Page 128 of The Savage

Dante snorts. ‘Returned? Like she’s a UPS package?’ He turns to the sea, muttering, ‘Che testa di cazzo.’

Cesare’s gaze cuts to me. And then, because our timing is shit and fate likes theatrics, my phone rings again.

Orazio.

Of course.

I answer. ‘Nonno.’

His voice booms through the speaker like thunder rolling over the ocean. ‘You little shit. You kept her from me? YOU?’

Giada hears it in the other room and she freezes.

Great.

Orazio barrels on. ‘Do you understand what you’ve done? Do you have any idea the storm you’ve stirred by keeping this quiet? Where is she? Put me on video.’

I grimace, do as I’m told and slowly turn the phone towards her.

Her wide gaze drops to the grey-haired old man glowering at her, and she jumps. Her sisters murmur to her as Orazio falls silent for three heartbeats.

Then: ‘Madonna Santa. It is really her.’ A sharp inhale. ‘A Mancinelli face with Salvatore fire in her eyes. No doubt that fire will be tested soon enough.’

I flip the phone back as Giada sways.

Sofiya grips her elbow as Maddie wraps an arm around her baby sister.

I’m tempted to switch back to audio but I know Nonno will tear me a new one. ‘She’ll meet you in New York.’

Orazio snarls. ‘And what if she’s dead by then? That upstart is making moves in Sicily. Matteo is stirring shit in Calabria. The Russians are restless. El Topo has cousins none of us knew about crawling out of sewage pipes.’

Which is why I don’t have time for this conversation. I glance at Cesare, signalling for him to step in. He raises an eyebrow and leans harder against the terrace pillar.

Culo.

‘He won’t touch her,’ I bite. ‘I won’t let him.’

‘You better not. If she dies before we all get answers, I go to war again. And this time? No survivors.’

The call ends. I feel her before she speaks.

‘I’m a spark on the edge of a war,’ Giada whispers.

‘No,’ I correct, walking over to her, sliding a hand to her waist. ‘You’re the reason that war ends.’

But as I hold her, breathing her in, feeling her tremble… I know she’s a ticking bomb.

If her memories come back too soon, too fast, the shock might break her mind again.

If Vittore gets to her?

He’ll kill her before she can speak a single truth.

My phone vibrates again.

Nightowl

You’ve got company near Ortigia Dock. Lapdogs. Want me to play?