Page 118 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

She was worthless to her husband.

Emma was well aware of his feelings.

Still, she wondered why Calisto hadn’t told her.

“Cal,” she said quietly.

Calisto lifted his gaze, cocking a brow in question.“Hmm?”

“I …”

“Spit it out, Emmy.”

“I saw Affonso and you fighting last night.”

Well, she heard it.

Same difference.

Calisto’s throat bobbed as he sat the paper aside.“And you didn’t think to tell me when I woke you up to go upstairs?”

She shrugged. “You didn’t think to tell me thismorning when I woke up.”

“Point taken.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“I didn’t want to upset you,” he replied.

Oh.

Emma had not been expecting that answer.

“Where is he now?”

Calisto lifted one shoulder and said, “As far as Iunderstand, out of the country.”

“Why?”

“To force me into something I didn’t want to do,” hemuttered heavily.

“Women and children,” she said to herself.

“Hmm?”

“Women and children are supposed to be the mostimportant thing in Cosa Nostra. Men are supposed to protect them, no matterwhat. Why does he get to run away and hide, but I’m left here to fend formyself?”

Calisto didn’t have an answer for her other than tosay, “He doesn’t think you need to be taken away.”

Or he didn’t care enough.

Emma pushed down her rising sadness. “He didn’t sayanything about you being here in the house and looking out for me?”

“Why should he? I’m doing his job. I’m doing what hebelieves I should do—protect my family and my Cosa Nostra. And he was right,the fucking bastard. He was right and I hate him for it.”

God.

He sounded like he was in pain.