am. “This thing with Luca has finally sunk in, and she wants to make the effort this time. I think I believe her.”
I’m not convinced, but what do I do? “Well, I...”
“What harm can it do?” Dario adds. “Being as it looks like Luca is still working alone, we have time, so if training Maria helps her to feel more in control it’s worth doing.”
“I knew you’d understand, Dario.” Arianna beams and then winds her arms around my neck. “And being as Red loves me so much, I know he’ll do it.”
As she winks, I can’t help but laugh. Despite the concept of training Maria again being a horrible one, Arianna is correct: I do love her so much that I’ll do anything - even this. “Okay,” I sigh. “I’ll start again tomorrow.”